Saturday, March 5, 2011

Clogs, Hot Water and Four Wheel Drive

It has been a week, especially for Far Guy.

One day the kitchen sink clogged, just like that. It has been slow for years and we have fiddle farted around with it. It was slower this winter. We have both been trying to fix it.  I had been running hot water down it, Far Guy had been running hot water down it mixed with Automatic Dish Washing  Soap..we don’t have a Dishwasher but we have the soap to clean out the whirlpool tub.  Far Guy boiled water..he went and got Drano..he got a plumbers snake..he got a bigger plumbers snake.  We managed to plug the bathroom sink too..I am thinking I will have to close the kitchen forever.   I will have to carry the dishes upstairs to wash them or use the tub downstairs( different sewer lines.)   Six hours into the unclogging it finally gives up the clog ..and water disappears down the drain just like it is supposed too! I swear this plumbing nightmare was just like giving birth, when I saw the water disappearing and heard the gurgling noises coming from the bathroom..we both cheered.

Then we were short of hot water..we heat the water with wood..it is a complicated system..but we also have a hot water heater that is mostly shut off..well we turned it on and there was still not much hot water..Far Guy replaced the elements in the Hot Water Heater..what a guy ..he can fix most anything. It took him the better part of a day to do it, the fittings were stuck real good and he had to find a special wrench..but having hot water that goes down the drain is a good thing.

I am thankful for a husband that is a fixer. I am thankful for hot water that goes down the drain.

Did I ever write about my vehicle and how it fixed itself?  It had a check engine light that was on, we took it in, the mechanic said “It is just a sensor in your fuel tank and it will cost 400 dollars to replace it.”  HUH?  Don’t think so.  We had the oil changed at this place for years, and the light was continually on…then I had no 4 wheel drive ( That is an important feature here in Minnesota) took it in and they said nothing was wrong with it.  We finally put it in 4 wheel drive and left it there..and sitting in the garage it would mysteriously go back into 2 wheel drive. We must have garage ghosts.  Four wheel drive was hit and miss..working only on days above zero.  THEN we had our oil changed at a different place..our check engine light went off and our 4 wheel drive goes in and out slicker than snot even if it is 20 below zero..it must have fixed itself. Should I ask why..or should I just be thankful that it is fixed? 

I am thankful for a vehicle that has 4 wheel drive because some days the road looks like this.

IMG_1638 See that dark spot..that is the only spot on this road that is NOT icy.  The ditches are full and any new snow that we get will end up either on the road or blowing over the road..welcome to Minnesota in March:)

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20 comments:

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

I'd say just celebrate the fact that it works! And hooray for hot water that goes down the draim, too. Life can be complicated when it's so freakin' cold for such a long time!

Patsy said...

That was hooray for Far Guy! Sometime I just can not spell.

Leenie said...

A guy that's a Fixer is Priceless! Good catch. Hooray for the drain giving birth. Glad you didn't have to see the baby, though. Bet it looks like the Kybo monster my kids said lived in the portable outhouse.

As for the car fixing itself. I believe machines have personalities. Perhaps your vehicle didn't like the oil change guy; like kids that don't like some doctors. The new oil change guy must have known how to push the right buttons to make that auto happy.

Rae said...

God bless that man. Far Guy is a fix-it wizard. Glad to hear you won the clog battle.
Kinda mysterious how your vehicle suddenly starts working correctly after you go to a second mechanic. Makes you wonder about the first one.

Connie Peterson said...

I bet your 4x4 just didn't like the old oil and was glad to have new. As far as the road ... that's a BAD road? You should have shown some of the really bad roads ... down here in the south, that would be considered a good road! I KNOW you have them, too.

gayle said...

Glad you got everything fixed. My husband is a fixer too!

Strange about your car!

Linda said...

I need a fixer around here.......my husband ISN'T a fixer!

LindaG said...

Glad to hear everything has worked out for the better for now! :)
Have a blessed Sunday. ♥

Linda Myers said...

When my husband fixes something (and he's really good at it, though somewhat of a procrastinator), I give him a hug and a kiss and tell him it's sexy for a guy to be able to fix things. He always rolls his eyes and laughs.

Country Gal said...

I am blessed with a builder,fixer handy man as well its great! Glad all is working for you now ! Have a good day !

DJan said...

Drano rules! Or whatever it was Far Guy used to fix the clog. And that is spooky about the car, I would just burn a little incense and say thank you, guys.

West Side of Straight said...

Oh, I hate plumbling problems too! Glad it's all fixed now. Maybe there was gravel, etc. stuck by the sensor, and now all washed away and working. whateve fixed it, I'm glad that it's working for you too!

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Heck girl, I'm doin' a happy dance for anything that fixes itself!

I too have a slow kitchen drain...no matter what I do. Maybe if I cross my fingers real tight it'll fix itself. Just sayin.... :o)

Plenty of hot water is always a good thing. When we remodeled we put in an on demand water heater. Love it!

God bless and have a super evenin' sweetie!

Gail said...

Self-healing autos...that's what I need!

It must have been a day for plumbing. Son in law changed a sink faucet for us. Still trying to decide why my hot water...in the bathtub only is low pressure.

Stay warm.

Judy said...

Just be glad that it works!! congratulations on having a fixer person in your house...I did at one time, but things change...now he's very good a keeping the couch from going anywhere...

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

It's strange how sometimes problems can gix themselves like with the 4x4; other times it';s helpful t have huan intervention lie Far Guy. Glad eerything got sorted out and is working again. YES, winter in MN does go on forever just from looking at your photos cause the VA eastern shore doesn't get much snow and being former NJ-ites, we sometimes miss it (just a bit).

Anonymous said...

What a guy! Thank goodness he can fix just about anything...

Lanny said...

So... You'll be continuing your loyalty to the first place?

Mmmm, yes, I see why you need 4-wheel drive... To drive off into the wild blue skies all the while absorbing all those incredible light rays reflected off of that heart-lightening snow!

The Retired One said...

I am very lucky to have a fixer husband too...it has saved us so much money over the years! And we have had TWO cars with that fussy "check engine" light thing too....what a bother. They should just not have those sensors in any of the cars. They come on and off for months at a time and then disappear too. Good Gawd!

DayPhoto said...

I'm like you....I'm very glad I have a husband that can fix stuff! Makes life so much easier!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com