<p>Foundingfather, I really hope your B-C assembly heals ok. Did they have to put it in a cast after you broke it? That would be uncomfortable, but better than having it in traction.</p>
<p>It used to be that people wanted their daughters to grow up and marry doctors and lawyers. I’d be more than happy with a plumber or an auto mechanic.</p>
<p>Yes the new assembly is now in and functioning. However, in the process of turning the supply valve off and on during the repair process, it appears that a washer in it decided it was time to stop functioning. Now I have a slow drip at the supply valve with a cream cheese container catching the drips. Did I mention that I HATE PLUMBING?</p>
<p>Ever considered sweating in a new ball valve?</p>
<p>
yes, but in the end, it sounded like too much work… ;)</p>
<p>What you wanna do is flop that ball valve over the edge of a dresser drawer, and then slam it shut. It doesn’t really help the ball valve, but it gets your mind off plumbing for a while. If it gives you a lot of trouble after that, smear some of that there cream cheese on it.</p>
<p>Ah yes, the kitchen faucet replacement…Found the one I wanted, on sale, same as the one I could buy for more $ from the plumbers- even checked with manufacturer, it was of the exact same quality… Avoided doing the job, had to put in shut off valves (rather, it was that or turn off the water in the basement every time I checked for leaks, that wasn’t that hard to do in theory, or actuality), so I called 3 different plumbers after it was months too late to return the purchased faucet- none of them would put in the name brand faucet I could have purchased from them; they all said their insurance companies wouldn’t let them, even if I said I wouldn’t hold them liable for the faucet. I saved a lot of plumber time because the old one had rusted connections- maneuvering under a deep double sink without being able to see well because noline bifocals can’t give you the proper focus no matter who holds a flashlight (ever notice how spouses can’t read your mind and do what is needed, when it is needed, how…), there is no room for hands, heads, elbows, back rests on the sharp cabinet edge until you get padding… I DON’T want to be a plumber. Once I got the old faucet out putting in the new one went well, it took more time than the plumber would have taken, but the directions were easy and Delta gets my praise- the old faucet wasn’t their fault. </p>
<p>All that was probably 2 or more years ago, this year we had new vinyl floors done at various times, you bet I let the flooring company contact a plumber for toilet removal/replacement (one reason for bathroom floor replacement was long ago loosened toilet bolts which caused vinyl water damage before I realized it and tightened them, the plumber had to replace a rusted piece). And now I know a good plumbing business if I ever decide the bathroom faucets should be replaced… I’ll just add it to the list of things I’ve done around the house I hope to never do again- window treatment hardware-too many close corner windows, basement walls and floor painting, several garden deer fences… I will restain the deck, make new curtains (I hate to sew), plant more trees, bushes and other gardening projects, put together more furniture… I’ve learned to hire out not fun tasks no one else in my family will do. I now realize why old people often don’t do things themselves; it’s not always because they can’t, but because they’ve done it enough already.</p>
<p>My DH just took apart our kitchen faucet this weekend after I finally convinced him the leak was real, permanent, and not in my imagination.</p>
<p>Well, he didn’t fix it but he didn’t violate the principle of “do no harm.” LOL. It’s back together, we can use the sink, and the leak…is no worse.</p>
<p>Think I’ll call a plumber when I decide I can’t live with it anymore.</p>
<p>On the plus side, my DH does do electrical work very competently.</p>
<p>My fix-it story doesn’t involve plumbing, but a computer. FYI, as my username would indicate, I am female. A number of years ago, my son wanted to have a CD-burner added to our Dell desktop computer. I was going to have a local computer shop do the job for me, but Dell said they could sell me the CD-burner, have their tech support people talk me through the simple installation over the phone, and have the new equipment covered by my extended warranty. So that’s the way I went. </p>
<p>CD-burner arrives, and I contact Dell tech support. I explain to the tech support young man why I am calling. An extremely LONG pause follows, and I realize that he thinks he has just received his nightmare call of the day. He breaks the pause and tells me that I need to start by taking the cover off of my tower. So, I told him he would have to explain to me how to take the cover off. Another, even LONGER pause follows, as he is now sure this call is his worst nightmare. At this point, I tell him that I was assured that this was easy to do, and I had some tools all ready.</p>
<p>The rest of the tale is uneventful. After ~45 minutes the burner was installed and functional, and I was so proud of myself. But I still won’t attempt plumbing!</p>
<p>Good for you, cincy gal! You didn’t say how old your son is, but it would be good for him to know how to take a computer apart and put it back together, with new innards if necessary. Or was he already at college?</p>
<p>Yes, my son built his current PC with the ehlp of a friend, but at the time of my CD burner installation I think he was in ~7th grade.</p>
<p>^Nice job. :)</p>
<p>Bet you didn’t have to slam anything spherical in a drawer or spread cream cheese on anything but a bagel, either. ;)</p>
<p>Dell has good info for installing stuff in their manuals, and they have easy to remove/open case covers- certain other brands we’ve owned have been horrible. Now that manuals are online we’ve been making a copy so we have it if want info at same time we can’t access it on the computer (hint- being able to use an office laser printer helps). We also discovered their cheapest line lacked the nifty clips for installation, it required screws- that one went back (that was at least a year ago, who knows now). Knew son wasn’t into computers except as a high end user when we would call him to see the innards and the dog showed more interest- we have cute pictures of our 15# Shih Tzu peering into an opened case on the floor!</p>
<p>^Well, some would suggest that’s a good use for a peecee… :D</p>
<p>Noles, you remind me of my father, who called in an expert for home repairs only as a last resort, meaning virtually never. I have dreadful memories of dad removing the bathroom throne from its moorings and drafting me ( when I was a pre-teen) as his not-so-handly apprentice. I felt like a Shanghaid British sailor.</p>
<p>Now as an adult, I tend to tinker alot and can be described as “I thought I knew how to do-it-myself.” Like another poster, I have had success with installation of PC peripherals and the family computer. Of course, this has had no affect on my impulsive spouse’s “if it’s not working, well then let’s just get a new one” philosophy.</p>
<p>Good thing I didn’t misspell my post, I totally missed the alternative! Spent half of Sunday rearranging tv/computer/furniture etc in a room with husband; it reminded me that my role in the house is hardware expert, his is the software, and all wires for electronics et al- it had been a while since we did this kind of project and it was a pleasant experience. The above dog was even curious. Feeling of accomplishment, especially on a minus zero degree day you don’t want to go anywhere…brrr</p>
<p>This is one of the funnier threads on CC!! My DH is somewhat hapless when fixing plumbing problems. Recently I had to call in a plumber to install new faucets in the bathrooms. While he was here I had him fix all of the niggling things that DH thought he had solved, but that were still not quite right!! </p>
<p>He is much better at solving the computer issues for which I have absolutely no solution!!</p>
<p>DH had another go at the leaky kitchen faucet, this time trying to remove it entirely with the idea of installing a new one. Old one wouldn’t come off! It’s totally frozen in place so I am looking forward to a new sink in the near future.</p>
<p>(We do need one, as well as a countertop and flooring. Think I can stretch the faucet replacement that far?) :D</p>
<p>^ MM, I’d call a plumber for that one! Unless you want the new flooring due to a split pipe and water damage. ;)</p>
<p>LW: Well, I went at it because I had the day off and was tired of the situation. I’ll call a professional when necessary. Many in the various trades will tell you how to correct certain problems and what parts to buy where. If you’re patient and willing to accept the learning curve, most jobs can be done efficiently. The biggest problem is usually staging your materials and tools/parts support. Correct tools are essential to quality work.</p>
<p>When in college I worked as a carpenter’s helper (they nearly killed me carrying trusses, 2x4s, 4x8 sheets of plywood) and as an installer at the local Motorola two-way radio shop (I’ve built and worked with electronics/amateur radio as far back as I can remember). So I’m not a total novice…except to plumbing.</p>
<p>The biggest part was cleaning up the mess.</p>