Author Topic: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!  (Read 17989 times)

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« on: March 12, 2017, 02:22:50 PM »
Sunday - a day of rest - but SOMETHING woke me up - ok no point in lying in bed, get up and do things! First action, brush my teeth. Oi who stole the water  :bang:

OK there was water but at a very low pressure. I glanced out of the bedroom window to see a 'gusher' in the front garden - probably about 6" out of the ground and LOTS of flow  :bugeye:

Quick Google got me Southern Water's emergency number, and when I called them they said they'd had several low pressure reports and were searching for the leak - 'I think I know were it is' I said !

This was just after 7 am - team turned up about 9 am but before arrival they'd shut valves to stem the flow - in the mean time I took a little video and a few pictures:





« Last Edit: March 12, 2017, 03:06:33 PM by awemawson »
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #1 on: March 12, 2017, 02:29:56 PM »
They brought a 1 ton digger with them and started digging up my front lawn - very soggy - lots of mess  :scratch:

Eventually they got down to what was shown on the plans as a 150 mm ductile iron water main, but in practice turned out to be a 150 mm asbestos water main  :bugeye:

Oops - need another team - not allowed to cut asbestos pipes. OK another couple of fellows suitably trained turn up, and they decide to cut a 4 metre section out and replace flange to flange. More digging, big lorry arrives with 6 metre length of (this time actually ductile cast iron) pipe flanges etc

Careful measure up and out with the petrol cutter to slice off the extra
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #2 on: March 12, 2017, 02:32:43 PM »
Now while this is happening we have no water for the livestock so I pressed them for a bowser to be delivered, which eventually turns up
« Last Edit: March 21, 2017, 04:31:41 PM by awemawson »
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #3 on: March 12, 2017, 02:33:37 PM »
Cut length of bally heavy pipe now man ported across the soggy lawn and put in place.

The crack in the original pipe is substantial as you can see in one of the pictures
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #4 on: March 12, 2017, 02:41:12 PM »
So, leak fixed time to turn on the water  :thumbup:

Ah - ever heard of water hammer  :scratch: :scratch: :scratch: :scratch:

Big hammer effect as large volume of water flows into big pipe - BURSTING THE PIPE about 30 foot further along our hedge.

As I type, there is another even bigger hole being dug and about 10 metres of my front laurel hedge have been felled to insert yet anther new bit. They had to borrow my JCB 803 for this hole as theirs wasn't big enough !

They intend to fit a fire hydrant in our front garden on this section, and have it open when the pipe is re-filled to stop the water hammer, but it's now 18:40 - still no water, and I'm having supper - more pictures later !
« Last Edit: March 12, 2017, 03:09:05 PM by awemawson »
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline PekkaNF

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2523
  • Country: fi
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #5 on: March 12, 2017, 02:48:06 PM »
Now - that calls for something that rhymes with clacking bell!

Pekka

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #6 on: March 12, 2017, 03:24:38 PM »
So supper finished but they're still at it - gave them a can of beer each as a consolation prize -  here's a few more pictures:

I'm glad that I installed good lights on the JCB803


In the last picture the hydrant is just visible in the bottom left corner
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline John Swift

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 344
  • Country: england
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #7 on: March 12, 2017, 03:33:16 PM »

they have only done half the job

for what they charge for the water they should of replaced all of the old 6" asbestos pipe
(unless they plan to come back several times over the next few years )

          John

 

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #8 on: March 12, 2017, 03:41:23 PM »
I agree John, it's daft - but this is a 'repair' by the emergency team and not a 're-lay' by the project team. I'll certainly tread carefully on that bit of lawn in the future  :clap:
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline Spurry

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 346
  • Country: england
  • Norfolk, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #9 on: March 12, 2017, 03:46:19 PM »
Is that the village supply pipe? We have to make do with a puny 1" plastic supply pipe.
Pete

Offline mattinker

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1316
  • Country: fr
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #10 on: March 12, 2017, 03:54:53 PM »
Hi Andrew!

Chris tells me that there hasn't heard about your leak yet! Are you South East or Southern?

All the best! Matthew

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #11 on: March 12, 2017, 03:56:21 PM »
That 150 mm does us, two house further up the road (A21), then a small industrial estate and about 50 houses on the way into Battle down Marley Lane.

The Water Board have put up a public Bowser in the Lay-Bay across the road but we have our own  :ddb:
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #12 on: March 12, 2017, 03:56:52 PM »
Hi Andrew!

Chris tells me that there hasn't heard about your leak yet! Are you South East or Southern?

All the best! Matthew

South East Matthew
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline sparky961

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 844
  • Country: ca
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #13 on: March 12, 2017, 04:19:54 PM »
Always an adventure at your place!

Seems you take it all in stride and with a good sense of humour (at least that's how you tell the story later anyway).

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #14 on: March 12, 2017, 04:46:10 PM »
Well Sparky there's no point in ranting and raving and getting under the skin of the poor chaps fixing the problem, they're doing their best.

Anyway - 20:30 Sunday Evening, and I've been able to wash my Wellies off under the outside tap - yes WE HAVE WATER  :clap: :clap: :clap:

The front garden now looks like The Somme with slit trenches, piles of earth, cut down hedging, but at least given time it's all repairable. The restitution team are apparently going to turn up on Monday or Tuesday, fill in the trenches, level the piles of earth, and re-turf the lawn.

I'll take some pictures when the sun returns
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline howsitwork?

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 360
  • Country: england
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #15 on: March 12, 2017, 06:07:51 PM »
Andrew

surely there's a re-enactment team somewhere down your way???  :ddb: :ddb: :ddb:

Sealed Knot specialize in civil war , not sure who covers 1914- 18 period but at least give 'em a chance!!

Glad to hear you're flush again, I assume your charging piece rates for the use of the JCB?  :headbang:

Hope the re turning etc goes well.

Ian

Offline Pete.

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1075
  • Country: gb
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #16 on: March 12, 2017, 07:52:10 PM »
Blimey I was going to come and visit you today. Sounds like you had enough on your plate without me making a nuisance too :D

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #17 on: March 13, 2017, 03:40:45 AM »
Be glad to see you Pete, no issue with plate overload  :thumbup:
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #18 on: March 13, 2017, 07:16:21 AM »
 :update:

So this morning I woke up to quite a different view from the bedroom windows :
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #19 on: March 13, 2017, 07:19:02 AM »
And it didn't get a lot better from ground level  :scratch:
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #20 on: March 13, 2017, 07:20:22 AM »
Still, look on the bright side - we now have our own private fire hydrant  :lol:
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline Spurry

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 346
  • Country: england
  • Norfolk, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #21 on: March 13, 2017, 07:31:02 AM »
Corr, that's a bonus Andrew. A water supply with no meter.  :D
Pete

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #22 on: March 13, 2017, 07:40:55 AM »
..... that DID briefly cross my mind Pete .......  :ddb: :ddb: :ddb:
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline DaveS

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 30
  • Country: gb
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #23 on: March 13, 2017, 10:21:26 AM »
Andrew,

Sorry to hear of your  major inconvinience (bit of an understatement) hopefully they don't cause too much agro over the landscapeing. I assume the water didn't flow west as there have been reports of an approaching Tsunami in my area.
That was some gusher and at least their response was quick and the new pipework is a very good match to your Plasma machine.

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #24 on: March 13, 2017, 11:02:23 AM »
" and the new pipework is a very good match to your Plasma machine"


 :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline howsitwork?

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 360
  • Country: england
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #25 on: March 13, 2017, 03:03:33 PM »
So Andrew

In keeping with your new corporate colours, will water jet cutting be next???? :D :D :D :D

Sorry to see the damage but at least no one got hurt, or drowned.


Offline Will_D

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 668
  • Country: ie
    • National Homebrew Club of Ireland
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #26 on: March 13, 2017, 04:05:41 PM »
Andrew, You farm must be one of the most productive of livestock, NAY, Interesting tales !!

What with the Ostriches and now this hydraulic crisis, plus all your fantastic shop work!
Engineer and Chemist to the NHC.ie
http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.ie/forum/

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #27 on: March 13, 2017, 04:20:07 PM »
Well certainly it's never boring here Will  :clap:

Chap turned up this afternoon with a big lorry to collect the water bowser - must have been a 7.5 tonner I expect, when he saw the remnant of pipeline that he had to pick up as well he said he'd have to come back with a gang to collect it as he couldn't manage on his own. I offered to put it on with the forklift if he dropped his 'drop side' so I could slide it on. When it came to it, rather than drop the side he had me drop the pipe from probably 5 foot, by heck it made an enormous noise into an empty steel floored lorry  :bugeye:

On the subject of it never being boring here, I've just walked over to the workshop to play with MACH3 to be greeted by the squealing of new born piglets, so Blossom, who's been walking about very 'heavy with child', must have just farrowed. Daren't go too close to inspect yet or she'll panic.
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline Pete.

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1075
  • Country: gb
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #28 on: March 13, 2017, 05:01:48 PM »
 I'd be playing this over the tannoy :D


Offline PekkaNF

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2523
  • Country: fi
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #29 on: March 14, 2017, 09:46:01 AM »
Had to google that "water bowser"....I read first "dowser" rather freudian slip I think :scratch:

Pekka

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #30 on: March 14, 2017, 12:06:35 PM »
Spent a few hours on Monday pressure washing the JCB803 and it's buckets, as they'd left it in a bit of a mess, then darn me if they didn't send a gang over this morning to start the clear up ASSUMING they could use my digger.

Now if Clancy Docwra who are SE Waters contractors had rung up, said thanks for it's previous use, can we (at least) replace the diesel we've used, and if we agree term can we use it again I would have reluctantly agreed if they also agreed to clean it up when done. But to ASSUME without even contacting me got very short shrift  :poke: :poke: :poke:

So some hours later they came back with a hired one and have started back filling the trenches.


 :hammer: :hammer: The cheek of some people   :hammer: :hammer:
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline mattinker

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1316
  • Country: fr
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #31 on: March 14, 2017, 03:01:41 PM »
Do you want me to say something to Chris about this? He works with Clancy Docwra a lot.

Regards, Matthew

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #32 on: March 14, 2017, 03:44:55 PM »
Thanks Matthew but I think it's in hand. I had a phone call today from a very apologetic S E Water liaison woman who says she's going to fire rockets in the appropriate direction. After all SE Water are the Client and Clancy Docwra the Contractor. There is supposedly a Clancy Docwra manager coming to see me tomorrow so we'll see how that goes first.

(off to the Abattoir crack of dawn with a couple of lambs, but I doubt they'll be around until I'm back)
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline mattinker

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1316
  • Country: fr
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #33 on: March 14, 2017, 05:30:01 PM »
OK!

Cheers Mate!

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #34 on: March 15, 2017, 02:06:41 PM »
So yesterday a chap turned up in the afternoon and back filled most of the trenches, but said he needed a bigger digger. So this morning the 1 Ton was taken away and the 3 ton arrived, and he 'finished off' including loading the cut down hedge into a big lorry along with the soil that wouldn't go back in the trench (so no doubt we'll have 'sinkage' in a year or so as it settles.

He's done a fair job, but it's still a heck of a mess considering that before they came it was a lawn awaiting it's first cut of the season  :(
 :thumbup:
Meeting arranged for tomorrow afternoon with their liaison person to discuss what they'll do to re-instate the grass and the hedge (and the bit of fence demolished by Mr 3 ton digger  :bang: ) He did at least confess he'd done it 
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #35 on: March 15, 2017, 02:17:23 PM »
Now since this fiasco we've had several leaks about the place  :( A chap turned up to sample the water quality since the repair and I got him to test the pressure - he admitted that it was very high at 7 bar but there is actually no upper limit to what they can supply (there is a lower one) but so far our Insinkerator instant hot water boiler gasket went (repaired by custom made O ring), the downstairs loo ball cock started leaking, as did a cattle trough and four joints in 25 mpde pipe around the place - this can't be a co-incidence.

I'll try to get them to reduce the pressure on their system, but if this isn't possible I do have a chamber where we installed a private water meter, and there may well be room to fit a pressure reduction valve of our own - if necessary the meter can be removed as SE Water have sadly fitted one at our infeed connection.

Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline drmico60

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 69
  • Country: gb
    • mikesworkshop
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #36 on: March 16, 2017, 07:25:13 AM »
It was probably the water hammer that you reported when they first turned the water back on that has upset the system and loosened gaskets and  disturbed ball valves. However, 7 bar water pressure does seem very high. I complain when mine suddenly went up to 5 bar and they turned it down. However, it depends on who else is on the main as they try to keep everyone happy so it is a compromise.

Offline John Stevenson

  • In Memoriam
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1643
  • Nottingham, England.
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #37 on: March 16, 2017, 07:30:49 AM »
Stop whinging Andrew.
At 7 bar you are nearly there for your own water jet  :poke:

Just need that hydrant and an intensifier and strap it on the plasma, jobs a good un.
John Stevenson

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #38 on: March 16, 2017, 10:05:14 AM »
I rigged my own 'known good' pressure gauge up to measure the mains water this morning and in fact it's 9 Bar  :bugeye: That's 130 PSI  :bugeye: :bugeye:

(Flow rate is 4 gallons per minute)
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline seadog

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 223
  • Country: gb
  • NE London
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #39 on: March 16, 2017, 10:47:14 AM »
I'd definitely consider getting a pressure reducer Andrew. I think the maximum recommended in domestic installations is 80psi. It doesn't need to go much high and you're reaching rated values for boilers, cylinders and the like.

Offline Pete.

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1075
  • Country: gb
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #40 on: March 16, 2017, 11:57:28 AM »
I wonder if they are pumping extra to compensate for another big leak down-stream of you Andrew? Anyone the other side of the leak would be suffering low pressures.

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #41 on: March 16, 2017, 12:56:11 PM »
 :update:

 :clap: Well a RESULT  :clap:

Meeting this afternoon with 'smooth the customers feathers person' from both SE Water and Clancy Docwra went extremely well. They have agreed to all my landscaping, pressure washing, fencing and replanting requests, have agreed to compensate the chap who cut he hedge for them (with a suitable bottle of spirits!), and offered to pay for the use of my digger (which I declined).

Then they agreed to sort out the high pressure either by reducing the main pressure or fitting me a PRV. Then they spotted a technicians van in the next door pumping station, and went to collar him for advice on reducing the pressure ....

.... he was working on a PRV on their distribution system THAT WAS STUCK FULLY OPEN  :lol:

They have agreed to fix any of my pipework that is still leaking after their PRV is fixed, and they must now have fixed it as I've just measured the pressure as bang on 5 bar  :thumbup:

Taken the dogs on a tour of inspection of all the fields water distribution systems, and the only leak left was a 25 mm MDPE elbow on a cattle trough where the pipe had been pushed out of the seal (presumably by that intense water hammer that cracked the second main. A quick (well not SO quick!) trip back to the barn for some spanners and that was soon fixed.

Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline sparky961

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 844
  • Country: ca
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #42 on: March 16, 2017, 04:38:13 PM »
Wow. Quite the adventure!

Well narrated.

Offline mechman48

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 327
  • Country: gb
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #43 on: March 19, 2017, 07:59:27 AM »
:update:

 :clap: Well a RESULT  :clap:


Well done that man; who says you can't win with major institutions... :headbang:

George.
George.


Always look on the bright side of life, & remember.. KISS..' Keep It Simple Stupid'

Offline SwarfnStuff

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 588
  • Country: au
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #44 on: March 25, 2017, 03:27:52 AM »
So Andrew,
       Have you brushed your teeth yet?????  :D :) :lol:

Well written and entertaining account of what seemed to be a reasonably helpful utility mob. Good job.
Thanks for posting,
John B
Converting good metal into swarf sometimes ending up with something useful. ;-)

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #45 on: March 25, 2017, 04:41:33 AM »
Thanks John, yes you'll be pleased to hear that the teeth have been bushed brushed SEVERAL times since then  :lol:

However the landscaping hasn't started yet - they came round on Thursday, measured up the considerable amount of turf that they will need, and took sample leaves from the remaining Laurel hedge so that they can match the genus. (In years to come I don't want paler or maybe spotty laurel in what up till this incident was a uniform dark green hedge.
« Last Edit: March 27, 2017, 05:29:08 PM by awemawson »
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline YFelin

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 2
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #46 on: March 26, 2017, 06:37:34 AM »
Are they giving you a credit for wasted water

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #47 on: March 26, 2017, 08:01:02 AM »
Non of the gushing torrent was going through my meter I'm glad to say  :thumbup:
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline howsitwork?

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 360
  • Country: england
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #48 on: March 27, 2017, 05:18:59 PM »
given the returfing Andrew, possibly  CROQUET LAWN for the guests??? :thumbup:

Glad to know you're still OK now although a bit worried you now need to "bush your teeth" after the event. Were they a bit slack after all the frustration :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Glad it worked out OK

Ian

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #49 on: March 27, 2017, 05:29:33 PM »
Well spotted  :lol: :lol: :lol:
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #50 on: March 28, 2017, 07:24:33 AM »
Today a portable Laurel Hedge arrived on the back of a lorry  :lol:

About 30 reasonable sized plants which they have planted in the foot of the previously destroyed hedge - hopefully these will grow quite quickly.
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #51 on: May 02, 2017, 07:14:43 AM »
Well after quite a bit of persistent nagging, and putting on my cross face, at long last they have made good the front garden.

Three men for three days, 250 square metres of turf, three jumbo bags of top soil and a lot of watering.

Quite cleverly they used a turf lifter to scrape off the top layer and give an even surface to prepare for turfing.
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #52 on: May 02, 2017, 07:18:01 AM »
Day two was Friday before the Bank Holiday

Because of the holiday break they were concerned that the rolled up turf would yellow, so laid it out and soaked it, and I kept it wet over the weekend - lucky they fitted that fire-hydrant  :thumbup:
« Last Edit: May 02, 2017, 10:08:46 AM by awemawson »
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #53 on: May 02, 2017, 07:19:41 AM »
So today they returned to finish off. I must say that the finished job is pretty good considering what it was like  :thumbup:
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline Ginger Nut

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 232
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #54 on: May 02, 2017, 07:31:05 PM »
 :jaw:

The lengths poms will go to to get out of having a bath  :lol:

Look on the bright side at least you were ot in the shower soaped up and it dried up leaving you looking like a Sid James skit from a Carry on movie  :lol: 

 :Doh: as an home owner again these are things I had forgotten can happen and landlords don't come into play (in a way thank goodness)

Andrew sorry to see this happen out the front we already have a fire hydrant access as well as the main and sewerage and on fence boarder with next door at least 3 man holes  :(

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #55 on: December 17, 2017, 06:53:56 AM »
Well it appears that the saga isn't quite over  :bugeye:

This morning I was trundling the bin out for collection Monday morning when I heard an odd whooshing sound - what - from where - a mystery.  :scratch:


Until I looked at the Stand Pipe that they had left installed months ago so we could water the new turf. A nice 'fan' of water gushing out of the meter head of the Stand Pipe. Obviously last night's frost (minus 4 here last night) had frozen and cracked it, and having thawed a bit we had the gushing water fan.

They'd said they'd recover it after a month - that was a long time back and I confess I'd forgotten it.

Reported to SE Water and 'a man is on the way' allegedly - hope he gets here before the front garden is fully under water  :med:


It's a simple job, and if I had the correct tapered square key I'd turn it off myself underground at the hydrant cock, but I don't have one !

Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline AdeV

  • Madmodder Committee
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2434
  • Country: gb
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #56 on: December 17, 2017, 07:36:42 AM »
It's a simple job, and if I had the correct tapered square key I'd turn it off myself underground at the hydrant cock, but I don't have one !

Would a pair of pliers, or plumber's adjustable wrench not suffice? Or is it a female square & you need a square headed tool - in which case shirly 10 minutes in the workshop would have something bodged up?

Fingers crossed for no floods! it's balmy up here - double-digits nearly.
Cheers!
Ade.
--
Location: Wallasey, Merseyside. A long way from anywhere.
Occasionally: Zhengzhou, China. An even longer way from anywhere...

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #57 on: December 17, 2017, 08:12:04 AM »
Ade,

It's about 1" square but tapered top to bottom and at the bottom of a hole two foot deep that's full of water  :bugeye:

However SE Water have turned up trumps and Alan the water man has been round and turned it off - impressively fast turn out  :thumbup:


Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline Brass_Machine

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5504
  • Country: us
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #58 on: December 17, 2017, 10:49:52 AM »
Been cold over there Andy?

Eric
Science is fun.

We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.

Offline modeng200023

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 132
  • Country: gb
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #59 on: December 17, 2017, 11:00:17 AM »
Andrew, are you going to get one of the keys so you can still use the hydrant?
John

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #60 on: December 17, 2017, 12:38:17 PM »
I've no doubt what so ever that a standpipe and key set will be a near future eBay purchase  :lol:

-4 Centigrade this morning Eric - pig poo frozen to sty concrete and I broke a broom trying to sweep it  :bang:


Andrew
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline PK

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 369
  • Country: au
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #61 on: December 17, 2017, 06:49:19 PM »
I have a friend doing a stint in Antarctica over winter (I didn't say 'smart friend').
The plumbers have the worst job, he says, nearly all the pipes are heated, except for the toiled drains.  When they freeze you have to go in with a steam lance......   :(

PK

Offline millwright

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 273
  • Country: gb
  • Leeds West Yorshire
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #62 on: December 18, 2017, 04:15:20 PM »
I had to read all this post again just to refresh my memory of the whole story. It brought to mind the old classic from Flanders and Swann, the Gas Man Cometh. then had to go and listen to it again on you tube, Link here
for anyone not of a certain age lol. i think it aptly covers Andrews water problems. Well written yet again Andrew your posts always very informative and a pleasure to read.

John

Offline tom osselton

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1255
  • Country: ca
Re: But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!
« Reply #63 on: December 18, 2017, 06:46:52 PM »
So toothbrush and a water bottle for Christmas?  :lol: