Well, guess what...

  So I go downstairs after supper to enjoy a game of Missile Command and Asteroids with my son and all of a sudden I notice a small puddle of liquid on my floor. Immediately, I thought, aw crap... someone dropped a glass of water on my laminate floor...

... not quite.

I had another pinhole burst on my main. This time... between the city water tube and my shut-off valve. Pipe was badly corroded...

oh mess...

So I call the city, and this is where I have a guardian angel watching over me this time.

1- the city guy shows up 10 minutes after I call, on a Friday night

2- we went looking for the outside valve and found it in 5 minutes... the uy says it is a miracle he detected it under 5 feet of snow...

3- the snow wasn't frozen solid... got to where the valve was in 2 minutes

4- the ground wasn't frozen over the valve (!!!!!!!!!)

5- the valve didn't break after being open for 31 years... it closed smoothly

6- I kept all my materials from my last repair from 18 months ago, thinking ''you never know when you need it...''

7- The pipe was fixed with the city guy's help in 10 minutes, and he even said that he never usually helps, but we looked like nice folks. He even went back to the city garage to pick up a fitting as it was 9:15pm... stores are closed.

8- he wanted NO money at all for his help... ''part of my job and what your taxes pay for...''

9- not a single machine I had around the main got water... it all seeped UNDER the floor

10- no walls were affected by water

11- I just have to replace my cheap laminate floor which got wet only halfway... a foot away from anything vital.


... sucky thing to happen, but under the circumstances, I was very fortunate. I intend to go to City Hall Monday to thank them all directly...

It's good karma paying you back for giving me a deal

Sucks about the water, but I think your lawn may have some 4 leaf clovers on it.

Ian, I'm beginning to think you have the worst luck in the world

How's that arc of yours coming along? Remember two of every Williams/Bally. Leave the Sterns for the unicorns to play.

At least this little even really ended well!

I really hate water, i've been flooded at least 4 times, there's nothing you can do other than beeing lucky like you've been this time.

I'm happy it didnt get worst..

Sylvain, who just had his basement repaired after 6 months of waiting...

man sparky.  ease up on the fiber.   killing the pipes every few months are you.

   glad to hear it was taken care of so fast before it became a big situation.

Time to make an indoor swimming pool there Sparky.

As a plumber, I gotta say - you are the luckiest unlucky guy Sparky.  Any number of things could have gone wrong there.

Quoted from machine.slave

Ian, I'm beginning to think you have the worst luck in the world

Like MarkTwo said, I am the luckiest unlucky guy you will meet. I have been near death so many times that the day it actually happens, I intend to look into the Reaper's face and say ''it's about goddamn time you catch up...''.

Quoted from MarkToo

As a plumber, I gotta say - you are the luckiest unlucky guy Sparky.  Any number of things could have gone wrong there.

So... I want to replace just about every old copper tube I have. Recommendations? PEX? I had that in my last house... easy to install...

Sucky part is that I had to buy some new flooring. No more putzing around... I am installing ceramics.

Only bad part is that I now have to delay a pin purchase.

Quoted from Sparky

So... I want to replace just about every old copper tube I have. Recommendations? PEX? I had that in my last house... easy to install...

i thought the only advantage of the new plastics was  that they were flexible (thus more flow pressure since you weren't restricted to 90 & 45 degree elbows. i was told they only have an extra ten year life span compared to  copper tubing (25 years)

then again i ain't a plumber.

What good with pex do inside your house should the city main burst infront of you (like it did to me 15 years ago) or there's another storm of the century?

Quoted from Sparky

So... I want to replace just about every old copper tube I have. Recommendations? PEX? I had that in my last house... easy to install...

Yes, PEX is definitely the way to go.  Highly recommend Wirsbo brand "Aquapex".  You need a special expansion tool to make the connections - you may be able to borrow one from a local contractor.

There are dozens of types of PEX pipe on the market now, and they aren't all the same.  Specifically avoid any type of PEX/AL/PEX (aluminum cored) pipe.  Also, I would recommend avoiding any PEX that uses compression style connections, or metal crimp ring style connections, as over time they can loosen up and cause problems.

http://www.uponor.ca/

See what you think...