OK - here's a tail of woe I hope others can learn from. Some background: In December, we had a water pipe break which caused some damage to our lower level of the house. We had a "disaster" clean-up company come in immediately and used huge fans and dehumidifiers to dry it up really quick. Due to the holidays, we weren't able to get a crew in until the middle of January to re-do the dry wall, trim molding, carpet, and re-paint. In the mean time we had moved almost everything that was downstairs, upstairs. So, after restoration was complete, we began to start slowly moving things back downstairs. We still haven't finished that task. I had insurance, but had to shell out the $500.00 deductible. Low and behold a miracle occurred. Because I have a 19 year-old in college, we actually recieved an income tax return this week for the first time in years. Now we have a long time tradition around here that when we take a check like this to the bank to be cashed, we do not speak of it out loud in or near the vehicles, as they will break down immediately to compensate for the amount of the check - and usually more. We have now learned that this same principle applies to the house. Yesterday, the water supply to our house broke at the junction box/cut-off valve to the township water supply. The township quickly dispatched a maintenance person who determined that even though it's at the valve box, it faces our house - so we pay to have it fixed. So they promptly shut off our water. So here I sit in the gloom of dawn, waiting for the first of three excavator/plumbers to come over and firm up the estimate to dig up the yard and replace the pipe into the house - oh yeah - the township says that the original PVC pipe doesn't meet the code any longer, so we have to replace the entire water line. So we're looking at $1500 and up for this little repair. Oh - and of course nothing can be done until the State of Michigan gets "Miss Dig" out to mark any utility cables that may be in the way. And then of course we learned earlier this month that The Board of Public Works in Holland - where our water actually comes from - is seeking the fifth rate hike in less than two years... :angry:
Well, at least they did come out today and map out the gas lines, etc. and flag them. I have someone coming out Monday to make the fixes happen. I guess it could be worse - a couple of the people that came out to give me estimates were on their way to visit some people that had two inches or so of sewer back up in their basements... Forgot to note that we do have water - they hooked up the outside faucet to our neighbor's house - and the neighbor's happily agreed to let us use their water for a few days. Didn't know that hook up could be done - maybe we'll just keep it this way...
Hi Tim, The same principle applies to automobiles, also. Within 2 months after getting our older car looking good (dings removed, new paint), the engine threw a rod, blowing a 3" (approx) diameter hole in the head. This was a long time ago, but I've never had a car 'cosmetically repaired' again. Good luck.
Yep Yep, I know this feeling. I was cruising along thinking to myself "I can cover my bills and maybe save some for a future trip or something" Oh oh, medical bills... end of happy.
It's one of those "murphy's law" things. As soon as you have a windfall of extra cash an unforseen bill will come along to soak up that excess. Sorry to hear about your missfortune, but at least you still have your trains... Right?
This is exactly why I pay the very nominal fee for line insurance offered by our gas company. It includes gas, water and sewer line breaks anywhere between the street and the house after a $250.00 deductable.
Actually all the railroad stuff is OK. The pipe that broke inside back in December might have been a problem if I hadn't been home - I was able to get the water shut off before there was a flood. The break Friday was out by the street and drained off the yard and down to the drain a few houses away. I decided back in December that I needed to get all my magazines and stuff stored in cardboard boxes re-packed into palstic storage containers with lids. I still haven't got all my stuff packed this way, but I'll be working on it.
A word of caution from someone who had a water line break last year, and recently made the mistake...when you're picking up those plastic containers, look at the bottom of them closely. A few weeks back we brought home several of those plastic lidded tubs to better store away what HO gear I'm keeping that wasn't already in tubs. I went to put some items in the first tub, when I see four small "safety air holes" in the bottom. mg: They were definitely not moisture protection. Of course the first thing I'd done when we got those tubs home was to remove all the stickers, so no returning them. :sad:
