Gotta love this rainy winter
It is mid January and we haven't had any substantial snowfall yet. I'm not complaining too much, because the temperatures haven't been all that bad either yet. However, temps above freezing mean we're getting it all as rain instead.
Yesterday morning, we woke to a wet cat jumping on us. Immediately we were wondering why he was wet. I thought maybe the bathtub was damp, since he likes to play in there. We checked it...bone dry. Then I checked to see if the toilet lids were closed, because I thought maybe he had just been playing in the water...closed. The third place we checked which we dreaded looking, because by process of elimination, we both knew had to be the reason, was the basement. Sure enough, flooded. Damn.
Apparently, our sump pump had failed to kick on. Also, the back up pump, which runs on water pressure failed to kick on as well. So the water had overflowed the pump pit and was all over the basement. The pumps were both fine, though.
*Warning: my attempt at a "technical" sump pump explanation follows:*
The main pump is supposed to be triggered on when a floating balloon goes upright because the water is high enough to lift it. This "balloon" is on a long hose, but is attached to the pump by a metal fastener with the correct amount of slack to control our water level. Well the metal fastener corroded away and the balloon was now just floating on its side with about 3 feet of slack hose. Nice.
So the back up pump, works with a spring loaded valve that opens the house's water flow to create a vaccuum and force the water up and out. The valve is triggered by a weighted float that is on a string tied to the handle of the valve. The weight holds the valve closed as long as there is tension on the string. When the water level rises, the string slackens allowing the spring to open the valve. There are two problems with this method: 1. Eventually, the string will rot away...but the worst that would happen here is a huge water bill from the valve staying open. 2. Cats play with strings...which is I think what happened in our case. The string was tangled around the pipes of the pump, and the spring was no longer putting pressure on the valve.
*End "technical" nerdiness.*
In any case, we mopped up the water, and did damage control on the thankfully few things that got wet. Our basement is unfinished, and right now we only have a few things stored down there. Many things are in plastic boxes. An inch of water doesn't do much damage to wooden furniture either. I did have my photography "studio" set up down there...and a couple of the backdrops got wet. But I just threw them in the washing machine, no biggie. Chad spent all day working with his dad and his brother to replace both pumps. They were both still working, but we are planning to carpet and drywall the basement this year...so new pumps can't hurt. The backup one now has a rod and an enclosed spring to trigger it, so hopefully no more malfunctions.
We are REALLY REALLY glad this all happened yesterday so we could take care of it before there is more at stake in the finished basement. No soggy carpeting, thank you. I guess the water table here is pretty high. We had some trouble with water sitting at the back of our yard last week. The water level in the ditch back there was actually higher than the sump pump's outlet pipe. Chad had to dig all that out too. Its fantastic being a homeowner.
Another reason I'm glad it was yesterday and not tomorrow is because as I am writing this, we are having this installed in the basement:
Only ours has "ocean blue" felt!
We got an awesome deal on it, some guy bought it and only had it 4 months...he says he only played on it about 5 times. He is unfortunately getting divorced, and wants to sell it before his wife can take it. Chad's brother refelts tables as a side job, and came across it. He would have kept it, but he doesn't have a house. We wanted to get one eventually after we got the basement done...but this deal was so good, we are taking it now. I researched it online, and from what I can tell, we are paying about 1/3 of what it should cost new! I am super excited! I can't wait to get the basement all done.
Yesterday morning, we woke to a wet cat jumping on us. Immediately we were wondering why he was wet. I thought maybe the bathtub was damp, since he likes to play in there. We checked it...bone dry. Then I checked to see if the toilet lids were closed, because I thought maybe he had just been playing in the water...closed. The third place we checked which we dreaded looking, because by process of elimination, we both knew had to be the reason, was the basement. Sure enough, flooded. Damn.
Apparently, our sump pump had failed to kick on. Also, the back up pump, which runs on water pressure failed to kick on as well. So the water had overflowed the pump pit and was all over the basement. The pumps were both fine, though.
*Warning: my attempt at a "technical" sump pump explanation follows:*
The main pump is supposed to be triggered on when a floating balloon goes upright because the water is high enough to lift it. This "balloon" is on a long hose, but is attached to the pump by a metal fastener with the correct amount of slack to control our water level. Well the metal fastener corroded away and the balloon was now just floating on its side with about 3 feet of slack hose. Nice.
So the back up pump, works with a spring loaded valve that opens the house's water flow to create a vaccuum and force the water up and out. The valve is triggered by a weighted float that is on a string tied to the handle of the valve. The weight holds the valve closed as long as there is tension on the string. When the water level rises, the string slackens allowing the spring to open the valve. There are two problems with this method: 1. Eventually, the string will rot away...but the worst that would happen here is a huge water bill from the valve staying open. 2. Cats play with strings...which is I think what happened in our case. The string was tangled around the pipes of the pump, and the spring was no longer putting pressure on the valve.
*End "technical" nerdiness.*
In any case, we mopped up the water, and did damage control on the thankfully few things that got wet. Our basement is unfinished, and right now we only have a few things stored down there. Many things are in plastic boxes. An inch of water doesn't do much damage to wooden furniture either. I did have my photography "studio" set up down there...and a couple of the backdrops got wet. But I just threw them in the washing machine, no biggie. Chad spent all day working with his dad and his brother to replace both pumps. They were both still working, but we are planning to carpet and drywall the basement this year...so new pumps can't hurt. The backup one now has a rod and an enclosed spring to trigger it, so hopefully no more malfunctions.
We are REALLY REALLY glad this all happened yesterday so we could take care of it before there is more at stake in the finished basement. No soggy carpeting, thank you. I guess the water table here is pretty high. We had some trouble with water sitting at the back of our yard last week. The water level in the ditch back there was actually higher than the sump pump's outlet pipe. Chad had to dig all that out too. Its fantastic being a homeowner.
Another reason I'm glad it was yesterday and not tomorrow is because as I am writing this, we are having this installed in the basement:
Only ours has "ocean blue" felt!We got an awesome deal on it, some guy bought it and only had it 4 months...he says he only played on it about 5 times. He is unfortunately getting divorced, and wants to sell it before his wife can take it. Chad's brother refelts tables as a side job, and came across it. He would have kept it, but he doesn't have a house. We wanted to get one eventually after we got the basement done...but this deal was so good, we are taking it now. I researched it online, and from what I can tell, we are paying about 1/3 of what it should cost new! I am super excited! I can't wait to get the basement all done.
Labels: homeownershipness, life happens
1 Comments:
Ugh I feel your pain about the wet basement. We don't even have a sump pump (we'll be installing one within the year) but to have both pumps break is a major bummer. It is really good you were home and able to take care of it.
Yay for the pool table too!
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