| EricHiggin said: Forgot to ask about how many 90's, especially after the clog. Always fear more bends when dealing with plumbing. Bows in the pipe are just asking for clogs. It's the perfect spot for them to start, then build up. I went to the trouble of using some of the new support strapping I got to bend some of the pipes downward, to take the higher bows out to flatten the pipe overall. Looks ridiculous but everything flows extremely well now, except for maybe the master bath and it's nonsense. Soft water goes a long way beyond washing. The old farm house and cast iron piping used to get clogged often enough, even with cleanings, until we got a much upgraded superior water softener system. Also cleaned the pipes at that time, and never had a clog afterwards. Plus the new water felt like washing with silk. No, new definitely doesn't mean well done. Neither does custom anymore. Problem with well built, is it needs to be done 100% correct or it can end up a far bigger problem than half assed these days. With so much emphasis on closing the house in and sealing it up tight, any screw ups and you're asking for giant pains down the road. If I didn't know any better, I'd assume a bunch of green apprentices did all the plumbing work in this house. The master bath plumbing looks like they just had a ton of extra pipe and bends and ran it anywhere to make it look like they were worth the money. Could've been done with half the pipe, would've been far more simple and straight forward, and still up to code. I'm dreading it clogging and having to cut it apart and redo it. Good to hear you got it taken care of, allowing you to avoid some other fears by facing your fears. |
It sounds like such a cliche, but it's true nevertheless. The biggest fear is fear itself.
I had a period where I got afraid of drowning, couldn't do the free stroke anymore in our pool for example, had to keep my head above water at all times. And at night trouble sleeping. It came from my grandfather dying with my father saying he was slowly drowning in his own lungs before he gave out. My mind kept imagining that giving me that fear.
To get 'over it' I kept telling myself, your brain adjusts to any circumstances. Panic is just temporary, eventually it becomes the new 'normal' (or you pass out..) and you'll get through it. (Or not have to deal with it anymore if not...) No sense in fearing things you can't control, deal with it when it comes along.
I can free stroke again and swim under water without imagining drowning etc. Nowadays my 'background' fear for myself is no longer being able to do the stuff I do to unwind, running, mountain biking etc. But that's a healthy fear, avoid unnecessary risk taking. Healing takes longer now I'm past my half century mark, so time to stop accumulating scars lol.
And I guess that also come from my grandfather's death. He died not long after he couldn't do his hobbies anymore (working on his boat). Sitting at home pretty much killed him, gave up the will to go on. (He was 89 already, broke his neck 8 years or so before that from which he recovered and went on working on my sister's farm with external head fixation device on his head while standing on a ladder with a drill)
As for 90's. I snaked the 'extra' pipe under the kitchen sink. At least they had the great idea to leave a clear vertical pipe with cap under the sink, the one that the sink and dishwasher connect to. That goes straight down, then one 90, then a long straight, another 90, forward about a third of the earlier length then a couple, 3 hard turns to get the snake through in about 3-5 ft succession before it goes freely again (and reaches the 50ft). The 25ft snake only made it into the long straight, hence ineffective.
So I assume the problem develops in the long 'straight', then clogs at the first 90, then when getting that loose there's that later series of bends to navigate :/
Anyway got a snake long enough now to get into the collection pipe (I assume by the smell of the last bit, not kitchen smell) And every time you fix it yourself / conquer your fear, next time will be easier!
