Pigeon Point Project A 1907 Craftsman, rebuilt · 2005–2009

Here I go again...

June 27, 2005 · Trissa · 6 comments

The project was supposed to be simple: get the 4 parts and re-install the toilet. I stopped at HD on my way home and got the new wax seal and the bolts, forgetting about needing a new valve and water supply hose. That’s okay, I had another errand to run so I made another stop at HD to pick up the valve and hose. I must have spent twenty minutes looking at all the choices and I left confident I had what I needed and that I could have the project done by the time Nick got home from work. I turned the water off to the whole house and drained the pipes, leaving a couple of faucets open for when I turned it back on. Then I removed the old valve, remembered to use the tape and installed the new valve. I made sure the valve was off and then turned the water back on. The valve worked great, and I was ready to put the connect the hose that would go to the tank. I go to put it on and it’s the wrong size. Who knows what connection I tried at the store, but obviously it wasn’t the connection that I had. Okay, I still have time. I turn the water back off, remove the valve and take it back to HD to get the correct one. I spend more time looking, double check and head home again, hoping to beat Nick home. He’s there when I get home and I think I’m ready, but discover that I didn’t make sure that the valve was threaded on both ends. This is past amusing, but I have to keep a good attitude. I bring Nick along with me & when we find the valve, he asks if I’m positive that the hose is 3/8 inch and I show him the box that I took the hose out of, take another hose and connect it to the valve. We are now set! We go home and it turns out that the box had 3/8 and 1/2 in the same box and of course I had the 1/2 hose. One last trip to Home Depot, because I am now determined to get this simple project done. It works fine and we get it all put back together. We decide that the water is flowing slowly and then determine that we should replace all the mechanisms inside the tank- we saved that 6th trip to HD for the next morning. Five was enough for me and I really wasn’t trying to set a record for last week’s poll! Many people have said they buy one of everything when doing a plumbing project and then return what they don’t use. That’s a very good idea & I’ll do that next time!

6 Comments

  1. SD·June 27, 2005

    We do the buy everything and return most of it method too but when we have a big project going, sometimes its nice to have one person who, more or less, just runs to the store and back all day.

  2. ben·June 27, 2005

    if they have a good return policy and you’ve got enough cash, try buying one of each size all at once. then return the wrong, unused sizes on the next trip. That way you’ve got options available for any “suprises”.

  3. Greg·June 27, 2005

    That sort of ruins my whole formula I had worked out for the number of trips to the hardware store one can expect for a plumbing job.

  4. Trissa·June 27, 2005

    I think the problem was that I didn’t use your formula when I went on the first trip!

  5. Derek·June 27, 2005

    It sure doesn’t make me look forward to doing plumbing… and that’s what I should be doing in a week or so.

  6. Carpenter Dan·June 27, 2005

    That is the prblem with HD. So many choices and no help to pick the right ones. Go to your little local plumbing store and ask lots of questions. I did 37 years ago, and it turned into a career for me. Generally stay away from large retail outlets. If the people working there knew anything they would be practicing their trade, rather than collectigs $10/hr and fringes. Really!