I’ve been a house owner for only a little over seven months, and I’ve already learned an important lesson: there’s always something going wrong, and whatever that something is, it’s never simple to fix.
Actually, I already knew that about houses, which is why I never wanted one, but after a lifetime of dealing with landlords and ladies, I’ve discovered that it’s so much better dealing directly with repair people than through a middle party who doesn’t care about the comfort and convenience of renters.
Still, no matter what needs to done, it always entails so much more than originally expected. For example, when the enclosed porch foundation needed to be fixed, it turned out there was barely any foundation at all, so that an entirely new concrete footer had to be built. Then we discovered that the iron sewer line under the porch was rusting out.
And so it’s been going with all the repairs.
My latest “fix” is a pipe. A neighbor told me a few months ago that the kitchen pipes had a tendency to freeze, so the contractor said he’d insulate the pipes before winter. The previous owner said he’d fixed the problem with an insulated cover for the outside faucet, but I wanted to be doubly sure that the pipes wouldn’t freeze in this time of frigid temperatures. So yesterday, the contractor showed up with pipe “noodles” and discovered a leak in the pipe. Not having the time, tools, or parts to fix the pipe, he left with the pipes uninsulated and with instructions to leave the water dripping in the kitchen to ensure that the pipes don’t freeze.
Which I did, but oh, my, it sure was hard it was for my waste-less soul to leave water dripping!
Whether due to the drip, the insulation for the outside cover, or simple good luck, the pipes made it through the snowy night.
And so did I.
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Pat Bertram is the author of Grief: The Inside Story – A Guide to Surviving the Loss of a Loved One. “Grief: The Inside Story is perfect and that is not hyperbole! It is exactly what folk who are grieving need to read.” –Leesa Healy, RN, GDAS GDAT, Emotional/Mental Health Therapist & Educator.
Bertram's Blog 
October 30, 2019 at 11:35 am
Yes you need to definitely do something with your pipes when we have this cold weather my son Kevin came out and plug in my heater in the well house it is a heat tape that we keep in there and I keep it plugged in all winter hope you’re feeling better and will be able to see you Thursday at 11 o’clock for lunch let me know if I need to pick you up I think I will go ahead and plan on picking you up with the snow you don’t need to be walking in now
October 30, 2019 at 1:17 pm
I’m still planning on your picking me up. See you tomorrow!
October 30, 2019 at 12:27 pm
I’m glad you made it thru last night! Hope tonight is good!!! Have you built a snow man??
October 30, 2019 at 1:18 pm
I never even thought of a snowman. Silly me! But then, I still have a trace of a cough, so I wouldn’t have anyway. Next time for sure!