The thrilling conclusion to the Incident of the Leaky Pipe
Okay, serious props are due to both Home Depot and to the City of Allentown Bureau of Water Resources. I'm still in shock over the speedy response to the leaky pipe in my basement.
When I went to Home Depot, I showed one of the salesmen a picture of my water meter and pointed out the joint that was leaking. I told him I just needed something like silicone tape that could provide a temporary fix until I could get a plumber out to my house (I was going to wait until tomorrow morning to call so as to avoid emergency/Sunday fees). He showed me where the silicone tape was, but advised me that a plumber might not be effective since the city is responsible for all meter issues, and as such all parts used in repairs are proprietary and a regular plumber might not have what's needed. Awesome, news to me, glad I asked someone before simply walking out with a roll of tape and a 6 gallon bucket.
I used 3/4 of the roll of tape on the joint, but naturally it didn't do shit. So I let my supervisor know my schedule tomorrow might have to be dramatically altered to either accommodate the plumber/city water rep or so I could periodically return home to empty the bucket. That is, assuming I'd even go in at all (I'd be so distracted by thoughts of the leak growing worse and the basement flooding-- that would be oh so much fun what with the furnace and water boiler just a few feet from the water meter. . .). I was also frustrated at the thought of having to set my alarm to wake me once or twice during the night so I could empty the damn bucket.
Then I realized I could just shut off the main water valve before bed and again before leaving for work. Okay, cool, that might alleviate some of the stress and worry and help to normalize my schedule.
At this point I decided to call the emergency after-hours number for the City of Allentown to at least report the leaky meter, hoping they could go ahead and schedule something for tomorrow and then I'd have advance notice and could coordinate with work without playing it by ear as originally planned. I spoke with a dispatcher, and she assured me she'd contact the water bureau. So I kicked back and waited for the call back to confirm whatever needed confirming.
That call was never to come. Let me tell you, I'm still in a state of total and utter shock right now over how the city handled this. Haha, good luck getting the government to do anything for you, right?
I'd made my call a little after 7.30 PM. There was a knock at my door shortly after 8. A man armed with a flashlight and a number of wrenches came in, fixed the meter, and even left a few of the proper washers for me to have on hand just for the hell of it. He was incredibly kind, and he assured me that I owed absolutely nothing since the meter is the city's responsibility, not mine.
I could have kissed him.
Absolutely amazing. Thank you, Mr. Home Depot man, for tipping me off to the nature of water meters, and thank you to the Allentown dispatcherwho took my call and a huge thank you to the Allentown Water Bureau repair man who came out at 8:00 PM on a Sunday night to fix the leak in my basement, and thank you for doing it with a smile and for being so amused at my disbelief that it was at no charge to me. I was so bloody thrilled with this resolution that I STILL have a dippy grin plastered on my face.
Heh, I just can't stop thinking about the veritable waterfall in my apartment bathroom, the constant stream of water which fell from the pipes in the shower day and night, for weeks and weeks and weeks. I gave up trying to get it fixed because my lease was up anyway and soon I wouldn't have to listen to it anymore anyway. And now I had a problematic leak in my basement which could have caused quite a lot of stress and damage, and I got it fixed within 30 minutes of a single phone call. I fucking love being responsible for my own place (I say until I have to replace the furnace or the roof or until a pipe bursts, heh).
Wow. A city bureau actually responded immediately and cheerfully. And on a Sunday night of all times. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
When I went to Home Depot, I showed one of the salesmen a picture of my water meter and pointed out the joint that was leaking. I told him I just needed something like silicone tape that could provide a temporary fix until I could get a plumber out to my house (I was going to wait until tomorrow morning to call so as to avoid emergency/Sunday fees). He showed me where the silicone tape was, but advised me that a plumber might not be effective since the city is responsible for all meter issues, and as such all parts used in repairs are proprietary and a regular plumber might not have what's needed. Awesome, news to me, glad I asked someone before simply walking out with a roll of tape and a 6 gallon bucket.
I used 3/4 of the roll of tape on the joint, but naturally it didn't do shit. So I let my supervisor know my schedule tomorrow might have to be dramatically altered to either accommodate the plumber/city water rep or so I could periodically return home to empty the bucket. That is, assuming I'd even go in at all (I'd be so distracted by thoughts of the leak growing worse and the basement flooding-- that would be oh so much fun what with the furnace and water boiler just a few feet from the water meter. . .). I was also frustrated at the thought of having to set my alarm to wake me once or twice during the night so I could empty the damn bucket.
Then I realized I could just shut off the main water valve before bed and again before leaving for work. Okay, cool, that might alleviate some of the stress and worry and help to normalize my schedule.
At this point I decided to call the emergency after-hours number for the City of Allentown to at least report the leaky meter, hoping they could go ahead and schedule something for tomorrow and then I'd have advance notice and could coordinate with work without playing it by ear as originally planned. I spoke with a dispatcher, and she assured me she'd contact the water bureau. So I kicked back and waited for the call back to confirm whatever needed confirming.
That call was never to come. Let me tell you, I'm still in a state of total and utter shock right now over how the city handled this. Haha, good luck getting the government to do anything for you, right?
I'd made my call a little after 7.30 PM. There was a knock at my door shortly after 8. A man armed with a flashlight and a number of wrenches came in, fixed the meter, and even left a few of the proper washers for me to have on hand just for the hell of it. He was incredibly kind, and he assured me that I owed absolutely nothing since the meter is the city's responsibility, not mine.
I could have kissed him.
Absolutely amazing. Thank you, Mr. Home Depot man, for tipping me off to the nature of water meters, and thank you to the Allentown dispatcherwho took my call and a huge thank you to the Allentown Water Bureau repair man who came out at 8:00 PM on a Sunday night to fix the leak in my basement, and thank you for doing it with a smile and for being so amused at my disbelief that it was at no charge to me. I was so bloody thrilled with this resolution that I STILL have a dippy grin plastered on my face.
Heh, I just can't stop thinking about the veritable waterfall in my apartment bathroom, the constant stream of water which fell from the pipes in the shower day and night, for weeks and weeks and weeks. I gave up trying to get it fixed because my lease was up anyway and soon I wouldn't have to listen to it anymore anyway. And now I had a problematic leak in my basement which could have caused quite a lot of stress and damage, and I got it fixed within 30 minutes of a single phone call. I fucking love being responsible for my own place (I say until I have to replace the furnace or the roof or until a pipe bursts, heh).
Wow. A city bureau actually responded immediately and cheerfully. And on a Sunday night of all times. Thank you, thank you, thank you!