The adventure changes

For those of you who viewed my earlier post about the water troubles at home, this is just to show how easy it is to jump to false and troublesome conclusions. 

Yesterday after some mounting doubts over whether the replacement water main had solved the problem, due to some areas at the back of the kitchen cupboards still not really showing any conclusive signs that they were drying out, and because the cupboards were sufficiently damaged to need to be replaced anyway, I dismantled and pulled out two of them. I say dismantled before removal as they would not come out any other way short of the heavy hammer method, not my style unless I really have steam and careless anger to let off.
This allowed me to get closer to the seemingly persistently wet area and to the hole in the blockwork wall between the kitchen and bathroom through which the cold and hot water feed pipes run. The upper parts of the pipes that I could see were still dry, but very clearly the blockwork under them was wet and it was clear that there was still a trickle of running water over the lower part of the crudely cut hole in the wall and from there down to the floor. In fact I realised that the base of the old cupboards and the years old builders rubble they hid was not only holding the trickle of water back from the main floor but directing it down under the bitumastic surface of the floor. Putting my fingers in the hole to investigate the pipes I found they were still dry although I could not get my fingers all the way round as the lower pipe was resting on the blockwork. In fact now that I was disturbing things more water came out across the floor.
Clearly this water was not coming from under the slab, felt mildly warm, and must be from a pipe, but still the question was which one and where. I dismantled half of our en-suite bathroom, that backs onto that wall, to get to the other side of the hole and also the hidden heating pipes, a possible source for the water. Again dampness but no more, no wet pipes and nothing to suggest where the water was coming from except not there. So back to the cramped corner of the kitchen where the cupboards had been, the water ponding now and barriers of old towels and frequent ringing of them necessary.

Eventually, way too much like a miner with lamp, hammer and masonry chisel in a very small space, I cleared some of the blockwork away from round the pipes and found the source, a fine spray of water, midway through the block wall, from the hot feed pipe to the batroom wash hand basin. Relief in a way but now to stop it. Empty the airing cupboard to get at the only stop tap, way back in the system, and eventually the water gradually reduced in pressure. As the stop tap was so far back in the system that action cut off all the hot water supply to the whole house, so repair was not only necessary but urgent if we were to keep at least some of our remaining creature comforts.

Down to the DIY store for the relevant bits, some cutting out of the old in difficult places, some fitting of the new whilst bent double trying to make sure the joints would be water tight, and nervous testing later and the supply was restored, no leaks after some extra wrench tightening and the problems solved!!! Solved is way too final a word for what is still ahead of us.
I now have on my desk the bit of pipe with the hole, again a mystery. The hole looks old, not made by me with the hammer and chisel, does not have wear marks around it as you would expect if formed by rubbing against the rough surface of the blockwork, and looks more like a cross between a split and damage before/during installation. But if so then it has taken a hell of a time to weaken enough to fail as the place was built some 25 years ago. Also, being a hard water area, that would help to heal/seal not erode. Anyway that was the fundamental question and it is answered.

I say answered but of course this is not what I and others thought and have taken action on including the expensive and very disruptive alternative water main. My diagnosis was faulty, no others questioned it, or did any tests or inspections themselves, and now I wonder who will think what about where we are now with the damage, costs and consequences.

We have until this coming Friday to win the battle of drying the place out, but at least there is no more water coming in. If it is not dry enough on Friday the fans, dehumidifier and brain numbing noise will stay possibly for another week.

But for me the work yesterday had another cost, my back. My old problem came back with a vengeance, getting in and out of the cramped places, and so I am currently moving round like a very old man while taking the pain killers. I know how to have fun, know what I am doing, and have an adventure in the process. Yesterday by turns I was so angry then close to tears, repeatedly. Adventures, mysteries, fun and still plenty to go.