Day One
The discovery is made.
Children: “The pipes are frozen! The pipes are frozen!”
I find 52. “The pipes are frozen! The pipes are frozen!”
52: “The pipes can’t be frozen.”
Oh. It was 7 am, okay? I hadn’t had coffee yet and I was easily swayed by the children. And we did live in the old farmhouse the past three winters, so our instant thought is that the pipes are frozen if we have no water.
Me: “We have no water! We have no water!”
52 is at work. We survive the day, barely, as we await the arrival of a new well pump.
Begin dish usage reduction program.
Dinner: Sandwiches.
Mood: Frustrated.
Day Two
52 brings a new well pump only to discover no new pump is required. The pump is working. Electric is getting to the well. Water is not getting to the house. Possibly a separation in the water line at the fittings, or worse, a break in the water line. We have 1000 feet of water line between the well and the house.
We resort to showers at the old farmhouse and lugging buckets of water from the pond to flush toilets. The Princess moves in with Georgia.
Me: “I can’t live without water!!”
52: “You don’t look dead.”
Dinner: Sandwiches.
Mood: Panicked.
Day Three
Investigation resumes with digging in the two known locations where there are fittings.
Showers continue at the old farmhouse. Water lugging from the pond becomes a regular habit.
Me: “You’re lucky I’m not having my period or there would be even more drama!!”
52: “This isn’t drama?”
Dinner: Soup!!!!
Mood: Hysterical.
Water, water, everywhere, except for in my house.
First creek in the road to our house.
Second creek in the road to our house.
Third creek in the road to our house.
Welcome to Day Four with No Water.
PREPARE FOR DRAMA.
wkf says:
Get your water stick……
:flying:
On January 12, 2009 at 1:10 am
Patty says:
Wow, I hope you all find the problem soon. Did you turn off the power to your water heater? I heard if you let it go dry and leave it on it’ll burn out. I’ve been paranoid about this ever since. I don’t know if it’s true or not. I’m sure they have sensors these days. At least you’ve got family nearby and a place to take showers etc. Good luck!!
On January 12, 2009 at 2:13 am
Linda Colbaugh says:
Can you imagine life WITHOUT 52 !!!!! ?????
On January 12, 2009 at 3:30 am
shannon says:
“Princess moves in with Georgia.” Love it!!!
On January 12, 2009 at 4:05 am
Patricia Herman says:
No advice – just prayers that you find whatever is wrong and get water soon. What would you do without “52” around?
On January 12, 2009 at 4:34 am
Kathryn says:
I hope today is water day!
On January 12, 2009 at 4:39 am
Snapper says:
Oh no!
Hopefuuly that is figured out and fixed soon.
On January 12, 2009 at 5:00 am
Leah says:
You may need rain barrel for extra water, plus it’s good to wash your hair with it, makes it softer. Or, a sm well for times such as these. Sorry for your water trouble.
On January 12, 2009 at 5:05 am
Bee says:
Oh,no! It is so time for drama!!! Did you warn 52 that this would be drama day?
On January 12, 2009 at 5:15 am
Becky says:
I don’t miss those days at all!
Wish you luck on finding your water problem and I hope it’s something easily repaired!
On January 12, 2009 at 5:40 am
Heidi says:
OH I wish I could haul some water for you!! *hugs* good luck my dear.
On January 12, 2009 at 5:45 am
Diane says:
Oh my been there done that. Get on 52 tell him to fix it now!! Ok not that easy. lol.
We have lost of water, and toliet at my house several times since we owned it. From digging up the well in mid winter, or sloppy spring. To replaceing the seward pipe in the house and hoping and praying hubby can get it fixed in a resonable amount of time. Oh changeing the plumming for the bathroom was not fun.
You will be praising God when you get your water back. Sounds like you have a break in the line. Did 52 find it yet?? Did you check your plumming in the house?
On January 12, 2009 at 5:45 am
Julie says:
This. Is. Not. Good.
On January 12, 2009 at 6:09 am
Heidi533 says:
Oh my goodness Suzanne. I hope it gets fixed soon. :o( Thank goodness for the old farm house.
On January 12, 2009 at 6:18 am
Amelia says:
Having lived in the country for many years…I know what you are going thru…tis not any fun!
Good luck on finding the problem and that the cost will be on the cheap side.
On the plus side this will make for a funny article for the newspaper.
On January 12, 2009 at 6:51 am
Linda says:
I so feel for you. I have been there. You are luck you have a place to shower and get water to flush with. We have to haul water from town when we have a problem. Thats one set back to living in the country. Hope it gets fixed soon and without digging up too much. Ours gets air sometimes and has to be primed.
On January 12, 2009 at 6:57 am
IowaDeb says:
Yikes! Hope all will be well again soon and you saved yourself some Rum!
On January 12, 2009 at 7:10 am
Traci in GA says:
Oh, no.
We are looking to buy a house soon. We have looked in the country, in the “town” and in the fancy schmancy Home Owners Associations subdivisions.
Now I’m leaning toward fancy subdivisions, where this would be someone else’s problem to fix!! :wall:
Hang in there!!
?Clover didn’t join Princess?
On January 12, 2009 at 7:12 am
Kris7 says:
During the Flood of ’93, the whole community had no water for a few days (the water co was flooded). Everyone was spending lots of time at the fast food places one town over just to go potty. And we thought we were roughing it!!
And you…with no fast food nearby!!! Here’s wishing water your way!
Kris7
Working hard at http://www.sccworlds.com
On January 12, 2009 at 7:25 am
heidiannie says:
Water is so necessary! My house feels completely dead when the water is not working! I am feeling your frustration and praying for a quick discovery of the problem.
On January 12, 2009 at 7:30 am
jane says:
Oh my been there done that before – no fun at all. we can live without food longer than water. we need water for everything. Hope my package comes today to cheer you – if you can get through on the roads.
On January 12, 2009 at 7:31 am
Remudamom says:
Well, I’m trying not to laugh but not suceeding. Our first year on the ranch our pipes froze too. Almost half a mile to the well. Dh spent all his spare time digging up the line trying to find the leak. He spent so much time digging that one night he dreamed he was digging and shoveled me right onto the floor!
I’m sorry, it really is miserable without water.
On January 12, 2009 at 7:44 am
Claudia W. says:
I have gone without electricity, I have gone without cable…but I have never gone without water, unless it was a shut off I did to repair something like a toilet or shower thing. Oh I so hope that you get that problem found and fixed soon. Cause I know that when I shut the water off for even a couple of hours it is hell around here.
On January 12, 2009 at 7:59 am
Suzette says:
OMG! I thought this would have a happy ending! Now I’m chewing my nails and wriggling around on this bed of pins and needles. I hope you find the problem…and soon!
On January 12, 2009 at 8:10 am
anni says:
Suzanne, I’m so proud of you for not saying anything for 4 days, talk about suffering in silence!
anni in Toronto
On January 12, 2009 at 8:28 am
Jill S. says:
If it helps, our pipes have frozen twice so far in two weeks. And I don’t have a Georgia to go move in with …
On January 12, 2009 at 8:35 am
Suzanne says:
Water, water everywhere and not a drop…..to flush. Oh my! Water problems. I sure hope you find the frozen/broken portion soon. This could be quite a hunt.
– Suzanne, the Farmer’s Wife
On January 12, 2009 at 8:39 am
MARY says:
:hissyfit: You poor thing!!!!! I’m sending all my mental powers to produce water your way!! Good luck. I hope it will be fixed today!! :hissyfit:
On January 12, 2009 at 8:42 am
jane says:
Suzanne – Isnt Georgia approaching her 1000 post? There should be balloons, cake and ice cream or something!!!!
On January 12, 2009 at 8:44 am
Leah says:
I noticed that GeorigiaZ is close to 1,000 posts too. She should make it in large bold red letters or something!
On January 12, 2009 at 11:03 am
Sonshine says:
Suzanne, this has happened with our well several times before! Once it was a switch somewhere in the pressure/holding tank that was frozen up. My sis is becoming an expert on fixing well problems and I am sure that if you wanted to call her, she would be happy to explain all the problems and fixes she has gone through! I won’t publish her phone number here for obvious reasons but you are welcome to email me and I will send you her phone number! She has saved us loads of money by fixing ours herself! :bananadance:
On January 12, 2009 at 8:46 am
becki says:
Sincere sympathies from Galveston. In September, we had no water for 5 days. Then, we were under “boil or bottle” for another two weeks. Tap water, although clean, was not safe for even brushing teeth or pets.
Needless to say, we got very creative with water conservation measures. Before Ike, we set aside 30 gallons of water for 3 people, 3 cats, 1 dog, and the Oldest Goldfish in Texas (darn that Elmo!).
When the city turned the valve back on, I think everyone rushed into their houses for a shower before it got dark (power wouldn’t return for another two weeks.
On January 12, 2009 at 8:55 am
jane says:
My sister lives in Houston and we were in Houston that week until late Thurs. she had no power for 3-4 days only, used a generator and they had bought and stored water too. pretty scarry she said going through the storm. they boarded up her house ( she ownes4) and waited it out per the Mayor’s instructions. Cant imagine. I have had to boil water before and had the electricity go out but not to this magnitude. How did Galveston fair with the storm? I love going to Galveston, the old downtown, great seafood, the peanut butter factory.
On January 12, 2009 at 12:44 pm
becki says:
We did ok. We got water in the house, but we had insurance, and aince we finally got our insurance check, we can now repair.
We stayed. Our house is solid cypress, tough wood. It’s been here since 1920 with no previous hurricane damage. Until Sept 13, never any flooding of any kind. We stayed, which meant as soon as the water receded, we used every towel in the house to dry the floors. Everythig on the floor was lost. All the books that were on bottom bookshelves were lost. Jeeps don’t swim. We lost almost all of our landsca[ping because of the salt water intrusion. We don’t have pix of it, but there were whitecaps in the middle of my calm, residential block. Our picnic table floated down the block. We know its our because its painted the same shade as the trim of our house.
Will we stay again? It was scary. But it was even worse for friends who had to wait two weeks for the city to allow residents back in their own homes.
On January 12, 2009 at 8:57 pm
CindyP says:
sympathies are with you and your family………except maybe Princess, Georgia’s taking care of her!! won’t it beat all if it’s something way too simple…..then you will be posting about the huge mark on your head as you were pounding it against the wall (or 52’s)………LOL! no, i’m not laughing, i remember when….i didn’t always live in town with city water service!!
On January 12, 2009 at 9:07 am
karen l says:
Aieeeee! Of course this would never happen when it was warm outside! Your fingers need to be properly frozen to the handle of the shovel as you do your best to find the break!
Good luck fording those streams! Have you thought about a big wheel truck? You know, the kind that rolls over other trucks in those tractor pull shows we see ads for? I can see you plowing across that skinny little dirt road! Talk about a trailblazer!
On January 12, 2009 at 9:13 am
Abiga/karen says:
No water is bad! We had the electric go out twice so far this winter. When that happens the pump does not work so then no water when the pipes empty. My son in law had been teasing me for saving jugs of water in the basement for any emergency that might come up and we had none. Well he saw my wisdom then and we had water to flush the toilets. We do have a small generator now but use it for the heat and tv when electric goes out.There is supposed to be a place to plug in the pump but we haven’t found it yet. Blessings and hope and pray it all gets fixed soon and not for a lot of $$$. And when this is solved start saving some water in the basement in empty bottles or jugs.
On January 12, 2009 at 9:13 am
SuzieQ says:
Many years ago, before we were on city water service, my husband was in the middle of a shower…all lathered up and suddenly no water..hollered at me to “stop messing around with me and cut the water back on”..shows you how we loved to prank each other EXCEPT I wasn’t fooling around..the pump had gone out..at least it was summer and not freezing while he worked on it..Hang in there!!
On January 12, 2009 at 10:36 am
Patty says:
Would You like me to look up the number to the nearest Motel 6 for you?
Wow what a mess. I hope you get this taken care of soon. It isn’t so bad in the summer, you can at lest get out and find the problem but in the winter it is cold to have to be outside digging..
Good luck to you. I will check back in soon to see how everyone is.
On January 12, 2009 at 11:06 am
Jean says:
I just finished paying to have some of my pipes replaced. Apparently, there were pinhole-sized holes in the original pipes that just kept getting bigger. We have a lot of minerals in the water here. They had to pull all the pipe to get to the last six or so that were rusted. Our well is 630 feet deep. These pipes are only three years old.
There are so many variables that can go wrong with wells and pumps. I hope you find it soon.
When I lived in WV, we had a cistern that we could refill by buying water (trucks delivered it). We did have a well but it wasn’t connected to the house – it was for the livestock. We did connect a hose to the well and refill the cistern that way.
I agree that a rain barrel or two is not a bad idea.
On January 12, 2009 at 11:40 am
Robin G. says:
There is no kind of hell worse than plumbing hell, truly.
On January 12, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Ellen says:
That’s the Crap Fairy for you : )
This is one that never occurred to me…but why not, water mains are always breaking in the winter in the Big City. That’s really bad. I have the same setup as you (old house, old well, old pipes) so you have my sympathies. I think these little slaps from the greater power are for keeping us in line somehow : )
On January 12, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Darlene says:
We had a break in our water line and went for over a week without water but we had very good neighbors who loved us. We had the ceiling fall in our kitchen while we were on vacation and the water line (in the attic, no basement) froze and burst and water ran for a week. My babies and I moved to a motel!
Hope yours is fixed today….its **** without water 🙁
On January 12, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Cynthia says:
I feel your pain, Suzanne! We used to have a well pump that went out all the time when we were renting a house, and it would take days for them to get it fixed.
You never know how much you take water for granted until you no longer have it! 🙁 Hope it gets fixed soon.
On January 12, 2009 at 12:46 pm
mmHoney says:
I DO KNOW THAT WATER LINES HAVE TO BE BELOW THE FROST LINE. WE ALWAYS CONTACTED THE EXTENSION AGENT. THE PIPES COMING INTO THE HOUSE WERE BOXED UP AND FILLED WITH SAW DUST – FOR INSULATION – I AM SURE THEY HAVE BETTER SOLUTIONS. GOOD LUCK.
On January 12, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Pam says:
Oh Suzanne, I hope you find the problem and get it fixed soon! I can only imagine how frustrating this is for you…
On January 12, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Jodie says:
I guess I can never live in the country. My husband would NOT survive loosing the water. He almost melted down at the end of December when we were without hot water for a day or so. He called me at work the day it broke complaining that the hot water in the shower never got hot. I had to go home to deal with it. He’s not good in crisis’.
:hissyfit: Thank goodness you have the old farmhouse, the pond, the creeks & river and 52. Maybe a rainbarrel or 4 is a good idea to use rain water for emergencies and watering the garden. That’s what they did in the old days in Texas. My relatives had several ‘cisterns’ another name for a large rain barrel.
On January 12, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Estella says:
How do you stand it??? I CANNOT go without water!
On January 12, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Brandy says:
I hope the problem is found soon!
On January 12, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Susan says:
It looks like your water is filling the creeks! 😯
Good luck getting the water running soon. :heart:
On January 12, 2009 at 3:00 pm
JenniferB says:
:no: It is definitely drama day! I hope 52 is good with the drama and the water! 😉
On January 12, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Christine says:
ROTFL, okay I know you’re worried about getting running water going again right now, but good gracious when are ya’ll gonna build some bridges? :shocked:
On January 12, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Kris7 says:
I know this is late in the day, but…
does anyone rely on rain barrels (or rainwater) solely for their water? I guess after its been filtered, of course.
Just wondering if enough water falls from the sky to satisfy a household.
Kris7
Working hard at http://www.sccworlds.com
On January 12, 2009 at 5:53 pm
catslady says:
No help here but I sure hope you find the problem soon!
On January 12, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Granny Sue says:
It might be a switch, Suzanne, in the box that’s located at your house. We had the same problem over Memorial Day last year–houseful of company and no water. It’s not so bad when you get a plan going on how to manage. There was a burned out switch or fuse or something in the box. We called Dusty the well guy and he fixed it in no time. Call him. It’ll cost but be so worth it!
On January 12, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Gail says:
I HATE being without water. You have a new well, new water lines and a new house with new plumbing… this shouldn’t be happening to you this soon! At our previuos house we were without water and initially thought it was the pump. The well was 12yrs. old, as was the pump. Hubby called the well driller people (and if you don’t have “people” its wonderful to have a 52 that can fix things!) As it turns out, it wasn’t the pump itself, but electrical wiring supplying the pump. Over the years with some friction, the coating had worn down on the wires and it was shorting out We would have intermitent power to the pump. They guy said when it was installed the electrical wiring should have been wrapped well to prevent rubbing away of the coating as the pump vibrates. We keep a supply of water in orange juice jugs and milk jugs filled in the basement for toilet flushing emergencies, and sanitized water in jugs with 10 drops of bleach that could be used for drinking and cooking.
We refresh the bleach treated ones every 2 mos. (There is no chlorine taste or or odor…it’s just enough to kill off any bacteria that could multiply overtime while being stored.Hope the water will soon be flowing freely in your house!!! I’m with Princess… I’d hightail it to GEORGIA’S too!!!
On January 12, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Rooth says:
Dear Suzanne:
This is why God created Hilton’s okay or Motel 6 at this point. Get thee to a place with clean sheets, towels and HOT WATER. Omgosh I would die…You are a better woman than I am. Bless you!
hehehe kiddin (Not really)
On January 12, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Lynn Daniels says:
You poor thing! Sending all the good jujus I can muster to bring about and end to your water drama. I don’t know how you’re doing it (other than the fact it seems you have no choice, so you do it), I honestly don’t think I could go four days without water.
On January 12, 2009 at 9:00 pm
tillie says:
princess has earned her tiara!!
good luck with your situation…someday it will become funny. 😆
On January 12, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Debbie in PA says:
Oh Suzanne…..4 days and not a peep out of you about it! I have no advice, but I hope that you are able to find the problem soon. How miserable, especially in the winter. Other than prayer, I don’t have a whole lot to offer you!
On January 12, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Lola-Dawn says:
That’s one aspect of country life I don’t miss … or one aspect of city life (city water supply) I rather appreciate. I sure hope you find the problem soon.
On January 12, 2009 at 11:29 pm