Blind Dave Heeley's Blog

Week 11th Oct.
Along with work commitments , training and other events I tried to get a few of those jobs completed, you know the ones? Those I've been wanting to do for ages! We ordered the concrete gravel boards for Wicksies pen, stroke of luck there, the lads delivering them slid them into place , job well done and saved any of my fingers! Off the wagon and into the concrete posts, bonus. As Deb had left for school, I had replaced the battery in the bell push and it worked, when she came back it was still working but it's new place was on the floor! The sticky that stuck it to the outside door frame had obviously lost it's sticky, there it was on the floor!
We had also decided to try and stop the leak from the upstairs toilet system, coming through the over flow and finding it's way on to the patio doors below, right lets get it sorted. Lifted the lid on the toilet system, feeling about in the water couldn't find the problem, the water was coming from the over flow, but why? The best way to solve the problem, replace the complete innards, so off to the plumbers merchants. We picked up the relevant parts, gained instructions from the man in the shop, also bought some double sided tape for the bell push and headed home to repair.
Emptied the system of water, Deb clearing the residue with a cloth, also putting a small plastic tray under the pipe, carpet safe as well!
Not being a plumber I didn't have a large enough spanner to fit the nut, tried pliers, no good, found an adjustable spanner, to small and still no good, went in search of old tools I had kept in boxes from my Dads and Debs, hey presto found a spanner that fitted! Loosened the pipe, good job Deb thought of the tray, caught the water from the pipe. Took the old stuff out, put the new stuff in, tightened every thing up and then realised I had to fit the ball cock assembly before fitting the innards! Undone the nuts again, took out the new innards, put the ball cock assembly on , put it all back , tightened up, put the ball cock on , it seemed OK, filled up the system and waited for the water level to come up. The ball cock snagged on the side of the system and the flaming water still came well over the level and now it wasn't just a little drip, but it gushed outside!What the hell, drained the system, took out the innards, moved it slightly over, tightened back up , got to work this time, so filled up the system again. Couldn't believe it, the ball cock cleared the system but the water still gushed out! Deb read the instructions to me again! And again we couldn't see, or in my case feel the parts they mentioned, it said to turn the small cylinder clockwise to alter the height of the ball cock, I tried every thing! Then quite by mistake I felt a tiny ridge in a small plastic part with my finger nail, I wonder? Applying a screwdriver with slight pressure, turned it clock wise, some thing happened, the ball cock lowered slightly and the water level dropped, we both stood , Deb watching, me listening, holding our breathe!It stopped! Five to three, just as Deb had to go and pick the kids up from school, she quickly checked outside, no leak, superb.
Whilst Deb went to collect the kids, I put the bell push back on the door frame with the new double sided tape, when she got back she inspected the pipe from the outside, still no leak she exclaimed, with relief I collected up my tools. How clumsy one can be, not like me at all! I trod on the plastic tray, you guessed, dirty water all over the bathroom carpet, nice stain, next job, new carpet and Deb not too happy!
Mind one thing we did learn, not being a plumber we read and re read the instructions, to be honest they were as clear as mud! This part, that part, why don't firms colour code the smaller plastic parts would make life a lot easier, mind at the bottom of the instructions there is some great advice, if all fails, call a proper plumber! I'll give them proper plumber.
I've had enough already of this weeks exploits, need a break and a cuppa before continuing, see you later.