How many times have you accomplished the task you say is so easy. I have e worked on flowing lines that were 1/2 to 1" in size that were dammed hard to get a valve onto. I watched and helped my dad with that task a number of times. There are communities were the service pressure to the house regulator exceeds 100 PSIG. In the days before quarter turn ball valves it could be kind of tough to get a rising plate gate valve onto a flowing line. My Dad would cut the ruptured pipe with a pipe cutter, rethread the cut end, and thread a bell reducer onto the new threads. The over sized gate valve was then attached by using a union because there usually was not room to turn the valve. We would both get soaked on the worst ones. Right here in Silver Spring, Maryland I have been on flooded basement calls as a volunteer fire fighter were a foot of water would accumulate before we could get the service lateral shut off.
-- Tom H
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zxcvbob
I didn't say it was easy, and I've never done it. But I think I could get a full-flow gate valve on a flowing pipe in an emergency. Hopefully, I'll never have to find out. I think there's a grain of truth to "unlisted's" story, but he got caught up in the story and embellished it way too much. Like the part about the basement completely filling up in the few hours that the story transpired.
Replacing the valve is still a good idea, even if the story was completely made up.
Before I answer your question, I'd be interested in your input.
But reread the OP post first. Do you think he's a plumber?...or do you think that he's a handyman?
Consider...
One post by him. He arrives at a basement with 2 1/2 feet of water. He comes with a jig that he's obviously used successfully before. Consider the total scope of all he finally did at that location.
What do you call a smart blonde? A golden retriever.
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HorneTD
Sounds like a plumber. Everything he did is within the scope of work of a plumbing and heating contractor. And the jig he had used before works well on low pressure lines of say thirty pounds or less.
-- Tom H
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HorneTD
Just for grins you might want to try it. Buy a garden house to pipe thread adapter and a plastic gate valve and threaded adapter. The whole set will cost about ten to fifteen dollars. Adapt a garden house spigot to pipe thread, Open the spigot up until it is at maximum flow, try and attach your valve assembly to the flowing line. If the pressure is over fifty pounds your in for a struggle.
Maybe someone will do the math for us. How much flow would a relatively clean three quarter inch lateral flow through forty feet of pipe if the main that supplies it is at 100 PSIG which is quite normal here.
That's not the impression I got. Sounds like a handyman...or a REALLY talented and over-licensed contractor.
In my area, those are 2 licenses. A licensed plumber can't do HVAC work.
If its an open hose, why would the operating pressure make that much of a difference. After all, you said that you were able to make those kinda repairs. Why couldn't he?...do ya think.
Here's my take on it...
He never says that he's a plumber.
This is the first thing that got me thinking. You said that you work as a volunteer fire fighter. Why do you get calls for plumbing emergencies? Exactly...its an emergency. That's not to say that someone wouldn't go thru the yellow pages...and try to find a plumber. But many times, folks will call people like yourself...or even the police.
Let's say it took him an hour to get there...2 hours tops. I'm gonna go with the 1 hour premise.
2 1/2 ft. = 1 hour...and the clock is still ticking.
Not many plumbers carry waders...but it could happen. Regular boots at 2 1/2 ft. of water...and rising...would almost be useless...so why put them on?
In his back pocket? Its possible he carried that jig inside...as part of his carry-on bucket. But, more than likely, it required another trip to the truck. Now, remember...that basement is filling up at the rate of 2 1/2 ft./hour.
And all his stuff is sitting in the basement...3 ft. above water...or under the water. Maybe on a high step...entirely possible.
Now I wonder...when did he pull the electrical meter?...and shut off the gas?
And how high was the shutoff (and meter?) from the basement floor. Most that I've seen are right about 2-3 ft. above the floor.
Why? I wouldn't be easy, of course. But there shouldn't be that much resistance...using an open valve...where it couldn't be done.
Why even MENTION this? ALL plumbers do!
95% of all caps are below grade. He made this sound like it was unusual.
Where was his metal detector? He's a plumber without a metal detector? If so, why didn't he just use his rod to poke around a little bit? Not always the easiest thing...but many times will find the cap.
2 1/2 ft. of water/hour x 2 should be about 5 ft. of water in the basement right now. Actually...with him screwin' around...it should be about 3 hours total before the water department got there...that's about 7 1/2 ft. of water in the basement! lol
Yup.
Most folks who cut their grass have the cap below grade...or its flung out into the neighbors yard during the first cut! :) Why would he expect it to NOT be buried under the lawn.
First of all, you don't blow out the VALVE! You blow out the sleeve. And I've never seen anybody 'blow out' a sleeve! The sleeve isn't that big in diameter. When yer doin' the blowin', where's that blown dirt gonna go? It can only go up...and would be very dangerous.
And, in my area, the dirt isn't gonna be like sand. Its gonna be packed dirt. You couldn't blow that out here is ya wanted to.
The procedure here is to use a small clam spiral shovel...like a fence post digger...to try to get the dirt out. Most times, ya simply bring in a backhoe...and dig it up.
NEARLY?!! We're now at about 5-6 hours...at about 2 1/2 ft. per hour. He should now have about 15 ft. of water in the basement! lol BIG basement!!!
Why had several plumbers been out to the house? And how did they know it was bad? And if it WAS bad...for THEM...how did THEY do their plumbing work?
How did he know there WAS a drain? Remember, the basement is now under 2 1/2 to 15 ft. of water!
We're talkin' about clean water here...not sewage. It would be unusual to need to completely scrap all these appliances.
Washer could be plugged in after drying it out thoroughly. At the most, a new motor might be necessary...but unlikely.
Dryer?...same procedure.
Furnace?...just let it dry. Maybe a new motor...and a good cleaning.
Water heater? Electric? If gas, simply take out the burner and clean it...which would be the extreme. Just letting it dry out would probably be all that was needed.
When you worked with your dad, did you guys ever pull an electric meter? Maybe.
Water heater?...need a new burner at the MOST.
Furnace? Border line. Complete replacement? All the above could have been dried off and probably worked fine.
Structural damage? lol Folks must have lived in a sugar shack!
Why would the water department charge them to repair their own equipment? And when did that sleeve get filled with dirt?...if he couldn't even find the cap for it?
If the story IS true, their biggest problem was NOT the $5 defective valve!! lol