Turn the water off!!!

Blog  43

Remember that we remodeled our new house to create a quilting studio? We were in a state of chaos for weeks of construction until the new enlarged space was finished. After it was all over, I was in a state of Bliss with the new room and I was ready to decorate.

I even named it "My Blue Heaven"

For my Birthday, I asked my Daughter to help me with the final touches to the room, she's very good at construction projects.  I needed my quilt racks put up, my design wall hung and a few shelves installed.  She drove the 2 1/2 hours over to spend 3 days helping me do whatever I wanted done to finish off the room.  Even being here on my Birthday to help me celebrate.  What a great gift!

First, up went the two quilt racks.  Next the two 4' x 8' sound boards and trim to make the design wall.  It would be eight foot by eight foot - be still my heart. Once the last screw went into the second board I heard a tiny sound. Then there was moisture on the wall.  Then we saw a trickle of water coming out of the wall at the screw.  We backed out the screw - THEN IT WAS AS IF THE FABLED LITTLE DUTCH BOY PULLED HIS FINGER OUT OF THE HOLE IN THE DAM! Turn the water off - Turn the water off!!!!! We ran around turning off all water knobs we could find and flipping off the electricity. Where in the &%$*%$@)#! is the water turn off???  My Daughter looked around the yard and house while I called my husband.  Ring, Ring, Ring. Come on, Come on, answer, No answer, I left a message EMERGENCY!! COME HOME!! We couldn't find a shut off valve.  We grabbed waste baskets and started a bucket brigade.  I called 911.  Help, my house is filling up with water.  The 911 operator sent the fire department.  She asked me where the water turn off was and I was tempted to say "If I knew that, I wouldn't have a problem!" but I held my tongue and said "I DON'T KNOW and my husband is at the Rec center and is not answering his phone."  She got the rec center phone number for me.  I called and asked someone to tell him to come home.  Still working on the bucket brigade, the firemen arrived and asked where the shut off was.  My Daughter and I rolling our eyes at their question. Yeah, you know what I was thinking and wanted to say, but instead I said "I DON'T KNOW!"  They continued looking for it for what seemed like hours, while my Daughter and I hauled water buckets! My husband arrived and went to the valve at the street meter but it was too hard to turn so he got tools from the garage for the fireman to turn it off.  It finally stopped!  My Daughter was soaked.  She took the brunt of the water spray.

THERE IS NO WATER TURN OFF other than at the meter.

  That will have to change!  Now to assess the damage.

The Insurance company had us call a company to come out to dry things up.

The room is now full of fans and a dehumidifier.  Once that is over we will contact a contractor to start the restoration process.

It could have been so much worse.  In the grand scheme of things just a bump in the road.  It sure made for an interesting afternoon.  My Daughter will be back for another play date with me and we will try it again.

Meanwhile, I suggest you find out where your water shut off is before you need it.  There may be a water pipe in the wall where it shouldn't be.