Sunday, January 5, 2014

What happens when pipes burst.

When August rolled around, it was time for my son to start marching season at the high school.  Early mornings made for long days, hot ones at that, and staying in was really the only way to stay cool.  At the end of August the kids started school and we were back into a routine.  Things were going great, and then it happened.  

The yells of a 6 year old that the toilet was leaking water everywhere in the downstairs bathroom.  It's a sound that strikes fear into my bones, because water leaking from anything is bad.  BAD!  And, wow, was it bad.  I ran into the bathroom expecting to see water pouring out of the toilet, but instead I was greeted by a sloshy mess of hot water coming out from UNDER our baseboards and tile.  I knew immediately what it was and I knew it wasn't going to be cheap.

See we've been down this road before.  We weren't strangers to slab leaks.  Oh no.  We've actually had to repair 4 within a two year period.  A cheap or easy fix, it wasn't.  So, with dread coursing through me, I called the plumber, had the hubby turn the water off to the house (after we all had showered of course), and waited.   

2 hours later, it was confirmed.  A slab leak.  Definitely on the hot water side.  We had a couple of options.  Tunnel under the house or break the concrete open in the bathroom and hope we get the right part.  Neither was a good solution.  It was time to call insurance.  Ugh.

So, after over an hour on the phone with insurance, a claim filed, we had no running water.  We were moving out of our house into a hotel until someone could get things fixed.  Shouldn't be more than a couple of days...

13 weeks later...7 in a hotel with 4 kids, and 6 in an apartment with 4 kids, we finally moved back home.  I'm going to spare you the insanity that happened in those 13 weeks because it makes me crazy just thinking about it.  However, I will say that after 13 weeks our house has all brand new hard wood floors down stairs, new hot water lines through out, new baseboards, and freshly painted.  Oh, but wait, it's not our house anymore :/

After FINALLY getting the green line to move back in, we put our totally fixed up, pristinely clean house on the market and sold it.  It was the best Christmas present ever!  We closed on our old house on the 30th and in just a few days we move into our brand spanking new digs.  

Giddy doesn't even begin to explain what I'm feeling, because part of me is so sad to be leaving the house where our kids first started school, where we brought our littlest home from the hospital, where we've made so many memories.  Then there's the part that can't wait to move into a house where we've picked the countertops, the light fixtures,  and the wood stain, and we didn't have to live in it to get it all done.  Yep, so many mixed emotions.  

Here's to a happy, healthy, prosperous 2014!!!

2 comments:

  1. I'm not going to argue, because leaks do bear nothing but bad news, all the more so if it's a recurring issue. I hope the decision to move houses had been nothing but good for the family, and that you haven't encountered any issue similar as the previous one. Keep us updated! Take care! :)

    Evon Brow @ Athens Plumbing

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  2. Leaks are a frightening sight for any homeowner. I'm sorry you had to sell the house because of the issues with the pipes. Although the decision to move out brought about a bit of mixed emotions, I gotta admit that it was really wise of you, considering the fact that the pipes might cause bigger problems in the future. In any case, I hope you are enjoying your new home, Dominika. All the best! :)

    Gordon Patton @ Bison Plumbing

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