life is but a dream...

....and then something wears out and you get to fix it. ugh

What you ask did I have to DIY today??? a toilet valve. double ugh.

I was informed awhile back that these valves usually only last about 5 years and is a necessary evil about every 5 years. The last time this had to be done was about... you guessed it, 5 years ago.

Fortunately for me a toilet valve really is super easy to change out. The hardest thing was moving things out of the way and then moving things back. And reading the directions of course. I re-read them twice. Glad I did too.

I used the quick and easy Hydro-clean valve that I purchased for $14.99 from Ace. It's the place for me anyway (I had a coupon).

The scariest thing was turning off the main water to the house in winter, since the water valve to the toilet won't turn all the way off. I didn't want to do this and went both ways on whether or not to do this but in my reading on-line one person stated it only takes 30 minutes. I thought ok, I'll do it. It hasn't been that cold and it's currently not cold so everything should be ok. Plus ever since I learned that the water valve to the house is under 10 thousand PSI and it's dangerous to open and close this valve I've been a scardy-cat about the main water valve. But as long as you turn it real slow it should be ok. Key word is should in that sentence (oh, and slow).

Anywho, it only took 15 minutes from the time the main water valve was turned off until I slowly turned it back on again. Yay me!

The biggest pain was the clean up, because there is some as the toilet tank does not completely empty all the way but having a big thick towel ready for when you remove the old valve and then all the water really does empty all the way out. Insert the new toilet valve made certain the toilet valve was tight but not too tight as to break it, which would be sad but can happen too--at least that's what the directions state, and no leaks checked with extra water in a bucket kept handy just for this--you only need a little bit, before turning the main water back on took very little time---15 minutes. yay again!

So this old lady is once again a happy camper (and toilet user), and happy that my DIY project worked out for me and was not the disaster I envisioned. Thank you Hydro Clean for making a decent product. Quick, easy, no mess---four of my favorite words when attempting a DIY project.

Happy DIY-ing,
Good day,
L

PS - I was not paid to endorse the above product, I just like it.

dear friend,

Life has certainly been strange lately. More than I care to experience here actually.

It's winter here in the Rockies, which means it is very cold in the mornings. The thing about this as a long-time co-worker passed away yesterday morning due to freezing to death after sliding the vehicle off the road and trying to walk home in the dark morning light, and not finding home, and got turned around and got lost in the forest.

It's sad and it's tragic. sigh.

I'll especially miss this co-worker as they were the only one who I was able to vent with about work and know that anything I said would not be repeated. I hope this person is better now wherever they may be. I will miss them.

L