Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Good News and Bad News!

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The good news first!

We got measurable rain yesterday! 1 1/4 inches and there is supposed to be more on the way today. WooHOOO!

Now for the bad news.

I did not get anything done on the posting for eBay yesterday. I got stuck on trying to figure out a program called Turbo Lister. Hours I spent. It reminded me of the year I spent 6 to 8 hours a day, for months on end, trying to figure out some programs to start an online store. I had a strong set up for business, however my program skills were non-existent. Trying not to spend money, instead I spent most every free moment trying to figure stuff out. When things began to get very stressful at home, I just couldn't do it anymore and had to lay it aside.

I hope learning this program does not take that much time!

However, that's not the complete reason I did not get it done. I'll post a few photos and you see how long it takes you to figure out what else happened yesterday.

(By the way, this house WAS perfectly neat and clean and ready for guests tonight.)





















Any ideas yet?





There's more.





































Yup. It took me about 6 years, but the day I dreaded finally happened. I left the bathtub running as I was working on figuring out this program.

Michael was trying to describe how he felt as we saw the inch and half of water over the entire bathroom and closet floors, and part of the master bedroom fl. I told him that's what 'surreal' means. Now he gets it. I love 'teaching' moments, don't you?

Nope, I did not get any photos of the tub overflowing or the water on the floor. I was busy. So I found this as an example.





I usually set the timer when I fill the tub, but I was so engrossed in what I was doing that I forgot to do so. I don't know how long it ran. It was at least an hour, it might have been two or more.

When I saw the water my heart constricted. It's not the carpet, it's not the furniture, it's not the wallboards you need to worry about. The damage is the subfloor, the joists, the wall studs. That's the danger. You've got to get as much water out as quickly as you can. Anything in there destroys the frame of the house. It's not enough to sop up water you can see. If you stop there your home will have significant reduction in lifespan.

In any case, my son was my hero - he comforted and worked like crazy. My dad was my hero. My dad knows a lot of things, and I was not thinking really clearly. He arranged someone to come out as quickly as possible and we began sopping up as much as we could. Michael kept his head and co-managed the whole operation, while I just kept apologizing and wringing out towels. I may have even apologized to the fake plants, I'm not sure. Not real good stewardship on my part.

The equipment is to stay here til about Friday morning. I pray the damage is not too great. My parents paid the bill. So kind of them. I would turn it into the insurance, but the money would go directly to my husband and he would not reimburse my parents, he would keep it for himself. He has never reimbursed people who paid for the operation to save my finger, or the bills to keep my car running. This will be no different.

So I learned a bit about water damage that I did not know. The super-duper dehumidifiers work to dry out the air so greatly that it wicks the water back out of the subfloor and walls. So it is hot, dry, and very windy in those rooms right now. It's probably about 120 degrees and climbing, but much more comfortable than you would think, due to the dryness and wind. Yes, wind. The doors are to stay shut. Statistically, the guy said one in 100 houses a year experiences a flooding such as mine. Ladies, watch those tubs!

I can't wait to see the electric bill this coming month! Whew!

So, while doing school, guess what else I'll be doing? Yup. And I'm going to try to find a timer for my wrist that I will leave at the tub faucet. No filling the tub without putting that on my wrist.

I think I may have just found a new need to fill, for Joeleen Public.

~Faith

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15 comments:

  1. Faith, that has to break your heart. But I want to know the truth, at some point, did you laugh? Well, if nothing else, you have a memory.lol

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  2. Looking at the first few pics, it appears you are moving but that's not right...you have a garden to tend...then I decided you've had a flood. Now I'll go back and read this post.

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  3. I guessed correctly and went straight to turn on my dehumidifier. My tub flooded first of May. Now the floor is sagging badly...I have no daddy either...and a few family like you ex...useless.

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  4. Twice I've had the water break in my house...I so understand.

    Linda
    http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

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  5. OH. NO.
    I feel for ya, i have done stuff like that myself, not the exact thing but no less embarrassing. Hopefully the worst of it will be over, the floors will dry out and underneath will be fine. Lucky thing is that you were there when the water just happened. A lot of the time people are away and the water is there for hours or days before anything can be done. In your case, contact time between water and wood will be minimal.

    I was trying to guess from the pictures and i thought the roof leaked, but your walls looked fine, then i really got worried when i saw boxes... i thought i was going to have to fire up the ice cube machine and build you a guest igloo.

    Relax, everything is now under control. You have a great dad and an awesome son and i'm 100% sure the plastic plants forgave you the moment you asked!

    *hug*

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  6. We will pray for you, it is all we can do and sometimes it is enough.

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  7. SFG,

    The enormity of this disaster's potential sucked the laughter right out, at least until the professional showed up and I could relax. But yeah, laughing now. :o)

    Great memories. Everything is always a great memory! You are born and you die, the rest is coloring in with crayons. Even the black ones add dimension and vibrancy, once you stand back.

    Hey, I just made that up!

    ~Faith

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  8. Sissy,

    Get thee to that humidifier! And put as many fans out as you can. Can you pull back the carpet and padding at all? That will dry it much more quickly, especially since you probably don't have a behemoth de-H like the two units that the guy left here.

    If you can afford it, I'd get that floor fixed asap. It will only get worse. I've replaced subfloor and joists several times. It's not hard, it's just a job to get to it.

    Let me know how the drying goes.

    ~Faith

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  9. Linda,

    Sistah! It's a sinking feeling, isn't it!

    ~Faith

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  10. Icebear,

    Ugh, I know. If you are not home and you have a leak, chances are you are going to get some big trouble. For me, if I'm not home, chances are I'm not filling the tub, so I'm better off already. :oP

    Igloo summer cottage LOL - Hay bale winter chalet?

    ~Faith

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  11. Thank you, Chai Chai! :o)

    ~Faith

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  12. You don't have to publish this but do you have insurance? They will pay for servpro to come out. Not only will they run the equipment but they should remove the sub floor and pay to replace it, the carpet the walls and insulation etc! Also they will pay your electrical overage due to the dryout equipment. depending on the type of policy you have. and they will pay you up front less your ded.

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  13. SM,

    I tried to deal with the insurance company before. But the insurance is connected to the mortgage - both only in my DHs name. They would not deal with me and sent all paperwork to my DH. They would not make financial arrangements with me at all. My parents already paid for the water removal, so it would be left up to my DH to repay my parents. It won't happen. He would pocket the money.

    But I did want to publish your comment to benefit others. Great advice!

    ~Faith

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  14. Wow...that is terrible news Faith!! I hope the dehumidifiers help rid the moisture and you don't have structural damagae or worst yet, mold...we'll pray for you and Michael!! R Dean

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  15. Hey Dean, Long time no type! Glad to see you around again.

    So far, so good!

    ~Faith

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I always enjoy hearing from others. If you become a regular commenter, I'll assume you are being friendly and pretty much comment regularly right back. :o) God bless and have a terrific day!