San José, Costa Rica
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Something weird is happening with my water pipes. At least, I think it's the water pipes. You know that noise a washing machine will make when it's off balance? The 'ka-thunk-ka-thud-ka-thunk-ka-thud-ka-thunk-ka-thud' that just goes and goes until you can rush over and readjust the heavy, wet clothes? Well, that's happening in the walls. When I turn on the water, it sounds like a locomotive is going to burst through the sea foamy green walls in the kitchen, clearing out all in its path (me, the ants, the cockroaches...). Anyways, I decided to deal with this new problem by ignoring it. Of all the options available-which are limited at that-this one appealed to me the most. I learned that flushing to toilet quiets the beast for a moment. However, running the tap water does not. Somewhere there must be logic in this, but it is escaping me at the moment. I needed to take a shower, but was a bit apprehensive about it. I mean, what if the 'ka-thunk-ka-thud' decided to end the water flow mid shower? After wishywashying it for a bit, I decided to take the plunge. Due to the fact that my shower hates me, there wasn't any warm water. I do NOT understand how my kitchen sink water can never produce a glass of crisp, cold water, yet the shower can practically produce ice itself. Try as I might, I couldn't get the weird noise that signified a flow of tepid water to come on. I stood there, in a stagnant pool of cold water, muttering at the shower curtain. I could just forgo said shower, but I was at a weird point of semi-clean. Gritting my teeth and steeling my will, I decided that I wanted clean hair bad enough. So, I wetted down my hair and turned the water off. I lathered and lathered and lathered that shampoo past the point of ridiculousness. Then I stood there for a bit longer, thinking about water pressure, hot showers, and other such amenities I don't get to rely on. Finally I accepted my fate, and gently turned the water back on. Evidently the weird noise in the walls controls the water pressure, and I got blasted with a spray of first cold and then HOT water. Hot? The water is HOT?! I couldn't believe it...but, my disbelief vaporized and I got down to my shower business, the entire time chanting under my breath, "stayhotstayhotstayhot."
Day to day life can be such a mixed bag.
Comments
Water Hammer...
The air gaps are probably waterlogged. To restore air to the chambers, shut off the water main, open the faucets and drain both hot and cold water from the system. Turn the water back on, closing faucets as soon as water is flowing without air.
Hope that helps,
Nathaniel