Community News
Pahrump Valley Gazette, Thursday, November 27, 1997 21
The joy of plumbing
Once upon a time, life was very simple. I lived in a small
cabin and there was absolutely no plumbing for miles around.
Anything of that nature was kept conveniently outside and a
little house with no view and a simple pitcher pump served all
of my needs. There was no plumbing. Life was good. Now I
have plumbing and life is very interesting.
The problem started with seeming innocence. A bit of
water on the floor behind the toilet. A mere sprinkle, a few
drops, perhaps a little overspray from behind the shower
curtain. Certainly nothing serious in the plumbing depart-
ment. More water. Lots more water. Maybe it's only a
temporary problem and it will get better all by itself.
A steady drip finally gets my attention. Something must be
done. Steady drips can eat the whole bathroom floor out of a
double-wide. I think I have some idea of what may be
happening. A few months back, there was a problem with the
bolts that hold the tank on the back of the toilet. I sort of fixed
it with some old washers I had on hand. It was mite temporary,
but maybe we'll win the lotto and move into a mansion before
I have to fix it properly. Maybe I'll get drafted. Maybe the
world will end and I'll never need to fix it again. Yeah, maybe.
I had purchased the right parts to do the job correctly. It
only took a day or two to remember where I had put the small
pack of bolts and washers. When I could delay no longer. I set
out to reseal the tank to the toilet. I equipped myself with
tools, turned off the water to the house (double-wides don't
come with service valves under the fixture) threw the soaked
rugs out of our bathroom and went to work. No bolts were
frozen, I had all the right parts, I read the directions.
Working area was a wee cramped. I became a bit moist,
wet you might say. I had the tank free of the commode and
everything was going well. The new seal fit, the bolts and
washers fit. I didn't even cross thread anything. I put it all back
together and snugged everything down tight Pretty good
work. Maybe I'll get one of those handyman TV shows. I go
outside and turn the water back on.
An artesian surprise, a gusher supreme, areal old faithless,
I have a leak. Water is flowing a small steady stream from
under the tank. I lay on the wet floor and give it a look. Seems
to be coming from around the feed pipe. I go outside, kill the
water supply, and go back in the house to lay on the wet
bathroom floor. Maybe I won't do that TV show.
The feed pipe is actually one of those flexible grey plastic
tubes that they love to put in manufactured housing instead of
In The Thermometer's Shadow
by Mike Dougherty
PVC or copper. It has a plastic fitting
that screws on to the base of the toilet
tank. I tighten this more than some-
what. While using maximum torque
on the fitting, the feed pipe and float valve inside the tank
twists and breaks. I am not a happy plumber. I go to the
hardware store and buy a bag of plastic toilet guts. This ought
to do the job. Everything is new, nothing can go wrong.
Same routine, disassemble, reassemble, climb off the floor
and go outside to open the main service valve. Holy Noah,
now I have a real flood. Water is spraying out from under the
tank and splashing against the bathroom walls.
I rush back outside and with my glasses clouded with
water, I again shut down the water supply to the house. I am
ready to surrender. I call the town handyman. He's not
available. As usual this is my problem, I have to handle it.
Maybe if I go hide in the closet the problem will go away.
I decide to get serious. I can't totally remove the grey feed
pipe because, as in most manufactured housing, it is glued
some mysterious place under the floor. I don't know how to
remove the plastic fitting from the end of the feed pipe in order
to replace it or the washer that I think belongs behind it. I
return to the hardware store. Phil offers me sympathy and a
tube of epoxy which may provide a one time fix if all else fails.
I return to my soggy bathroom with bowed head and tears of
Around Amargosa with Andrea
by Andrea Lynn
Congratulations to town board member Jim Quirk and welcome to new member Libby Hall.
Both were elected Thursday night at the town board meeting. It was a quick meeting lasting a
little under two hours. Under general public comment, Marie Reagle thanked all those who have
donated supplies to the §tage recently. Cheryl White announced that Fluid Tech has brought in
some equipment. She asked if the board would find out what their intentions are since they had
stated they would be moving their operations to the test site.
The library reported their new hours. They are now open seven days a week. A library board
member is resigning, effective in January. Anyone interested in the position can call the library
to find out more about it.
The fertilizer came in at the park. The drywall in the concession stand is almost finished.
The Planning Board also has a vacancy. Dave Steele announced that he is interested in the
position. A new board member will he appointed at the December meeting if anyone else is
interested, please contact the Chamber office.
There will he a special Chamber of Commerce meeting December 9 at the Senior Center at
7 p.m. This meeting will he for election of officers. There are two positions and nine nominees.
The Nevada Silver Tappers Christmas benefit will be held Saturday, December 6 at the
community center. Give me a call to find out what time (372-5459). Last year's benefit was
pretty great so try and make it to this year's!
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defeat at the corner of my eyes.
I prepare the room for major surgery. I hang a super bright
quartz light. I pull the feed pipe into position to take a good
look at it and give a few serious pulls to the fitting on the end.
I try to figure how to open the metal fastener that crimps the
fitting to the pipe. I'm starting to think about copper pipe
splices and small hose clamps. Maybe use lots of duct tape.
Maybe drill a hole in the floor to handle the puddles of leaking
water.
While thoughts of defeat and gloom fill my head, I notice
a small black washer in one of the empty crumpled parts bags
laying at my feet. I wonder where that washer might go. I've
seen nothing like it. Maybe it'll fit the end of the feed pipe.
Voila! It fits.
I think it over and maybe this is how the fitting is sealed.
I hold it in place, thread the fitting onto the bottom of the tank,
and carefully tighten the fitting by hand which compresses the
washer making a seal. I ask Shirley to cheek for leaks as I
again activate the water supply. It works. I stand tall and
proud in a puddle of dirty water surveying my accomplish-
ment while beloved bride makes sounds of wifely apprecia-
tion. Ah, the joys of plumbing.
Commercial
• Seal Grout
• Clean ap &
cleaning
Residential
• Carpet Cleaning
• Windows and
iIio1,...
• Senior Discount
Lkexmd & ]N00mded
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests
and Nye County to host open house
The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests,
as part of the revision of Land
and Resource Management Plans, are conducting
in cooperation with Nye County a roadless area
inventory. You are invited to help us make
the roadless inventory as accurate
as possible. If you have knowledge of
specific areas of the National Forest system
lands where roads or developments extst,
or areas without developments,
• and you would like to share that
information with us. We welcome your input at the
open house, in addition, Tonopah District staff
will be providing information
highlighting resource management
accomplishments completed in 1997 and will
also be sharing planned activities for 1998.
The open house will be held at the
Tonopah Convention Center on
December 5, 1997, from 11:00 a.m.
to 6:00 p.m. Stop in and say hello.
There will be refreshments and a visit by
Smoky Bear from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
For more information please call 17021 482-6286.
