new water

We got the new pump put in the well on friday. We were supposed to run the water for a couple of hours to flush out the chlorine and the sediment that was stirred up. The water came out black due to some mineral content. So we ran water for a few hours, and then a couple more hours, and it was only mostly clear. Cyn came up with the bright idea of replacing the clogged pipes, so that we could have a better flow, which would flush out the sediments more quickly. I was a little uncertain that it could be done in a day, but she said that if we had to go overnight without water that would be okay.

We've had this low water pressure thing going on since we moved in. I determined early on that it was due to obstructions in the pipes between the pressure tank and the water softener. It was actually a low flow problem, since the pressure was fine. I just refer to it as "low pressure" so people understand what I'm talking about. The flow was so poor that if you turned one big facet on, you didn't get any water out of any others. And when I used the garden hose to water the flowers, the water didn't spray out of the hose, it fell out. It took half an hour to fill up the washing machine.

So, like George Bush and 9-11, Cyn saw this as her opportunity to invade Iraq have the flow problem fixed. We decided to do it around 1:00. Around 3:00, I was back with supplies - the first time. I didn't actually start disassembling pipe until 6:00. Those pipes were really gunked up. Big globs of rust. 3/4" pipes down to less than 1/2". Cut the flow by half.

I worked until after 11:30. Cyn helped sometimes, but there wasn't usually much for her to do, so she was usually elsewhere until I needed her. I was working very slowly deliberately, so things took forever. I didn't want to screw anything up. I had to plan out which joints to do first, and how to keep them in place while I was working on them. I really didn't want to have to fix any leaks. That's many times worse than doing it in the first place.

Started again this morning around 11:00. I thought it would go quicker today, but I guess all the planning I had done made me think I finished more of it than I did. After one more trip to the hardware store, we finished up around 3:00. That's when we had all the pipes in. Then we let things cool down for a little while. Then I filled the tank. No leaks yet, but it was only a couple of joints. Then I opened the main valve, and filled what we had replaced. We waited a bit because leaks don't always show up immediately. I ran an outside faucet for a while, in hopes of flushing out the sediment. Then I opened the valves to connect the rest of the house.

Unfortunately, the water still came out black for a bit. I ran the hose for another hour to flush out the cold water system. Then we ran about thirty gallons of hot water, because it was coming out brown. It's still not very clear, but I guess it's going to take some time. It's clear enough to shower with, but I don't think we want to wash clothes in it. We'll probably wash dishes though.

On the bright side, the flow has increased greatly. We have water pressure like normal people. You can run a second faucet without affecting the first. Water shoots out of the hose. So that's a relief.

I wonder how much money we saved by doing it ourselves. and if the hassle was worth it.

Willy Porter bio

How does a young viola player become a folk-rock guitarist? Perhaps Leo Kottke is to blame. At least in Willy Porter's case he is. Upon hearing Kottke's 6 & 12 String Guitar, everything changed for a young Porter. He put down his bow and grabbed a pick. The rest is history and still in the making. Hailing from Wisconsin, the multiple WAMI (Wisconsin Area Music Industry) award winner honed his performance chops in the cafés and clubs around Madison. He also sat on the concert committee in college where he met another guitar legend who would influence him greatly, the late Michael Hedges. A singer, songwriter, storyteller, entertainer, and extraordinary guitarist, Porter defies labels and bends genres. He moves between slide blues, acoustic folk, grooving rock, and soulful pop with grace and equipoise. They all combine to create the uniqueness that is his sound.

Being the innovator that he is, Porter released Trees Have Souls on his own in 1990, followed by Dog-Eared Dream in 1994. With consistent touring and the help of Adult Alternative Radio, he built a national following and a modest hit with "Angry Words." This success led to a deal with Private Music, who re-released Dog-Eared Dream in 1995, and opening slots for the Cranberries, Rickie Lee Jones, Vonda Shepard, and Tori Amos, who handpicked Porter from a mountain of contenders. However, all of the newfound celebrity took its toll. And as often happens with independent spirits, Porter became disillusioned with the major-label scene and spent several years untangling himself from that web. After finding a new home at Six Degrees Records, Porter returned in 1999 with Falling Forward, a fine showcase of his ever-deepening strength as an artist and songwriter. He followed with a self-titled album in 2002, featuring guests Tony Levin (King Crimson, Peter Gabriel, Seal), Charlie Drayton (Keith Richards, B52's, Don Henley), and Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull).
~ Kelly McCartney, All Music Guide