Bad workmanship in 1956

Xringer · 07-22-12, 02:27 PM

About 15 years ago when the large copper water line from the street connection (city water)
started leaking and had to be repaired ($1,400), I saved the old parts.

The repair guy told me, the flare nut had been over-tightened, thinning the flare.
Said it was a common mistake..

Today, I washed it off and saw what really happened back in 1956..

Crash pictures by Xringer - Photobucket

It appears that some jerk played around with the pipe cutter, before cutting the pipe..
The deep slices around the pipe weakened it. After decades of water hammer and water-flow wear-down, it started leaking badly.
It was about 12 feet down, under my front lawn.

Luckily the Back-Hole was a larger model, because the rocks coming out of the hole got larger as he dug down.
At around 8 feet down, he hit a big one. Roundish about 3x4 feet.
A big smooth potato shaped granite rock that came down with the glacier ice..
Took them an hour to fish it out and haul it away..

Back in 1956, they dug around the big rocks, instead of running the line directly to the house.

At least two other houses on this street have had the same repair done..

Anyways, when they made the repair, they cut off both flares (double male in center) and installed their repair kit..

I was really disappointed. It was a rubber hose with 3 SS hose clamps on each side..
They told me it was last at least 20 years.. Nothing to worry about.. Right!!

benpope · 07-23-12, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xringer

They told me it was last at least 20 years.. Nothing to worry about.. Right!!

If you move out before then you really will have nothing to worry about

. It is a sad commentary on our culture that a junky install in 1956 lasted 56 years and a "good" install today will only last 20...

AC_Hacker · 07-23-12, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xringer

At around 8 feet down, he hit a big one. Roundish about 3x4 feet. A big smooth potato shaped granite rock that came down with the glacier ice.

Too bad you're not into landscaping...

Buying a rock like that would be very expensive!

-AC

Xringer · 07-23-12, 06:28 PM

When they did some digging across the street, They pulled out a few about that big.. Maybe bigger.
I told my buddy who lives directly across from me, to ask them for one.
He got it for free. The big backhole came over and dropped it beside his driveway.
Nice looking rock.. But now I can't enjoy it, he put a little tree in front of it..

07-22-12, 02:27 PM	#1
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Bad workmanship in 1956 About 15 years ago when the large copper water line from the street connection (city water) started leaking and had to be repaired ($1,400), I saved the old parts. The repair guy told me, the flare nut had been over-tightened, thinning the flare. Said it was a common mistake.. Today, I washed it off and saw what really happened back in 1956.. Crash pictures by Xringer - Photobucket It appears that some jerk played around with the pipe cutter, before cutting the pipe.. The deep slices around the pipe weakened it. After decades of water hammer and water-flow wear-down, it started leaking badly. It was about 12 feet down, under my front lawn. Luckily the Back-Hole was a larger model, because the rocks coming out of the hole got larger as he dug down. At around 8 feet down, he hit a big one. Roundish about 3x4 feet. A big smooth potato shaped granite rock that came down with the glacier ice.. Took them an hour to fish it out and haul it away.. Back in 1956, they dug around the big rocks, instead of running the line directly to the house. At least two other houses on this street have had the same repair done.. Anyways, when they made the repair, they cut off both flares (double male in center) and installed their repair kit.. I was really disappointed. It was a rubber hose with 3 SS hose clamps on each side.. They told me it was last at least 20 years.. Nothing to worry about.. Right!! __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

07-23-12, 06:28 PM	#4
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	When they did some digging across the street, They pulled out a few about that big.. Maybe bigger. I told my buddy who lives directly across from me, to ask them for one. He got it for free. The big backhole came over and dropped it beside his driveway. Nice looking rock.. But now I can't enjoy it, he put a little tree in front of it.. __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..