All’s well that drains well
Last week water was settling in my kitchen sink without draining.
My handyman Bert was recalled from the Western Front of my beach hut refurb and, upon dismantling a pipe below the sink, removed the remains of the ground coffee that was causing the blockage.
I thought this had done the trick but yesterday the problem returned with a vengeance as water levels rose so significantly in the sink I thought I might have a flood of biblical proportions.
My handyman said it required a special tool which, upon being inserted into the piping below the sink, sucks out all the waste.
I will readily admit that I don’t understand domestic plumbing at all. I was therefore amazed to discover that the pipe extends significantly and the blockage was some way from the sink area, hence the length of the tube in the tool.
It’s a bit like of one of those medical procedures ending in ‘oscopy’, or the cleaning of the arteries to the heart.
After all the gunge had been removed by this tool and water was flowing freely again Bert and I enjoyed a cold beer on my balcony.
At least now I understand the problem, what to do it it happens again and some necessary prevention measures to avoid this.
In so doing I realised that, had I used my dishwasher, the water – not being able to flow away because of the blockage – would have diverted into the sink and caused a major flood.
It was only by chance I realised this – by seeing water rise in the sink – and terminated the dishwashing cycle.
Having an arts education I appreciated my total ignorance and inability with any form of repair.
I could only think of one friend, who alas passed on three years ago, that was adapt at any DIY.
Worse, many such friends would look down on Bert for his dirt under the fingernails, paint on his overalls and limited vocabulary peppered with swear words, but – not only can he repair most things – he is an intelligent man.
The sort of man that could have gone from handyman to builder to developer. Over the last few years he has not only come to my aid but saved me a fortune in rogue and incompetent building work.
