Author Topic: What's your limit?  (Read 2632 times)

KYFIRE

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What's your limit?
« on: March 17, 2021, 10:52:34 AM »
So wondering if I'm being a wimp or just reasonable.

Last night smelled something funny outside by the septic tanks.  Low and behold the GFCI for the septic pump was tripped and the water rose up the riser quite a lot.  Crossing fingers resetting the GFCI did turn on the pump and the level went down thankfully.  But I'm counting that as my one get out of jail free cards for this subject so reaching out to get system checked if another reason it occurred and make any repairs. 

I know the warning float is bad, actually has been for a while.  Researching the repair and looking at the setup, it's going to be both smelly and awkward repair.  Basically it's a real deep reach down to disconnect the pipe and even then given my lack of experience and bad history of plumbing repairs I really don't want to do.  Waiting to get pricing or anyone to respond but I think I'm willing to pay someone on this one.  Fixing the electric panel for the pump / warning switch I can handle but getting down in a confined tube to reach everything maybe not so much.

So, am I a wimp or are we all willing to put a price on some things?

« Last Edit: March 21, 2021, 07:18:06 AM by KYFIRE »

Frankies Girl

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Re: What's your limit?
« Reply #1 on: March 17, 2021, 11:10:08 AM »
I try to DIY basic stuff around my house. I fixed my washer yesterday, and I replaced a rotted baseboard in a bathroom. I have rewired light fixtures, and I've got a passing familiarity with power tools and done hard labor and dirty jobs like removing a wood deck or digging trenches. So I'm not completely helpless, but I am not a 100% confident DIY person either.

I do not attempt to do things that have the potential to kill/seriously injure me, or I can screw up so badly that it will cost hundreds of$ to put right. I don't mind getting dirty, but potentially getting sewage on me is likely not something I'd consider in my wheelhouse either. And that, coupled with the "I've tried to do similar in the past and not been successful" is also going to be in the pay someone else to do it column for me.

I'd pay a professional to fix this type of thing.

bloodaxe

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Re: What's your limit?
« Reply #2 on: March 17, 2021, 11:14:53 AM »
No, you aren't a pansy.

For DIY repairs I consider a few things:

* Would it cost more in new equipment and tools vs. getting it repaired?
* Is there a decent change I could seriously injure myself?
* Would it affect my life seriously if the thing being DIYd is broken for a few days?
* Will it be a pain in the ass the whole time I'm diying it?

If no to all of the above, I DIY.

AMandM

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Re: What's your limit?
« Reply #3 on: March 17, 2021, 11:15:40 AM »
I would totally pay to avoid climbing down into sewage. Someone who has the right pumps, boots, gloves, protective gear, etc. to do it efficiently is welcome to my money. If others want to call me a pansy for this, all I can say is, pansies smell nice.

Morning Glory

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Re: What's your limit?
« Reply #4 on: March 17, 2021, 11:33:40 AM »
Pay someone. I used to work where they do colonoscopies, so I'm not squeamish. I can do basic plumbing.  I have crawled into insulation. I have done some crazy and dangerous things. I still wouldn't do it, or ask friends or family to do it.

@bloodaxe has a nice list there.

FLBiker

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Re: What's your limit?
« Reply #5 on: March 18, 2021, 05:16:13 AM »
Good advice here.  For me, another consideration is how much I'm working -- I'm still working full-time (even though we're basically at our FI number) because we just moved and I want to confirm our expenses before I make a change with my job.  Because of that, I'm more likely to outsource things than I would be if I were working part-time.  Totally agree with the other criteria presented in this thread as well.

cool7hand

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Re: What's your limit?
« Reply #6 on: March 18, 2021, 05:55:59 AM »
Without doubt I would pay someone to do this.

Caoineag

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Re: What's your limit?
« Reply #7 on: March 18, 2021, 06:00:06 AM »
In our house we tend to outsource the jobs that involve water. If it's simple and easily visible, I will try it first but both my husband and I make lousy plumbers and water can do a lot of damage undetected (we did manage to hookup our washer but we were leery of even doing that and checked the connections multiple days in a row). Electricity and woodwork we are comfortable with so most other items are DIY.

KYFIRE

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Re: What's your limit?
« Reply #8 on: March 18, 2021, 06:08:31 AM »
Thanks all, I figured I wasn't too out of line.  I agree with a lot of the mindsets here, between work, kids, and all the other projects that I can handle myself this is one that is going to get outsourced, hopefully fixed this morning!  It's good to know I'm not the only one paranoid / bad at working on plumbing.


Metalcat

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Re: What's your limit?
« Reply #9 on: March 18, 2021, 02:27:49 PM »
Lol, you don't owe it to anyone to justify what repairs you hire people to do.

There's no fucking way I would DIY that literal shit.

MrTurtle

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Re: What's your limit?
« Reply #10 on: March 18, 2021, 03:26:17 PM »
No, you aren't a pansy.

For DIY repairs I consider a few things:

* Would it cost more in new equipment and tools vs. getting it repaired?
* Is there a decent change I could seriously injure myself?
* Would it affect my life seriously if the thing being DIYd is broken for a few days?
* Will it be a pain in the ass the whole time I'm diying it?

If no to all of the above, I DIY.

That sounds like a good way to reason out whether to DIY or hire a pro.  I also consider how often I will need to do the repair, and if it would be useful to know it later on. 

Replacing my garbage disposal?  DIY.  It will inevitably wear out and I save $600 each time I unscrew the old one and screw in the new one.  It's worth the trouble to struggle through it the first time.

OP's septic tank problem?  I would let somebody who knows what they're doing do it.  That sounds like a pretty specific problem, and if he figured it out himself, he will never repair a warning float again in his life.

Paper Chaser

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Re: What's your limit?
« Reply #11 on: March 18, 2021, 04:13:51 PM »
Sounds like a shitty job. No thanks.

ChickenStash

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Re: What's your limit?
« Reply #12 on: March 19, 2021, 01:07:18 PM »
If it were me, I'd probably give it a try. Maybe grab some YT vids or other articles on the repair and take a good look at it. Usually replacing things like that aren't too difficult. That said, I wouldn't question anyone that would choose not to DIY a repair like that, or most others, either. I have a fairly high threshold for DIY work - not that I'm good at it or able to do it quickly. :)

Sanitary Stache

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Re: What's your limit?
« Reply #13 on: March 19, 2021, 02:15:19 PM »
Pulling and replacing a pump or floats shouldn't be a big deal, these things should be accessible from the hatch and they can be replaced fairly easily. If your pull cord breaks or the pump is stuck you'll have to hire someone. I would never go inside a septic tank, not even to stick my head a little bit into the hatch if I was on my own.





Anon-E-Mouze

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Re: What's your limit?
« Reply #14 on: March 20, 2021, 10:34:48 AM »
So wondering if I'm being a sissy pants or just reasonable.
...
So, am I a pansy or are we all willing to put a price on some things?

How about editing your post to get rid of the homophobic language?

oldladystache

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Re: What's your limit?
« Reply #15 on: March 20, 2021, 11:11:20 AM »
So wondering if I'm being a sissy pants or just reasonable.
...
So, am I a pansy or are we all willing to put a price on some things?

How about editing your post to get rid of the homophobic language?

After speaking and understanding the english language for over 75 years I just discovered that sissy and pansy are sometimes used to refer to homosexual men. I would guess that 90% or more of the US population are unaware of that. I assumed they  referred to people who were squeamish and didn't want to do hard work or get their hands dirty. I will continue to use those words as I always have. If you want to be offended, go ahead.
« Last Edit: March 20, 2021, 11:12:52 AM by oldladystache »

Morning Glory

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Re: What's your limit?
« Reply #16 on: March 20, 2021, 10:26:50 PM »
From wikipedia
"The word "pansy" has indicated an effeminate male since Elizabethan times and its usage as a disparaging term for a man or boy who is effeminate, as well as for an avowedly homosexual man, is still used.[citation needed] The word "ponce" (which has now come to mean a pimp) and the adjective "poncey" (effeminate) also derive from "pansy"."

It is probably a regional difference that you haven't heard it.  I don't think anyone meant to be homophobic here. In the UK my name is an antiquated slang term for something quite naughty too 😉.

former player

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Re: What's your limit?
« Reply #17 on: March 20, 2021, 11:25:23 PM »
So wondering if I'm being a sissy pants or just reasonable.
...
So, am I a pansy or are we all willing to put a price on some things?

How about editing your post to get rid of the homophobic language?

After speaking and understanding the english language for over 75 years I just discovered that sissy and pansy are sometimes used to refer to homosexual men. I would guess that 90% or more of the US population are unaware of that. I assumed they  referred to people who were squeamish and didn't want to do hard work or get their hands dirty. I will continue to use those words as I always have. If you want to be offended, go ahead.
I wouldn't be offended but I'd probably think poorly of your manners.

sonofsven

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Re: What's your limit?
« Reply #18 on: March 21, 2021, 06:40:26 AM »
I would fix it myself if possible. What's the big deal? It's just poop.
Wash your hands!
If you have to reach into a questionable area put your arm in a big black garbage bag first. Think of it as a long rubber glove.
« Last Edit: March 21, 2021, 06:42:46 AM by sonofsven »

KYFIRE

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Re: What's your limit?
« Reply #19 on: March 21, 2021, 07:18:34 AM »
So wondering if I'm being a sissy pants or just reasonable.
...
So, am I a pansy or are we all willing to put a price on some things?

How about editing your post to get rid of the homophobic language?

That wasn't my intent, edited.

KYFIRE

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Re: What's your limit?
« Reply #20 on: March 21, 2021, 07:22:31 AM »
So had someone come out and yeah, I could have just done what they did.  They basically just hung a new weighted float switch to be re-wired into my alarm.  $270 damage.  Also discovered that the stacks are letting tons of ground water into the tanks.  So that will be a fun activity of digging around them to reseal.


yachi

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Re: What's your limit?
« Reply #21 on: March 21, 2021, 07:45:56 AM »
You should not enter a septic tank or any sewer manhole.  They are not made for human occupancy.  If you do, here's what you need:
Forced ventilation
Air monitor to measure oxygen and hydrogen sulfide concentration to make sure you can breathe
Harness
Retrieval system (this a tripod, rope and pulley system)
an attendant to get you out if you can no longer breathe

If something isn't accessible from above, you should call someone who does this type of work.

Sanitary Stache

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Re: What's your limit?
« Reply #22 on: March 21, 2021, 08:09:29 AM »
You should not enter a septic tank or any sewer manhole.  They are not made for human occupancy.  If you do, here's what you need:
Forced ventilation
Air monitor to measure oxygen and hydrogen sulfide concentration to make sure you can breathe
Harness
Retrieval system (this a tripod, rope and pulley system)
an attendant to get you out if you can no longer breathe

If something isn't accessible from above, you should call someone who does this type of work.

Entering these spaces without the above equipment and regular training on how to use it is risking death.  Workers who enter these spaces die, sometimes even with the proper precautions.

KYFIRE

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Re: What's your limit?
« Reply #23 on: March 21, 2021, 10:09:19 AM »
Exactly, even the guy who came out was telling me about an incident in the area a few years ago, I think 7 people died after entering an area without proper gear/training.  First 2 missing, then multiple teams who went in searching for them until proper people called.


Mr. Green

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Re: What's your limit?
« Reply #24 on: March 21, 2021, 12:48:00 PM »
I'm on the "pay someone" train on this one.