.

.
Borrego Springs, CA

Friday, September 21, 2012

One of the reasons I blog

Some time back, I asked fellow bloggers if they ever went back to read their own previous posts.  Many folks said they did, but a few said they never reread what they’ve written.  I’m amongst those that do go back at times to read what I’ve posted.  I had a problem last night that made me glad I can go back to reread old posts.

Along about 10:00 last night, I finally decided to wash up the dirty dishes from the day.  As I turned on the faucet for hot water, there was a small bang, and no water at all came out of the faucet.  I could get plenty of cold water, but not a drop of hot water.  That rang a bell in my head to a similar experience I had in June of 2010.

So, back to the computer I went to check out my posts from then, and sure enough the diagnosis was a blown check valve.  At that time, I had to search half of Idaho to find a new check valve, and when I did I bought two of them just in case.  Well I’m sure glad I did that because today I needed that ‘just in case’ check valve.

IMG_0697  Reviewing what I had documented in 2010, I asked my neighbor, George, to help me put in the new valve.

IMG_0698

The hot water heater is located under my entertainment center, and slightly behind one of the kitchen bench seats.  I asked George for help because I knew I wouldn’t have the strength to loosen the old valve.  He had never dealt with this problem before, but because I reviewed that old post, I was able to explain to him what needed to be done.

IMG_0699

Of course, nothing ever goes as easily as planned.  When the old valve blew, it also ruined the rubber washer (washer isn’t the right term, but I can’t remember what George called it) at the hook up point. 

IMG_0702

That meant the connection to the valve (at the top right) couldn’t be sealed properly, and when we turned the water on, Niagara Falls began.  Sad smile

Well, George  put on his thinking cap and went out to his truck to rummage through his tools and supplies to see if he could come up with a solution.  It always amazes me how many tools and stuff some men carry with them, and of course they know how to use all of them.  Thank goodness!

IMG_0701

George dug out his pipe crimping tool, and was able to cobble a brass connection without all the elbows of the plastic contraption that he took out.  The result?  I now have hot water once again, and no zig-zagging connections.  You can come to me for questions about birds, but you’d better ask George about plumbing problems. Winking smile 

I have been so lucky in much of my travels to be surrounded by fellow RVers that freely offer their help and knowledge to solve the problems we all encounter along the way.  Being able to check back on a previous post certainly helped as well, and is one of the reasons I continue to blog.

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

24 comments:

  1. Great memory, don't think I would have remembered when I had the problem, would have sat there all night going thru my blogs. Not having the strength I used to have is one of my big yucks about getting older.
    Donna

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good thinking, Judy! Smart of you to both go back and check and then ask for help with that plumbing job. Good thing I wasn't around because I know all about Niagara Falls leaks. Now, next time you're in a place that sells them, be sure to pick up another spare check valve!!

    I go back and read blogs as a reminder sometimes too. I noticed that a few bloggers who said last time that they NEVER go back and read blogs have spent all summer writing about and referring to their past experiences while referring to the blogs they never supposedly read.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm impressed that you could find your previous blog, but even more impressed that you knew where that extra valve was.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Boy that was a close call good thing you bought two of those values. Yea for you blog archives. A few years ago, I started a simple spread sheet on home and auto repairs it list; problems, causes, how repaired, and who repaired. It has been a life saver. Many times something would happen and half way into the repair, I would remember it happened before too late to save me from a lot of bad language and bruised knuckles:D

    Glad all is back to normal and that you found a good guy to help you. Yea, for George!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I knew there was a reason to save those blogs:) Glad your friend had the right tools, if it had been me, I would have been knocking on doors to borrow what was needed:(

    ReplyDelete
  6. A story with a happy ending. It is good you had documented the previous repair. Did you know you can get your blogs printed? I use Blog2Print and get each year's posts in book form, including the photos. It is our scrapbook.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I also go back and re-read my posts. It helps me keep on track with my own goals ands plans. I am many times too easily swayed by other's thoughts and opinions.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I reread my posts to figure out where we want to go to dinner when we return to a place we've been previously. lol Jim is one of those guys with every tool and knows how to use them. I'm really grateful for that.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Blog to the rescue! I'm glad your hot water got fixed with the help of your spare part and neighbor George.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sometimes I think they add way to much unnessary parts when the simple way is so much better and cheaper.Happy you have a wonderful neighbor.

    ReplyDelete
  11. It does help greatly to be able to go back into our archives to see solutions to previous problems. I'm glad you had George to help you out with that!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Good for you Judy! Glad you got it fixed. I go back and re-read my blogs form time to time too. Usually it's because we can't remember what we did last week so I go check it out on the blog!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I just love when a story has a happy ending. Yepp Rvers are the best!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. we all blog for different reasons..but your reason tonight is a good one!!..glad the hot water is back running again!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I find the Blogger "search" feature to be really useful for this type of thing. Before that feature was introduced, (or maybe it was there and I hadn't noticed) I frittered away a lot of time trying to find something I had written. It does pay off to have that record once in a while.
    It sure is gratifying too when you have that spare part at hand. Better too when it's put to good use. Good on George for coming to the rescue.
    I miss my assortment of left over little goodies that I can rummage through from time to time. And I have drawers full!
    The trick of course, is to actually FIND that little treasure that you KNOW you have. Somewhere.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Yes ... lots of reasons to write a blog and go back and re-read the posts ... sometimes just for fun, but even better when you can find an answer to a problem quick and easy.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Nice that everything worked out well, your blog certainly came in handy. With all that hot water, you can keep your "end" nice and clean. ;c)

    Like you, often when I have a part that breaks, I buy an extra one. The ony problem is I forget where I stashed it away and can't find it when I need it. After I buy a third one, I usually find the spare. Duh!!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. What would we do with blogging while fulltiming? Its a lifesaver in so many ways. Thanks for your post!

    ReplyDelete
  19. HMMMM...I really haven't gone back and reread my old posts...Maybe I should start, because my memory is failing me lately, and I could have blogged about my topic in a past blog..:-/

    ReplyDelete
  20. You are right about fellow RVers who are delighted to help. It's even better when one comes over and volunteers before even being asked! We have a neighbor in our home park who will never let me climb a ladder. I haul out a ladder, and he is right there to take over. He even hangs our Christmas lights for us! What a great guy. Incidentally, I can climb a ladder without a problem, but it bothers my knees. I'm not quite helpless and hopeless in the ladder department.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I am totally frustrated! When I switched to live writer, Blogger must have been upset. The result is that I have lost your blog plus a great number of others. But I've now found you again. I'm sooo glad you purchased a spare check valve. Hope you have another on your shopping list.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I mostly blog for me because I have no memory. I can read old blogs and logically know I lived them. But it is now a new, albeit vicarious experience for me. Having others read and comment on them is just icing on the cake and helps keep me connected during my wanderings.

    ReplyDelete
  23. It is nice to have folks willing to help out. But, you get back what you put out in the world. So, I am not surprised you always find help. Good thinking to buy an extra check valve.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I use my blog as a journal, a record of our favorite things and favorite pics. . .I also catalog each place on my Google Calendar. It's nice to use the "search" feature, find the particular date, and then go back and check it out again on the blog. . .

    I also try to use labels on my blog posts that I will remember when I think of that certain experience. . .also helps with the old search feature. . .

    Janice
    ReadyToGoFullTimeRVing.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete