Help me I am freaking out.

My gut is saying call a plumber. Just in case. Yeah I’m totally hopeless at these types of plumbing issues. I’ve needed to call a plumber a few times to our house.

Are you renting or do you own the property?

Own the property. Another complication is that if this is a problem with the valve the turns the water off.... the only way to turn the water off to fix that is to turn the buildings water off.

It is a townhouse. I think the control is in someone else's condo. I would have to involve the condo.

Oh that’s complicated if it’s in someone else’s condo but I’m sure they’d do the same for you if the roles were reversed

Ok so I put like a pyrex cover on the area I saw the water and I will measure how much is there in the morning. If it is significant I will call the plumber.

Ok so after 12 hours I couldn't see any water on the pyrex cover (or under it) so even if there is a leak... it isn't very much.

My guess was maybe there was condensation on the pipe that I knocked off when I moved it.

But this is a project for me to do soon. I can't have it so I can't move the water turn off.

Well that is good news for today. Now I just have to face the 24 inches of snow and potential power outages.

Well, I took a shower and checked again and there was water so I am guessing that it doesn't leak when I am not using the water. God to know.

So I called a plumber who should be here in an hour.

Good luck Natalie. Hopefully it is a quick and easy fix. I believe you are wise to get it taken care of now rather than wait imagine if it got way worse in 5he middle of the storm and the plumber couldn't get there.

It was a cheap and easy fix and Yes.. I did it. One of the screws of the lever was loose and when I moved the lever it allowed out water. He tightened up the screws and actually moved the lever to the other side so that it was easier for me to move the lever. Before he left I did move the lever and I can do it. My guess is that a strong man moving the lever back and forth helped it get loose.

It was only $400 on Sunday. Fine by me.

I pumped him for more info on if I lose power. He said my plumbing is mostly in the interior so he thinks it is unlikely that I will have a problem with temps outside over 20 degrees. But one night is going to be around 13 so he said I should open the taps just to be safe.

He said if the leak comes back, though I have checked it a few times and I don't see anything. He said it is so lite I can probably just use duck tape or something and that will minimize it enough for him to get out to me.

Finally he suggested that the whole mechanism is old and if I wanted I probably should make an appointment to replace it. It will require the condo turning off the water to the building. That sounds like an idea.

Glad you got it all sorted out being a Sunday and everything.

That great Natalie!

So the good news.. I did NOT end up losing power. I really thought I was because usually winds over 25 mph (sustained) tend to do it. But I have noticed that it seems to happen when the wind goes west to east (or east to west) and this was north to south. That right there took a load of worry off.

We did get about 24+ inches of snow... and imho my condo's plow did a terrible job. I had shoveled by car out but there was like 30 inches of snow they never really plowed behind my car. I had to go get them and tell them to do it and the gave me this ridiculous story about how... it was too close to my car. I told them that was insane because I had shoveled at least a good foot behind my car. They are also supposed to shovel my steps and they didn't do it. So leaving my house should be a joy today. The condo trustee is a nice person but more than a few people didn't follow the snow removal parking policy for like 4th time and she is going on about how they will have to explain it better. I was like -- NO -- FINE them. I said to her.. if you aren't going to fine them.. let me know and I won't move my car.

Sometimes I have thoughts about staying in the area in retirement but... no... it is just too dangerous. I have a neighbor who had cataract surgery on Monday and she couldn't lift anything.. so we all got her out. The terror I felt this weekend could have given me a heart attack. No... I have to move someplace where there is NEVER a possibility of 24+ inches of snow or power outages when the temp is below 20 degrees.

Now I have to brave into work. I assume the roads will be ok but I am sure the Trains will be a nightmare.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatalieJastrow Sometimes I have thoughts about staying in the area in retirement but... no... it is just too dangerous. I have a neighbor who had cataract surgery on Monday and she couldn't lift anything.. so we all got her out. The terror I felt this weekend could have given me a heart attack. No... I have to move someplace where there is NEVER a possibility of 24+ inches of snow or power outages when the temp is below 20 degrees.

Natalie, this is why people retire to Florida. Problem is we are the lighting capital of the world and we get hurricanes.

I am looking into Raleigh, NC and Arizona. I have 4 more years before I can retire. I only hope not to have to deal with such a severe winter again. We have gone 4 years or so with mild ones.

They claim Saturday and Sunday are going to be in the 50s. I hope that takes some of the snow off.