I'm so excited!! I did it!
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
United States
February 27, 2008 3:51am CST
I'm so proud of myself! I fixed our toilet!!
We've been having problems with our toilet leaking longer than I will say because of embarrassment. We didn't know exactly what the problem was so a couple of months back I bought an entire replacement kit for it. Well we kept putting it off and forgetting about it when weekends would come along. My hubby hates doing handyman kinds of things too. He's always afraid he'll screw something up too which adds to it. Our bathtub washers in the faucet have to be replaced every few month and he hates having to do that. We have to wait until we actually replace the tub (which is something we really want to do) before we can replace the plumbing inside.
I wasn't sure it was replacing my toilet tanks insides was something I could do on my own. I was worried about not being able to tighten everything up tight enough. Yesterday I got out the instructions again and read them. It said on every blot not to tighten it too much. So I said what the hell! I bet I'll do it just fine then! Well I didn't have time to do it before my hubby came home for work so I decided I'd tackle the toilet tonight.
Well I just finished it all up! It did take me a couple of hours but I got it done!! I'm so excited and proud of myself!
Now I'm seriously thinking of tackling the kitchen piping now!! One the pipes has a hole in it. My dad was supposed to come up and replace it for us but I think he's forgotten about it. And that kind of stuff really scares my hubby. So if anyone has any tips are placing the pipe for me please let me know! It's the one that connects to the main pipe from the second sink.
Anyone else want to share any stories of your home repairs??
3 people like this
8 responses
@Sissygrl (10912)
• Canada
29 Feb 08
We do not own our own home so i dont fix much around the house, but i think i am more handy then my hubby lol. I enjoy fixing and building things. But i'm like you, i am scared when i do it, and then when its done i'm SO proud of myself and think WOW if i can do that i can do ANYTHING!! hehe carefull with the pipe if its attatched to running water, dont forget to shut all the water off and have a bucket and towel ready just incase!! lol or maybe a mop! *giggleS*
Good luck if you try to tackle the kitchen!
2 people like this
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
1 Mar 08
Thanks! I think I'm going to wait and see - that job seems a bit more scary LOL. But I did however refinish my kitchen cabinets a few months back - retained them and they look great! I am really proud of that job!
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Feb 08
Way to Go girl!! I bet you do feel proud in being able to fix that toilet of yours. Hey, if you have some spare time maybe you could come over my place and do some repairs...LOL I have a super in my apt building that can't fix squat! I usually wind up fixing a few things around the apt too out of desperation and cause like I said my super can't fix anything..I haven't had to do any repairs in awhile...uh, yet
As far as that hole in the pipe...how large is it? Sometimes if it's not too large as I've had holes in my pipes too, I just wind up and wrap around good old duct tape...works wonders!
2 people like this
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
28 Feb 08
Thank you :)
I just might make my way up to NY to fix some stuff for you - then I'll bill the super LOL. That'll teach him!
My dad actually told me to wrap it in duct tape until he could make it up but it never seemed dry enough to do so. I just got a big bowl underneath and that drain stopped with a stopper. It's a pretty decent sized whole too. Like the size of a half dollar I believe.
@MySpot (2600)
• United States
27 Feb 08
I'm so proud of you! Now you can join a fixer-upper club = )
Do you ever watch DIY tv? (Do It Yourself) I love those home improvement shows... they make it look easy and give us confidence in trying projects at home. I totally love the ones like Trading Spaces, While You Were Out and Monster House (if that one is still running?) Tony and I always said that once we became home owners that we wanted to sign up for a bunch of them! Too bad we aren't neighbors because we could trade spaces, learn some inexpensive home improvements and help each other makeover a room with the shows $2,000 room budget!
Before purchasing self-help videos, check out what your local library has to borrow first. You'd be suprised what you can find online for free too! I have a feeling that there's no stopping you now ; )
GOOD LUCK, Babe!
Here are a few I found for you to get started:
http://www.doityourself.com/scat/plumbing
http://www.expertvillage.com/video-series/1169_plumbing-basics-two.htm
(THIS ONE HAS FREE VIDEO IF YOU NEED A VISUAL AIDE)
http://www.hometips.com/index.html
http://www.diy-home-makeover.com/
(I MIGHT TRY THE GARDEN MAKEOVER)
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
28 Feb 08
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!
Oh I love HGTV!! I go through these phases where it's all I watch. I've gotten some amazing ideas from it but it doesn't get into the specifics of plumbing too much LOL.
That would be cool because I think we'd do a good job and creating something one another would like :) I guess you're just gonna have to move to KY LOL.
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
28 Feb 08
Thank you :) Yes it is frustrating when things go wrong. Our house is over 50 years old and it seems like it never ends LOL. Esp because the previous owners took too many matters in their own hands when they really shouldn't have.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
27 Feb 08
Fantastic. Well done. The sink pipe is a bigger job though. I don't know US pipework so I won't advise about sizes and plumbing requirements. But the first thing to remember is to turn the water off at the mains pipe. Not doing so will result in a swimming pool where you currently don't have one, and probably don't want one either. Prepare properly before hand. The internet has lots of useful sites, some with videos that should be able to help you. Otherwise make sure that the area is accessible, that you put toweling down to catch any spillage and take your time. If you go to a builder's supplies store, I bet you'll find that there's someone there that will be able to talk you through the whole routine. Well done again. I'm proud of you.
2 people like this
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
27 Feb 08
Why thank you :) And double thank you for that wonderful advice! I hadn't even thought to look for videos!
I do have the kit already (I bought it right before my dad was suppose to come) - he had told me ahead of time what I needed.
@jhl930 (3601)
• United States
28 Feb 08
I actually do have a home repair story..and i was really proud of myself at the time too lol my aunt needed her back door put on her house and I had never done anything like this before...and i was like 17 years old or something like that..so i took the back door off of her house and put the new one back on and even put the door knob on too..
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
28 Feb 08
Great job!! That would be an intimidating job too!! I've switched out door knobs before but never an entire door! Cool!
@Darkwing (21583)
•
9 Mar 08
I don't know how to tell you to fix the pipe from the sink. I wouldn't know where to start, but well done you, at fixing the toilet! Great job!
It just goes to show, doesn't it, that we women are not as daft as the men think we are? You've truly made a good mark in the book for women's achievements. Congratulations. You deserve to be excited and proud.
Brightest Blessings.
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
21 Apr 08
LOL - Thanks :) Sorry it's been so long since I got to this! I just seen it :)
I haven't been on mylot lately...just haven't had the time with working now. I promise I'm not ignoring you or anyone else :)
1 person likes this
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
9 Mar 08
Thanks :) That's very sweet of you!
On the pipe - my dad let me know that what I had (the replacement pipe) was exactly what I needed but I needed a pipe wrench - which I bought but I haven't tackled it yet but plan to soon :)
