Beware of geysers in your home.  

This week the refrigerator repairman came to visit.  The ice maker had stopped and he was there to install a new valve.  Of course the water had to be turned off and I had no idea where the fridge shut-off valve is (Note 1. to self - find the water shut-off valve) so he turned off the water to the house. Of course I had no idea where that was (Note 2. to self - get a grip idiot and find ALL the valves) so he located it in the basement at the point were the water enters the house from the main pipe.  After less than 20 minutes, the fridge ice maker was fixed and the water turned on to the house.

Now, as we all know, when air has a chance to get in the pipes, there is a lot of burping the air out of EACH water spot.  I spent some time going to each toilet, sink, tub, shower, and exterior water sources (for the hoses) and turned each on for a period of time until the air 'burbs' stopped.  Oh yes, this morning I discovered that I had missed the washing machine. (Note 3. to self - There are 16 water outlets in and around the house, get them all.)

Things were going swimmingly during my tour of duty - turning on all the water - until I got to the bidet.  Now, this is a plumbing fixture that is never used but I do know that water shoots up not down from the outlet.  I leaned over to turn the taps, just a tiny fraction of a bit to start the water.  There must have been a whole hot air balloon of air in the pipes behind the fixture because water shot up with incredible power to the ceiling and just past my face.  It was a two towel clean-up.  (Note 4. to self - Bidets have a power that should not be unleashed after a water shut off.  Stand back, away from the outlet, and turn a teeny tiny bit.)

As of this morning, we have ice, we have water running smoothly in each plumbing source AND we have a clean ceiling in the en suite.  

Yellowstone geysers would blush if compared to the power in a bidet under pressure.  

Photo credit:  Grand Geyser

 

Valerie Zinger  valeriezinger@gmail.com 

Ottawa, Canada      613-859-7759

 

 
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37 Comments on This did not happen at Yellowstone National Park

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OCT
23
2 Featured Posts

Great story, Valerie!  It made me giggle a bit remembering the day my husband needed rescuing at a fix-n-flip he'd purchased when we were dating.  He decided to replace the faucet and turned off 'all' the valves except the one that was hidden from view and most relevant.  He loosened the faucet just enough for it to shoot both the faucet and a ton of water straight up into the ceiling.  He grabbed a floor rug, threw his body and rug across the geyser and then took a good long cursing break.  I'm still not sure how he managed to shut off the local valve but it was an impressive pond by the time I arrived.  Those water pipes are amazingly powerful!  Thanks for the chuckle and reminder to find those shut off valves!

-Dee
11:54am • #18
1,455,168 Points 46 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Valerie, Thanks for sharing. I will check the water line to the icemaker. Otherwise I may have a simialr experince some day.
12:13pm • #19
206,787 Points 14 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Valerie- Reading about your experience with the bidet is funny but I'm sure you weren't laughing when water was shooting.
12:13pm • #20
546,371 Points 121 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Richard and Beth.  You are most welcome.

Dee.  Your story is hilarious.  A throw run?  No why did I not think of that?  Hmmmm

Gita:  It is one of those things you don't think you need to know - until you do.

Beth:  First there was the shock and then I started to laugh so hard that tears were ready to run down my leg.  LOL  
12:25pm • #21
226,861 Points 4 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Valerie - thanks for the laughs. Reading your blog has broken my mundane routine. Hope you are all right and dried.
12:25pm • #22
546,371 Points 121 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Sarah and Lester:  Yes - all is well in my household. It was quite the day.  
12:27pm • #23
139,440 Points Outside Blog

Sounds like a soaking situation.  Can imagine it must've been frustrating locating all those water outlets.  
12:35pm • #24
587,113 Points 46 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I would tell you I am LOLing but I won't ..... :)  We had some friends return from a 3 week vacation to find their entire home flooded.  Yep... The refrigerator ice maker had went nuts, popped a valve and water the water flowed the entire time they were away.
12:48pm • #25
428,770 Points 23 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Valerie....that is too funny!! Too bad you didn't get a photo of the water shooting out!
12:50pm • #26
252,720 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Great story Val-Old Faithful is beautiful in Yellowstone, but definitely not so from the bidet! Water is both a precious and damaging element and that must acknowledged to avoid unnecessary emergencies.
2:29pm • #27
314,457 Points 17 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Hey at least you have a clean ceiling!
2:43pm • #28
548,645 Points 3 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Thank you for the chuckle Valerie, as I am by far, not the world's greatest handyman, I will remember this...
3:04pm • #29
409,292 Points 12 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Valerie - Oh, so that explains the blood curdling scream I heard all the way from Ottawa...  Ha ha!  Hilarious.  At least you  weren't ON the bidet when it happened...
3:10pm • #30
1,528,078 Points 164 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Funny Valerie.  I'm not sure Old Faithful would appreciate the comparison to a Bidet but it's  visual I get.
6:10pm • #31
388,883 Points 21 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I met one of my best friends over a toilet overflowing incident. Good thing I'm the wife of a builder, I knew how to shut the valves
7:02pm • #32
782,040 Points 38 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Having never owned a bidet I would have no clue, LOL!  I guess I will take a lesson from you, though, and learn where my shut off valves are!
7:47pm • #33
942,678 Points 95 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Sounds like you got quite a shower. WHat a funny story.
8:05pm • #34
1,352,557 Points 42 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master
Valerie - The mental pictures, just made me laugh as I read it. I'm glad you have a clean ceiling ; )
8:47pm • #35
OCT
24
580,810 Points 37 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Valerie LOL my Bed & Breakfast in Ireland had 8 bidets so I'm well familiar with them ... however none of them acted like Old Faithful on any of my guests, thank goodness!!
12:53am • #36
275,890 Points 17 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

A bidet!  I used to tell my children that it was a foot washer when they asked about the one we had in our home in Indonesia.  They never used it for that...or its original purpose!
5:19am • #37

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