Todays Project

Actually started the night before....toilet had not been flushing very well kind of off and on all winter so of course I put it off as I had lots of other things to be doing. Then last night(Tues)daughter came upstairs after I had gone to bed to tell me the shower and the sink wouldn't drain. Uh Oh. Started day in good time.. currently about half way through lambing approx.110 ewes...several new lambs at morning chores ,got them squared away and got to work (paying job)before 8:00 and got a hold of local backhoe operator and his nephew who has a vacuum truck. Bless their souls they were able to get there in the fore noon to start clearing the top off of the septic tank and got it pumped out. Iarranged to get away from work for a bit. Of course there was a cheery breeze blowing resulting in a -15 degree celsius (whatever farenheit)wind chill to help us along.While pumping the tank,water is running back from the tile bed Hmmmm thats not right...so we did some exploring with the hoe determined that the bed is flooded.Great.Thankfully Ken was able to dig a trench and drain the water away from the bed which should keep us going 'till the weather is more fit.Went back to work for a couple hours,came home did chores,(surprise,more lambs) sorted them and the ewes around,changed some penning and had supper about 7:30. It will soon be time to head to the barn again. My sister once said I would never be bored...after today I would welcome some boredom. I wonder what tommorow will be like? Bob

just another day on the farm hey. sounds sorta familar. we have about 70 ewes. not expecting to start lambing till last week of march though. seems every time lambing starts theres always something else comes along needs tending to too. shouldnt be the septic feild though took care of that last fall. good luck with your lambing. hope the weather at least holds or inproves for ya till after your done.
rocko

We've had a problem toilet at the farm for a long time now. The flapper ball wasn't sealing causing the tank to slowly drain. When the water dropped enough, the fill valve would open and refill the tank. I cleaned the seat of the flapper ball, but that didn't help. A couple of months ago, I replaced the flapper ball. All seemed well for a while.

Then the chain from the bar on the handle to the flapper ball started getting hung under the flapper ball and the toilet would run.

I shortened the chain as much as I could and still allow the flapper ball to close. I also changed the position of the chain on the handle. Then, the blasted chain started hanging on the lip to the flapper ball not letting it close which caused the toilet to run continuously.

About 3 weeks ago, I had already gone to bed and James had fallen asleep on the couch. When he got up he stopped by the bathroom before coming on to bed. Of course the chain hung on the edge of the flapper ball, but being half asleep he didn't notice.

I got up around 5:30 and headed for the kitchen. When I got to the hall door, I stepped in water.

I could hear the toilet running and went to fix it. When I got to the bathroom, there was water on the floor, but not a lot.

I decided I had better check the other bathrooms. When I got to the hall bath, it was badly flooded with about an inch of water on the floor. I checked the back bath next and it had water on the floor, but not a lot.

I checked the den as it shares a wall with the hall bath and there was water seeping out from under the couch into the den. Luckily it had not reached the area rug.

I figured the toilet running for several hours had flooded the septic tank and lines. We've had rain every week since Oct. and the ground is pretty saturated. At least it didn't smell.

After spending the next couple of hours sopping up water, it was time to fix the toilet right.

Last w/e I installed a different flushing mechanism, a new tank seal and new tank bolts.

No more problems.

Now if it would just quit raining!