Hey! Didn't you check that line?

[Privateer]

Normally I run all the demos We do all around the Country.
This job I'm mostly there in an observer, Duct Commander, "Oh Darn! Get Jeff!" kind of role.
 
Today was the "Oh Darn!" de jour!
 

We cut a lot of copper water lines out of the buildings. I have a set way of doing this.
Double check the lines are off and cut several feet from any walls (which was not done) to allow draining or JUST incase it's a live water line.
That way standing walls (and the next store) are safe from water damage.

Well it was a real sight to roll into work today and see a cut 1" water line doing what it does really well when the water is NOT turned off!
 
It was also very intertaining to stand back and watch the totally failed attempts to control the water flow!
(I made sure I stayed well back and offered no suggestions unless asked as that's my role on this job)
 

It took 1 1/2 hours for the Plumbers to find the shut off valve while 10 guys got soaked doing all kinds of crazy stuff to try and control the water flow!
It's a day I wish I had taken my Video recorder in with me!

I could have contained the flow as the line was not cut through completely but I didn't want to get wet.
And sometimes people need to learn a few things.

[DD789]

Sounds like they could have used a little Navy damage control training.
Oh Lord stuck in Lodi again.

[Privateer]

 
Staying in Lodi, working in Stockton.
But the tune fits.
 

[Big Bore Bart]

  OH yeah!   A squidley snipe would have had it under control in minutes, less if they had been through the DC trainer. (AKA the swimming hole)

[JonnyReb]

 I know the feelin 

  Have dealt with that quite a few times and wow is it a mess. Last time it happened i was demoing out a 2nd floor bathroom in an upscale house. There were 2  3\4" copper lines coming up into a wall, where they then branched into tee's and fed the tub\shower.. I literally just bumped one of the old lines and was amazed to see the 3\4"x1\2" tee just literally pop off. The old solder joint had held for 20-30 years but i bump it and it pops off? Yup. Crazy.

  The stream of water went straight to the ceiling.     i went nuts for just a second, not knowing what to do. I was alone and knew if i ran to the street to kill it i would flood the downstairs through the ceiling. I stuck my hand over the end of the pipe and with all my strength held the flow back. If i even slightly backed off the water would spray. I started screaming >\"=! and for help. Was thinking the homeowner was still there and could maybe shut the water off in a downstairs closet for me..i didn't know if there was or not...the homeowner had left however and there was no one. Thinking about it REAL HARD i used my foot to drag my tool tray close enough to me to grab a pair of channel locks out, and then i went to work crimping the copper down to the point i could bend the pipe over, then i crimped the bend so i could finally reduce the flow to a trickle, which i then aimed into my tool tray. I RAN faster than an aging plumber should be able to, all the way to the street and killed the water to the house, then repaired the busted joint. Turned out there was only a tiny strip of solder holding that tee on, i'm amazed it held for so many years..whew...hope that NEVER happens to me again. 

[Sfttailrdr46]

  Went to a home under re construction after Sandy to replace the heating system and was told electric and water were off so I started disconnecting the line voltage from the emergency switch and a little voice told me check power with meter long story short power to unit was still live. So I had helper check water main it was still on also. Sometimes those voices in my head are very helpful

[palonej]

Ugh!!
Installed a heating and cooling system in an attic a few years ago.
Got a call that winter that the unit was leaking water into the bedrooms. Hmmmmm.
Went to check and the home owner installed a whole house humidifier....he ran a 1/4" water line into his attic. Attic is not heated and on a 0 degree day the line burst. Talk about a mess!!!
That was NOT a good idea!!

[JonnyReb]

Ugh!!
Installed a heating and cooling system in an attic a few years ago.
Got a call that winter that the unit was leaking water into the bedrooms. Hmmmmm.
Went to check and the home owner installed a whole house humidifier....he ran a 1/4" water line into his attic. Attic is not heated and on a 0 degree day the line burst. Talk about a mess!!!
That was NOT a good idea!!

  Have seen quite a few burst 1\4" PLASTIC icemaker lines run to attic humidifiers. Can't imagine what the installer was thinking. Copper isn't much better when it freezes...probably would choose pex over any other material if freezing is a possible issue. Much as we distrusted pex at first....turned out to be great stuff. 

[Privateer]

On the electrical side I always have a tester in my tool belt.
I can't count the number of Cable cutters and Side cuts that have been melted into uselessness.
 

I also test all new or temp power sources.
You should see what 240 volts does to a 120 volt floor sander!
 

[Sfttailrdr46]

On the electrical side I always have a tester in my tool belt.
I can't count the number of Cable cutters and Side cuts that have been melted into uselessness.
 

I also test all new or temp power sources.
You should see what 240 volts does to a 120 volt floor sander!
 

My 120vac shop vac sounded like an F18 on take-off when plugged into 220v but it really had great suction fot 10 seconds or so 

[Privateer]

My 120vac shop vac sounded like an F18 on take-off when plugged into 220v but it really had great suction fot 10 seconds or so 

I'll bet it did!
The floor sander shot across the floor like a runaway train just as a mushroom cloud of smoke poofed out of it.
 

[DD789]

Wait tell you see what 120v does to a Lionel Train  I'm surprised it didn't derail. this was in elementary school when we were learning about electricity. it's been to long ago I don't remember how 120v got applied to the rails. and it wasn't me