Preparedness for when

Frugalsod

NewShadow wrote: »

Keeping the momentum going - It's 2am on Saturday night/Sunday morning.

You wake to a crashing sound.

Your kitchen ceiling has just collapsed - lets say burst pipe, but obviously your house layout may vary, all you know at the time is the sky is falling and its wet.

First thing to do is disconnect the water supply, which reminds me I need to find the stopcock, and then put buckets under the leaks and start mopping up. Basically stop it getting worse.

As for calling a plumber I would wait for the morning and avoid the overnight premium call out charge.

milasavesmoney

Frugalsod wrote: »

If things were really so good in the US there would not be a rise of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders in the polls. The US is rapidly becoming a third world country when you look at its infrastructure and nothing is being down about that. We in Europe are having a rise in extremist parties because the people realise the reality is not as governments portray them. This becomes a prepping matter because if you see what is happening around you can prepare for that event to minimise its impact

Interesting take on Trump/Sanders. I think Trump is actually a huge backlash to hatred of Obama and his policies plus embarrassment at the inability of the Republican Party to get anything done. Sanders has been embraced by the college age and up to 40 crowd. I am at a loss as to who to vote for, as are so many Americans because we can't stand Hilary. Interesting times for those of us who are middle of the road types. Well actually, interesting times all around.

As for third world nations are concerned, I think you had better define that notion for me. We just simply don't fit the criteria, unless you have a different definition than me. Interesting fact, it was originally coined for any nation not in NATO or the Communist bloc during the Cold War. We are still in NATO (being silly here:D)

NewShadow

Frugalsod wrote: »

First thing to do is disconnect the water supply, which reminds me I need to find the stopcock, and then put buckets under the leaks and start mopping up. Basically stop it getting worse.

As for calling a plumber I would wait for the morning and avoid the overnight premium call out charge.

When this happened on new years eve some 3 or 4 years ago, it was actually a burst pipe in my upstairs neighbours flat - and she'd gone out for the new year!

Thankfully the flat's were all owned by the same landlord - at least he didn't charge a Sunday/nighttime premium :rotfl:

thriftwizard

I did indeed wake up to a crashing sound, during Storm Katie; thought it was my chickenshed roof finally giving up the ghost, but a midnight gallop through a sodden garden waving a torch proved that it wasn't, by the absence of indignant birds & happy foxes & the presence of some droopy Onduline. I still don't know what the bang actually was, but it was LOUD. "Katie" was no joke around here either, but we got off lightly. Much sympathy to Karmacat!

We've also had water coming through the kitchen roof; it's a flat roof & boys trampling over it in wobbly clandestine attempts to get back in after nights out (without keys) had damaged the felt. First thing was actually to disconnect the electrics, as the light below it was fizzing & smoking interestingly, but I'd have done the water too if I'd had reason to believe that there was leaky pipework up there. Luckily our builder friend (used to live opposite) was able to recommend a roofer who was able to fit us in more or less straight away. We couldn't claim anything as it was a) self-inflicted and b) the roof was older than 25 years, but luckily the cost was only about a tenth what I'd feared it might be - quite manageable - as the underlying timbers were sound. Which, bearing in mind that that roof takes the downpours from the main roof when the gutters get blocked, was nothing short of a minor miracle. Watch your gutters, folks! There's a whole lot of water in a rain-cloud...

[Deleted User]

Frugalsod wrote: »

When it comes to energy bills it is a good thing to have a lower reading than others.

I know it's a good thing.

I was making a penis joke.

[Deleted User]

NewShadow wrote: »

Keeping the momentum going - It's 2am on Saturday night/Sunday morning.

You wake to a crashing sound.

Your kitchen ceiling has just collapsed - lets say burst pipe, but obviously your house layout may vary, all you know at the time is the sky is falling and its wet.

I'd ring the Council's emergency number, then turn off the stopcock, although in my case, it wouldn't be a burst pipe that brought down the ceiling, because there are no water pipes above the ceiling.

Hard_Up_Hester

Bob, all penis's are a joke!!

Karmacat

thriftwizard wrote: »

I did indeed wake up to a crashing sound, during Storm Katie; thought it was my chickenshed roof finally giving up the ghost, but a midnight gallop through a sodden garden waving a torch proved that it wasn't, by the absence of indignant birds & happy foxes & the presence of some droopy Onduline. I still don't know what the bang actually was, but it was LOUD.

"Katie" was no joke around here either, but we got off lightly. Much sympathy to Karmacat!

Thanks thriftwizard No fallen plaster overnight, though some more concrete has fallen from the roof - hopefully I'll be getting the estimate today, and work done later this week.

Hard_Up_Hester

I know where the stopcock is and how to turn the electric off, mind you if hubby was home I'd let him do it, I'd make him tea on the gas hob.

NewShadow

thriftwizard wrote: »

it's a flat roof & boys trampling over it in wobbly clandestine attempts to get back in after nights out (without keys) had damaged the felt.

We had the same in the house I grew up in - My brother used to sneak out and had the room above the kitchen extension (what is it with me and kitchen ceilings?).

One night/early morning put his foot through the roof.

After the roof had been repaired, my mother's fix for the internal damage was a huge sheet of plywood with feet painted all over it :rotfl:

Better than when she did get round to doing the ceiling - Lime green ceilings and bright yellow and blue walls are not conductive to appetising meals - not least when the meal includes mash or milk