Life Lessons Through Plumbing

In my inaugural post to this blog, I plan to write not a step-by-step tutorial on how to fix a leaky faucet, but to talk about the greater life lesson I learned through the experience. We've all heard the adage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Typically, people use this phrase in the figurative sense, like when talking about a sitcom formula or mortgage-backed securities. However, I've learned to think of it in the literal sense.

It started with a leaky hot water faucet stem in the bathtub. A Google search lead me to various sites that showed me it was probably a failed faucet washer. At only 59¢ I decided to buy two in case the other side should decide to go out. 10 minutes or so after arriving home, the hot water side is fixed. No leaks! "That was easy," I think to myself. "I might as well replace the the cold water side, too." [pause for audience groans] This is where Mike Birbiglia would say, "I know... I'm in the future also."

The details are a bit hazy, but suffice it to say, after a severely magled bolt (see Exhibit A), a new tool (Exhibit B), and a new valve stem (Exhibit C) - by the way, did you know there are multiple companies that make faucets, and therefore, faucet stems? - we're back to where we started minus 2 hours, $20 and 50 sanity points. Well, this investment of time and money was worth it to learn the literal meaning of, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Exhibit A - The item formally known as "Faucet Stem Bonnet."

Exhibit B - Shower Valve Socket Wrench - a very handy and inexpensive tool

Exhibit C - New faucet stem - $13.97 at Lowes

Scene setter.

Dobson, Zach. Mistake!. 2010. digital file on blog.

The only part that actually needed to be replaced.

Dobson, Zach. Relief!. 2010. digital file on blog.

--Zach--