Unknown unknowns

We never thought that we’d have to redo the plumbing. But I’m glad that, when we found out, we found out when we did. Because it’s a huge undertaking.

Many of the pipes are as old as the house, so nearly 100 years. And, while that tells us how good they were to have lasted so long, it also tells us how little maintenance was done. Especially in the last thirty odd years.

The galvanised pipes have got to go - you’re not allowed to use them any more - and the drain in what was the wash kitchen will be replaced one with a one way valve, to prevent drainage water from entering the cellar during floods. That didn’t happen here recently, but with more and more houses being built, and more and more idiots paving their gardens, it’s bound to happen sometime.

But, until recently, the washing machine just had a pipe that sat on top of the drain. Again, it works, but it also means not taking advantage of the pump so sediment will build up over time.

We’re also getting completely new sewage pipes. I wonder if we should get the archaeologists in? On the radio today I heard of a report of proof that stone age people ate cheese and drank beer.