Septic happens...

It's always something. Oh well. But why does 'something' always happen when my husband isn't here?

Our handyman called me early yesterday morning to tell me that there were problems with the plumbing in the barn apartment. The water in the bathroom, which of course should be draining down from the fixtures in there, was draining up. Up? Give me a blessed break. I told M to run over to the house and get the plunger that we had.... which he did... but that didn't help. The water was still going up instead of down.

M went to his job in town, and I told him that I'd be calling local plumbers to see who could get out here the quickest. Fortunately, the water had found a level that was way below both the sink and the commode, with not a drop going over the edges and onto the floor. And, wonder of wonders.... I had a business card from a local plumbing company that we had used when we first moved out here. Not only were they fairly close-by, but they were honest and reliable. They were here in less than an hour's time.

Turns out that the plumbing in the barn wasn't the problem at all. (Which my husband would be happy about, being that he had re-constructed practically all that plumbing in the barn.)

"Your problem," said the plumber, "is that there septic tank and that dang bodunk tree sittin' right there near the golldarn tank."  (I have no idea if bodunk is the actual name of a tree, or Texas slang for a worthless tree whose roots can tear into a septic system.)

The plumber suggested that we have that tree taken out as soon as we could, then he called the septic tank company in town that they're affiliated with, told them the problem, and asked when they could "get over to this here property."

As with all things in small towns, there aren't many choices in service companies, so you have to be careful with the ones you pick. My feeling is that if this plumber was recommending this particular septic tank repairman, then that's the one I should use. (Because if you don't take their suggestion, then not only will they not be recommending anyone in the future, you'll be lucky if they'll come out to your house the next time you call them.)

The plumber and his helper re-configured the septic line so the handyman could use the fixtures in the kitchen and the bathroom of the barn. Unfortunately, the septic tank guy can't be here till Monday morning, being that he's only one of a few companies in this area who do that sort of work, and everyone around here agrees that he's the best there is.

Looking back, the septic surprise went along fairly well.... the plumber was here in less than an hour, he found the problem in the first ten minutes, he re-set the drainage pipe so our handyman wouldn't have to deal with water draining up rather than down, and he arranged for the septic guy to get out here first thing on Monday.

When the plumber was packing up to leave, I went out to the barn with my checkbook in hand, expecting to pay for his work. "No need for that," said the man... "the office sends out statements at the end of the month so y'all will get the bill in that there mailbox... and you can send us the check when you're ready."

I asked the plumber if they ever had customers who didn't pay their bills... and wouldn't it be easier to just take payments on the spot.  "No ma'am.... we don't have problems with people who try and stiff us. And if they do... it's just as easy for us to drive out to their properties and un-fix the problems we fixed for them in the first place... and when they see us doin' that, you'd be surprised at how fast they can write out a golldarn check."

Life in the country.....