How DirecTv/DBSTalk saved my basement

[ProfLonghair]

So, yesterday I read about the overnight reboots/ToDo list problems. I woke up not feeling so hot (I got better), so I was already at home. I went downstairs to the main floor, checked both DVRs there, and they were fine. Then, I went into the basement to check the last one.

When I first headed down the stairs, it was quiet, so I knew the dehumidifier was full. So, I went into the unfinished half. Then, I saw it: The basment had a hugs puddle of water around the drain in the floor. So, I checked the sump pump, as that was where it seemed to be coming from. Sure enough, the pit was full, and I couldn't see the floater. So, I reached my hand in, and that water was COLD! I'm surprised it was still liquid. I could only fish around in there for a few seconds at a time, as my hands went numb quickly, and it was murky enough that i had to rely solely on touch.

Got that fixed, and when it started draining, water came pouring out the output pipe, right at the catch valve. WE already had it duct taped, because there was a pinhole leak there a while back. So, I tried more duct tape. No good. I found if I held the valve and the flanges together in just the right way, it would drain with no leak. So, I held it long enough that it was not overflowing, with some room to spare. Went to Home Depot, got a new valve with flanges attached, and came home to replace.

The rubber flange at the top of the system was ripped about half off! That ended up being my big problem. The replacement went fine, and no damage was done, thankfully, because I caught it in time.

And, why did I catch it in time? Because, I read here about the reboots, and went in the basement to check on my HR20-700. So, thank you, DirecTV, for screwing up the guides, and helping me fix my basement leak, and thank you DBSTalk, for telling me to go check.

;)

[Doug Brott]

Hey .. cool story .. Thanks for sharing :)

[DJPellegrino]

So, yesterday I read about the overnight reboots/ToDo list problems. I woke up not feeling so hot (I got better), so I was already at home. I went downstairs to the main floor, checked both DVRs there, and they were fine. Then, I went into the basement to check the last one.

When I first headed down the stairs, it was quiet, so I knew the dehumidifier was full. So, I went into the unfinished half. Then, I saw it: The basment had a hugs puddle of water around the drain in the floor. So, I checked the sump pump, as that was where it seemed to be coming from. Sure enough, the pit was full, and I couldn't see the floater. So, I reached my hand in, and that water was COLD! I'm surprised it was still liquid. I could only fish around in there for a few seconds at a time, as my hands went numb quickly, and it was murky enough that i had to rely solely on touch.

Got that fixed, and when it started draining, water came pouring out the output pipe, right at the catch valve. WE already had it duct taped, because there was a pinhole leak there a while back. So, I tried more duct tape. No good. I found if I held the valve and the flanges together in just the right way, it would drain with no leak. So, I held it long enough that it was not overflowing, with some room to spare. Went to Home Depot, got a new valve with flanges attached, and came home to replace.

The rubber flange at the top of the system was ripped about half off! That ended up being my big problem. The replacement went fine, and no damage was done, thankfully, because I caught it in time.

And, why did I catch it in time? Because, I read here about the reboots, and went in the basement to check on my HR20-700. So, thank you, DirecTV, for screwing up the guides, and helping me fix my basement leak, and thank you DBSTalk, for telling me to go check.

;)

So...was the basement receiver updated or not? :D
Glad you escaped without too much damage!

[Button Pusher]

Glad you got it taken care of! DirecTV saves the day! Well don't leave yourself out. You had to be intelligent enough to fix it!!:D

[BattleScott]

There will probably be a "disaster aversion" charge on your next bill!

[joe diamond]

Yeah, DTV is cool even though they cost me a good door.

Back when my son was living at home I found him in his room with the TV off. I asked why and he reported too many commercials and stupid programs on the locals. So he was doing homework and reading a math text. After he left for an expensive college I rented his room to a guy who began selling drugs. The cops kicked down the door and hauled his ass out of here one night last week.

So, do you think DTV will fix the door?

Joe

[Mike Bertelson]

Pretty cool story. :lol:

Mike

[dennisj00]

I've got a sump pump in my unfinished basement that occasionally 'hangs' without cutting on and needs a bump to start.

I've added a water alarm ($12 or so at HD or Lowe's) that has saved my neck several times. There's actually a wireless version available online that you can put the alarm upstairs.

Check it out.

[tcusta00]

So, I tried more duct tape. No good.

!rolling !rolling That's the best part of the story right there! !rolling !rolling


;)

[ProfLonghair]

!rolling !rolling That's the best part of the story right there! !rolling !rolling


;)

Hey, why not? What problem can't be fixed by duct tape?

[tcusta00]

Hey, why not? What problem can't be fixed by duct tape?

I know of two so far... this one and something about fishing cables. :p :lol:

[dennisj00]

Hey, don't laugh at duct tape. . . another story, but it saved my sailboat from sinking!

I keep a roll handy in the boat!

[frederic1943]

You only need two tools: WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD-40. If it moves and it shouldn't, use Duct Tape.:D

[Harry Seldon]

You people forget the virtues of caulk.

[Mertzen]

Hey, why not? What problem can't be fixed by duct tape?

Since this was D* related it would have been fixed with self tapping screws :lol:

ProfLonghair, You owe us all a cold one.

[captain_video]

Sounds like we've got a lot of Red Green fans here. Duct tape fixes everything!:D

[jpl]

I know of two so far... this one and something about fishing cables. :p :lol:

Hey, I successfully fished a cable through a wall using a bent coat hanger, attached to the end of a coax connector (don't know what you'd call it - it's the coax connector I took out of an old wall plate). Coat hanger was attached to the connector with... yep... a ridiculous amount of duct tape (I couldn't pull off the connector after I was done :)). I then just screwed the end of the cable to the connector, and after much sweating and swearing I got the cable through. As Alton Brown said on one episode of Good Eats: Macgyver isn't my patron saint for nothing...

[Greg Alsobrook]

You only need two tools: WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD-40. If it moves and it shouldn't, use Duct Tape.:D

:lol:

[Tom Robertson]

Since this was D* related it would have been fixed with self tapping screws :lol:

ProfLonghair, You owe us all a cold one.

Given the cold ones he had that day, I don't think I want one right now. :)

Thanks for the story ProfLonghair!
Tom

[lwilbur]

That small pinhole depending on where it is is important. Usually a small pinhole is drilled into the discharge piping to prevent airlock. Airlock doesnt occur often but when it does it allows the pump to pump air but not pull water and discharge it. So by duct taping the hole in the past you may have set yourself up for this problem. Usually the hole is drilled just below the lid of the pit so that it doesnt splash outside.

[lwilbur]

Sump pumps are awesome until they die unexpectedly. Ours decided to die on the one night we had 4 1/2 inch downpour. Of course it was a Sunday and we didnt find the waterlogged basement until 3 AM. I couldnt bucket the pit fast enough. I would fill the bucket, dump it in the sink and come back and it was overflowing. We used buckets for 3 hours straight before giving up and waiting for Lowes to open for a new pump. One time we also had the street sewer service backup into the basement. The added fun of bailing and finding little suprises floating wasnt fun at all. Since then I bought a handheld siphon pump and tubing so that I can just stick it in the water, put the tube in a drain or sink and let her go. That has saved me a couple times

[Groundhog45]

What's a basement?
:D

Thanks for the story, Professor.

[Tom Robertson]

What's a basement?
:D

Thanks for the story, Professor.

Not much. Just a big hole in the ground. :)

[BKC]

If you didn't, make sure you unplug it next time so you're around to post the next story...... :)

[hdtvfan0001]

One man's reboot is another man's flood avoidance....:D

[ProfLonghair]

If you didn't, make sure you unplug it next time so you're around to post the next story...... :)

Unplug? Why? What's the worst that could happen? I've changed light fixtures and outlets with the power on.

[BKC]

Me too, lots of them but none of them involved doing it under water. :D

[ThomasM]

One day, my DirecTV service went out on all DVR's. Suspicious, I started troubleshooting and discovered that my multiswitch had lost power because the sump pump motor that was plugged into the same outlet failed and tripped the circuit breaker!! Luckily, I had a spare pump in stock and after getting it going I powered everything up and hit "resume" on my DVR!!!