Jul 12 - a chore

Let's start off with this morning's chore, which of course was a July 13 (is there some significance in that date ?) activity, not July 12.

I'd noticed that the sewage sump was running often and for a short time, or so it seemed.  It makes a hum, stops and then a thump, as the check valve closes.  So I did what I periodically do, unplug the sump, run the hose until the sump fills, checking to see if the alarm goes off -- a separate float -- and then running the sump until it's drained.

The alarm went off -- that's good -- and the sump ran and ran until I heard gurgling but it didn't shut off ... not good.  So ... let's open the top of the sump and check things out ... ugh.

The screws have long since rusted away except for two of them and they had rusted and were immovable.  I just broke them off with the vicegrips.  The lid was fastened down anyway with a thick ring of clear silicone, which I dug out in one long piece and then turned the lid to one side.

I could see the sump float hung up, which was an easy fix but could also see the reason for frequent running.  A two inch thick layer of crud had built up in the bottom -- that's soap, by the way, nothing else -- and I could either find some way of removing that and pieces stuck to the sides or break it up and attempt to pump it away.  I opted for the latter, finding a pipe to start breaking that stuff up.  I filled and pumped and refilled etc. getting rid of most of it and then fished out the rest of the small floating chunks into a pail which is now outside awaiting disposal.  I should probably just bag it up and put it in the garbage.  There isn't much of it.

I really need to clean that sump every year.  It would be such a pain for the pump to fail due to non-stop running and overheating. 

So that's done.  While I was doing the cleaning, Sandy came downstairs because she could hear gurgling in the kitchen and could smell sewage.   Once the sump fills past the point of the incoming pipes, gurgles happen.  She might have smelled the sewage but it was pretty mild, having pumped it out repeatedly with fresh water before opening it.  Still, it probably smelled; her nose is more sensitive than mine.

Yesterday it rained.  Sandy went to Parry Sound for groceries.  I went into Loring for the mail and came back with one flyer.  Drat.  I forgot about needing ice cream.  I'll go in again late this afternoon.

I had my monthly RUSA Board meeting call last night, which went from 8pm to 10pm.  As usual I'm pretty wired after that and have some difficulty sleeping but that may be due to having a mega-cup of my usual strong coffee while on the call.

Today, Jeffrey and Sara might go into Sudbury, not sure.  David and Vanda are heading back to Stayner because they fly to Edmonton tomorrow a.m.  Stef and Aaron arrive this afternoon.  It's like the changing of the guard !

Onward !