My whole week got wrecked by a busted sprinkler line

I was trying to fix a small drip in my backyard system over on Olsen, and I accidentally hit the main line with my shovel. Water shot up like a geyser for a good 20 minutes before I could find the shutoff. Had to dig a 4 foot trench by hand in the clay to find the break, and the parts alone cost me $85. It was just one of those jobs where everything that could go wrong did. Anyone know a good place in town to rent a trenching tool for next time?

3 comments

3 Comments

sean85415d ago

Actually hitting the main line is a rookie move. You should have called the utility locator service first, they mark the lines for free. That clay on Olsen is a known problem, you should have rented a small excavator from the start instead of trying to dig by hand. Spending $85 on parts means you probably bought the wrong connectors, the good ones are closer to $120 but they last. The whole thing reads like you tried to cut corners and it blew up in your face.

logan_mitchell15d ago

Man, I see this everywhere now. People can't just have a bad day without someone acting like they should have seen it coming. Like the guy was just fixing a drip, not building a dam. That clay is awful to dig in and mistakes happen. It's this weird need to point out the "right" way after the fact that just makes everything feel worse. Sometimes stuff breaks and you're just trying to get through it.

the_anthony14d ago

Ever notice how the Monday morning experts come out after any mess? Logan_mitchell is right, it's like people get a kick out of saying "should've" after the fact. Reminds me of when my neighbor's tree branch fell, and three guys instantly appeared to tell him how he should have trimmed it differently two years ago. Dude just wanted help moving the branch off his car.