Mr. Handyman

I'm not very handy around the house.

I know how to do some stuff but I don't do much simply because I don't like it. And, I have made a mess or two in my day.

So I hung up my tool belt.

That won't work down here. As you know, things break. And the Panamanian workers may make a worse mess of the problem before anything gets fixed.

So it is best to fix it yourself, if possible.

Now on to the Great Leaking Water Heater Caper in Boquete.

As I have mentioned in previous blogs, my water heater leaks. This is disappointing because it is only four months old and we have only used it for 2 months. Oh, the warranty is for 90 days so no luck there.

I need to get over my disappointment about anything breaking down here!

In the US, there is an expression, "shit happens." Well here it is, "shit breaks."

I was going to replace the water heater but I noticed that the installer had completely stripped the screw heads,making the screws very difficult to remove. Given my level of skill and my limited tool set, this was not going to work.

I didn't want to hire someone to remove it so I asked around.

A friend suggested that I braze the pinhole leak in the brass valve casing. That may work. But you have to have good access because of the necessary blow torch to heat up the valve. Taking it out is not an option. No good.

Then another friend suggested using AB Weld, an epoxy to seal the leak.

Ah ha! That sounds right up my alley...glue...I can handle glue.

Now, I need to find the epoxy. Not a simple chore.

Another friend gives me epoxy plumbers putty. It is old and hard to mix and doesn't work.

So on to another epoxy. I look around and end up buying 2 types of epoxy because no one selling it is sure if it will work.

Total spent...$8.

I select the epoxy scientifically. I pick the prettiest packaging. And apply it.

It works!!! I don't know for how long, but it works.

This might seem like a little thing to you. It is not for me. I just saved over $200 and all the hassle of hiring a local to fix it.

I can't believe it. Wow!

Now onto fixing the septic seepage pit.

I hired a local to dig it up by hand. No backhoe this time. Too expensive and, in the end, he would tear everything else up in the process.

We found the pit. That's a start. And we found the pipes from the house and the casita. That's good too.

This time, I will have to hire workers to mix and place the concrete cap on the pit.

But we are ready and I am hopeful.

Little by little. Poco a poco.

We are gaining on it.