this one is about 2 hours from my home, and need to put together a 'shotgun' kit for what to expect, so i don't have to go any buy a whole load of stuff at HD that i already have at home.

suggestions on what to bring with? already bought another pump, hose, check valve. will also be bringing shop vac, misc. hand tools, torpedo heater, flashlights, and extra-warm clothes (should be -25 w/wind chill there tomorrow...yummy!)

any other suggestions? TIA. --205.188.208.133

Don't know who would want to crawl around in a crawl space that just had 2 feet of water in it. Let it set for a few weeks, after it dries out, and do the work later if no one is going to rent it.

Do you even know if it has galvanized, copper, or lead coming out of the ground? It's hard to advise what you should take with you if we don't know what you are dealing with. Good luck on the damage, and hope that it wasn't on the interior. --68.53.193.212

lines are all copper, (which i'm thinking about changing to pex now...), but i'll have handyman do any pipe repairs that need be done.

main issue for tomorrow AM is to determine where leak occurred, get pump in crawlspace working to drain it, get heat cranking (like you said), and, if inside, start sucking up the water/drying out. basically, damage control.

will also be bringing a de-humidifier and a couple of fans (for inside...i hope not), and a couple of beers if it's not (to celebrate my good luck, of course!) --205.188.209.16

let us know how it goes...i hope its less work than your imagining.... --152.163.252.193

weighters

3/4 - 1' copper pipe

acetyleane tank

turbo torch

solder

flux

sand paper

striker

shovel

shut off the electric first - to prevent electiccution

ball valve

sub pump - with hose & ss clamps

just a few things -Good luck !!!! --67.83.119.17

The leak must be in the crawl space since the main line should be burried under sufficient soil to prevent freezeups. With subfreezing temps, it won't help much. Maybe an easy way to locate the break is to turn off the main valve in the house which should be located where the pipe enters the house. Afterwards, turn the street valve on and listen for water. If all is good, then you know the leak is in the house after the house shut off valve. You could instruct your handyman to turn the street valve on while you look for breaks. A pair of walkie-talkies work great so you can communicate. Once you spot the gush of water you can start your repair. Look for multiple pipe splits too.

Since the heat tape failed as well as the sump pump, are your sure the house has electric? If not I can lend you a huge generator. If your heading 287 North to Route 80 West towards Pa., I'm only 10 minutes from the Route 80 on ramp. Swing by (you have my phone number to contact me directions, I'm working from home on Thursday) and we can load up my generator. It weighs about 450 lbs, so you will need a pickup truck or van. You will be able to run a small house on it but drinks gas faster than a drunk drinking beer. If your going up on a weekend, I can assist.

John

New Jersey --67.84.203.213

John

New Jersey --67.84.203.213

plan is to just hook up the new pump and hose, from an extension cord, and drop it in from a small access window. that should start phase 1, while i check to see if i can get original pump started (may be tripped breaker).

tyler: i'm only hoping it goes ok, but handyman said he saw a fair amount of insulation floating in the crawlspace, so probably the leak came from above. i hope not.

john: i can't be positive that the place has power NOW, but the electric bill from last month indicates that the pump must have been running for a while anyway. if no power, then it's a job for the weekend. i have a small generator, if need be, that should be able to get me by in that respect.

as far as where the freeze-up is, apparently, there have been a lot of problems in the area with the pipes between the street and the entrance to the house, hopefully, that's not it, that would be a big $$ fix.

the idea of shutting off at the main valve in the crawl and turning off at the street is what the handyman had suggested, to verify the underground pipes are ok, after that, we take it a step at a time.

once i figure out how bad things look, then i'll plan the weekend. i'll be back tomorrow night and update.

we'll see how bad it is, i might take you up on the weekend assist. i don't know about 'home cooked' (without water anyway), but i can certainly spring for a few good meals in return. (i know a couple of good places for seafood and surf/turf!). --205.188.209.16

John

New Jersey --67.84.203.213