Writer: Helena Bergström
How much trouble can you have with a sewage pump? We can't even count how many times the sewage has sprayed straight out, or how many times we've had to manage without water and sewage. We have a new sewage pump now, but the problems aren't solved yet...
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Share
ShareTable of contents
Sewage everywhere
We were enjoying a peaceful dinner on Friday and drinking a glass of wine when we suddenly noticed a very unpleasant smell. That's when we discovered that the waste tank wasn't completely sealed, so to speak. It needs to be emptied regularly (by pulling a lever). We had never really thought about what could happen if it became too full, but now we knew.
Sewage was spraying out through a leaky corner over, yes, our clothes. Anyway, we had intended to rip out the fixed wardrobe fittings and repaint. But now we started that job little faster than planned, so to speak.
We worked marathon hours yesterday evening and night to get everything old out of the boiler room before the plumbers and electricians arrived, which meant we had to go without water and drainage for a while. The fake fur clothes went to the dry cleaners...
Electrician and plumber for the houseboat
The electrician identified the problem with the heating system and fixed part of it. The plumber brought a new modern pump station, which pumps out the waste water automatically. He installed and tested it... and what do you think happened?
The plastic pipe to the pump burst and water was spilled sprayed into the boat, over the plumber and the entire boiler room. Peter scrubbed and then they tested again. With the same dramatic results! Just scrubbing again, then.
The plumber couldn't figure out what was wrong. But then it turned out that the pipes from the marina were blocked. So it wasn't just us who had a blockage, but everyone living on the entire jetty! So now we're without water and sewage again, until Pampas has fixed the pipes. But we have a new modern pumping station! And we'll probably go out for dinner tonight...
The misery continues... no sewage again
You wouldn't think we could have any more bad luck, but we did. This morning, I woke up and went to the toilet, and then I heard Peter shouting in panic from the bedroom on the lower deck: ”Turn off the water!” Our new, fancy sewage pump had broken down... again!
The result? Sewage in the entire boiler room, including the hull. We had to switch off the water, start the submersible pump to pump out the water and ... scrub. So now we are without drains again (this is starting to feel familiar.) What has happened is that the pipes have jumped apart, and we think the plumber must change from plastic to brass. We have texted him and hope he can come tomorrow.
What are we doing today? Well, we can work anyway, so we take the opportunity to fix things here and there. So that you don't think it's just Peter working, you can see me painting the boiler room today. Just a little hard to get to sometimes ...
Involuntary Spartan living
We received a comment from a reader who wrote that her father, a plumber, used to say that his job was probably one of the most important in today's modern society. And we're inclined to agree! The advantage of being without certain things sometimes is that you realise how good it is when they work.
We have water from a tap on the jetty and there are toilets in the marina, so we can manage temporarily. But it's incredibly impractical not to have water and sewage. Everything, from washing your hands to emptying a glass or doing the dishes, becomes complicated. I washed the frying pan in cold water from the dock, and then I opened the window and emptied the dishwater into the lake... We hope the plumber will come tomorrow. Otherwise we will have to move to the campervan for a few days.
English (UK) 
Svenska
Anna says:
How very annoying! Of all the things that must go wrong, it's really typical that the drain is leaking! Why can't it be some kind of small list that falls down? Hope it clears up quickly!
22 September 2013 - 17:22
BP says:
But now I'm actually starting to feel very, very sorry for you. Not funny at all - and you can't even call HSB and the on-call engineer. I really hope the plumber comes and can fix it. I mean it was a new pump!!!
Oh, it will be nice - all the white...
22 September 2013 - 18:08
Deciree says:
Oh no, how sad! You do not want to have problems as soon as you get a boat. The painting work will be nice anyway:)
22 September 2013 - 18:40
Britt says:
My dad said that his job was probably one of the most important in today's modern society. He was a plumber. I'm inclined to agree. I don't know if I want to be without running water and sewage.
22 September 2013 - 18:42
Anki says:
Well, but ... gosh! Have followed the misery, but thought it was OK!
Now I actually feel very sorry for you ... hope the plumber comes tomorrow!
Good thing you're thin and flexible... and it's beautiful 🙂 .
22 September 2013 - 19:13
Znogge says:
I really hope it will work out once and for all!
22 September 2013 - 19:45
Kors och Tvärs says:
But isn't it enough now?!
Now make sure the plumber comes and gets all the parts fixed so you can continue to enjoy your new life.
22 September 2013 - 20:45
admin says:
Anna, the drain IS extra important... we've noticed.
😉
BP, glad you like it! It is a light light grey, but looks almost white in the picture.
Deciree, we did expect some problems because we bought a boat from the 1930s, but right now it's more than we expected....
Britt, I think I can agree! Plumbers are super important! What do you do without them?
Anki, we also thought that it was ok... but we were not...
Criss-cross, but isn't it? We hope he comes tomorrow. Otherwise we'll have to move to the motorhome...
22 September 2013 - 21:23
Elisabeth says:
Could be better!!! Elisabeth
22 September 2013 - 22:41
Frankie & Co says:
Hm, you are in a shoal of misery, it seems, as if it's done and I really, really hope the repair will be a hundred now and that you swim out of the shoal and get a calm flow because now it seems enough!
Comforting hugs!
23 September 2013 - 7:57
Helga says:
But your poor people how hard! Hope everything works out for the best!
24 September 2013 - 13:14