A fluke and a flood downstairs

RUBEN TELLS ME that yesterday, he and a plumber were in the process of restoring gas service to the sanctuary building. (Why the gas had been off for a month is a story for another time.) They were in the downstairs kitchen’s closet, bleeding air from the gas line to the water heater. Suddenly, they heard a loud pop and a whoosh. 

Sprinkler shutoff valve
(As usual, click/tap on an image to enlarge it.)

This post describes what happened next, and its import.…

Water Intrusion Under Front Steps — Not Yet Stopped

FEW PEOPLE ARE AWARE that our sanctuary’s front steps sit atop a portion of the basement. Until now, probably even fewer have known that whenever those steps get wet (from rainfall, or being hosed down, or washed), water percolates through and finds its way onto the ceiling of the rooms beneath. 

The results of this intrusion? They include: rusted rebar, spalling of the concrete, degradation of basement wall surfaces, damage to the ceiling drywall, discoloration of ceiling paint, dripping of water onto the floor, and potential dry rot in the ceiling joists.

In this post, I will discuss the nature of this problem, our attempted resolutions, and my plans for future action.