Unbelievable bad luck :( - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

01/21/2007 03:03:43 AM · #1

Originally posted by rainmotorsports:

Hey might think of getting something built around the area of the pipe that will take the impact of anything falling.... im sure some regulation puts minor restrictions on that lol

well, right now the ground is too frozen to make any major changes, but I have some 2x4's leaning against the house up by the roof, and down to the ground going past the fuel lines. This should deflect the ice falling. Come spring, I will b having th lines put under ground and the fuel tank moved away from the house

RainMotorsports

Nikon D60

01/21/2007 02:59:47 AM · #2

Originally posted by ShutterPug:

UPDATE:

The plumbers finished all the repairs today, and the fuel got fixed that day so now I'm okay - as long as there are no more disasters!
The plumber decided since he does not know first hand...only by what I told him, that there was so many gallons of diesel he is not going to call EPA on me. I still have to remove the contaminated snow before it melts, but it wont be quite as costly as what EPA could do to me. I've decided the best way to deal with the snow is to scoop it into large plastic drums until spring, The fuel should come to the top when the snow melts, and then I can burn the fuel off. I'll also burn the ground where the snow has been sitting since the spill in case any has seeped down to ground level. The total of the bills for both the plumbing and heating came to almost $3000. I sure hope the bad luck cloud floats away from me and my home for the rest of the year.

Hey might think of getting something built around the area of the pipe that will take the impact of anything falling.... im sure some regulation puts minor restrictions on that lol

01/21/2007 02:54:27 AM · #3

Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:

You're welcome. It was not so hard for each of us to help a little to get you out of a mess.
Good to hear that you will not have the gov. involved in the clean up, and that you survived the fumes in the house without incident other than the headache. Have the fumes subsided to where you can close the windows all the way yet? I know that it would take a lot of heating fuel if you have to leave them cracked.

I had to keep windows cracked for the first couple days. After that the fumes either subsided some or I got used to them. lol Seriously, when I first enter my house I can still smell diesel fumes, and I get a bit of a headache after a couple of hours, but no nausea anymore. So it's liveable.
I really wish the fumes would go away all together as they are very unpleasant. In time I am sure they will.

01/20/2007 09:15:47 PM · #4

01/20/2007 09:02:05 PM · #5

well, the water has been back, the fuel is back, and all I'm waiting for now is the insurance company to pay their portion of the bill, while I pay the rest. Since the dpc family came to my rescue that will be mucb easier! Thank you all. What an amazing bunch.

No EPA report means I can do the clean up myself and for a fraction of the cost. Unfortunately the guys who cleared the rest of the snow and ice off my roof thought they were doing me a favor by spreading the huge mound of snow and ice around instead of leaving it in a big pile. All they managed to do was contaminate a larger area. I've removed what I can. In the spring I'll be having about a foot of soil removed from the side length of the house and new top soil brought in. That should clean up everything but the small amount that got under the crawl space. I may have to dig out some of that too once the ground is not frozen.

Sigma 18-250 f/3.5 - 6.3 DC OS HSM

01/20/2007 08:41:03 PM · #6

Just a bump to ask if there is any good news.

NathanWert

Canon EOS-90D

01/18/2007 08:39:50 PM · #7

Originally posted by ShutterPug:

Originally posted by Shakalaka:
Just don't burn your house down trying to burn the ground...

damn you Leroy.....you better not have jinxed me now!

Well, when I get the job up there and move into your naieghbors house, you'll be okay. Remember...I'm a firefighter. But I'm also a photographer, so I'll take some pictures of your house before the Fire department gets there. *grin*

fotomann_forever

01/18/2007 12:03:55 AM · #8

*hugs* you'll be fine

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

01/17/2007 11:57:52 PM · #9

Originally posted by Shakalaka:

Just don't burn your house down trying to burn the ground...

damn you Leroy.....you better not have jinxed me now!

fotomann_forever

01/17/2007 11:42:48 PM · #10

Originally posted by ShutterPug:

Just don't burn your house down trying to burn the ground...

levyj413

Nikon D7100

01/17/2007 11:37:41 PM · #11

Originally posted by ShutterPug:

well the unbelievable bad luck is accompanied by some unbelievable gorgeous scenery!

Hang in there. It's gotta get better.

Your comment about the scenery reminds me of my one trip up there, when I visited "Southeast."

My friend and I were chatting with this high school girl on a bus, and she just couldn't understand why we would go there.

Her: Why would you come here?
Us:
Her: I mean, what's there to do here?
Us:
Us:
Us: Um.
Us: Well, where do YOU go?
Her: Hawaii.

01/17/2007 11:28:25 PM · #12

Waddy thanks for the info on siphoning the water out of the fuel.

So far we have had about 70 inches of snow this winter. It's really hard to say how much more we'll get as everyone keeps telling me we're getting more this year than they got in the past three years.

01/17/2007 10:22:17 PM · #13

Heating oil is less dense than water, so it should float on top of the water in the drums when the snow melts.
It's easy enough to get the water out of the drums by siphoning it out. Make up a small siphon hose, with a solid tube to drop to the bottom of the drum, and you can siphon off the water until you have only fuel and a few drops of water left in the drum.
When you get the fuel from the snow, it should still be good to burn in a heater if you can filter it well enough. The trash should settle out of it when the snow melts in the barrels. If you can pump or move all the fuel to one drum as you collect it from the others, the remaining water will be in the bottom of that drum.
I work on boats, and have experience with water in fuel tanks, and with fuel and oil in bilge water. I have found that a shop vac will pick up oil or fuel from the top of water while getting very little water if you hold the hose just the right distance above the surface.
*disclamer notice bla bla bla bla don't try this with gasoline bla bla bla bla.
A couple of questions for you; How much snow have you had so far, and how much more do you expect this winter?
Good luck with all that mess. Wish we could be there to help you with the shoveling.

rex

Canon PowerShot SD780

01/17/2007 09:52:42 PM · #14

Linda......sorry to hear of your bad times. You will make it though.

I know you are a strong person............YOU ROCK...can't wait to see those beautiful spring photos.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

01/17/2007 09:36:12 PM · #15

Originally posted by _eug:

You moved to Alaska for what reason?

well the unbelievable bad luck is accompanied by some unbelievable gorgeous scenery!

skylercall

Canon EOS-7D

01/17/2007 08:52:46 PM · #16

Originally posted by ShutterPug:

UPDATE:

I've decided the best way to deal with the snow is to scoop it into large plastic drums until spring, The fuel should come to the top when the snow melts, and then I can burn the fuel off. I'll also burn the ground where the snow has been sitting since the spill in case any has seeped down to ground level. The total of the bills for both the plumbing and heating came to almost $3000.

Living in Alaska sure sounds like hard work.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

01/17/2007 08:50:51 PM · #17

Originally posted by ShutterPug:

The fuel should come to the top when the snow melts, and then I can burn the fuel off. I'll also burn the ground where the snow has been sitting

I want pictures of the fire for my collection. :) I think you can also soak up any remaining fuel with live water foul. ;-)

Glad things are getting back on track, Linda.

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

01/17/2007 08:47:26 PM · #18

So glad things are looking up, Linda. Stay warm.

_eug

Nikon D50

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

01/17/2007 08:45:49 PM · #19

You moved to Alaska for what reason?

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS for Nikon

01/17/2007 08:33:32 PM · #20

Greetmir

Nikon D60

01/17/2007 05:15:14 AM · #21

OH my ... oh my ... oh my ... what an INCREDIBLE community here.

I had to have a cry myself! ... and it has been a while for this old man!

Thank you all SO much for fortifying my faith in humanity. The fact that I just got a blue shirt a few days ago from a total stranger half way around the world added to the poignant moment I had after reading these posts.

Mambe

Canon EOS-1000D Rebel XS

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

01/17/2007 04:43:41 AM · #22

Originally posted by ShutterPug:

dang Mambe - what do ya mean sorry you couldn't help? I first posted just to vent and get a few cyber hugs as I was feeling overwhelmed. Each person who has wished me well - without anything more - has helped me immensely, you included!
Sorry to hear about you car troubles. I had trouble with my truck at the start of all this. It really sucks being without wheels. I hope yours gets fixed soon. When is your birthday? We can have a cyber party here on DPC for ya!

You're very nice ! I'm always surprised with the support of DPC users . I've talked about you with my husband , he too was sad for your very bad luck.
What does not kill makes stronger of course but always at a price !
I think that you have demonstrated that you're a strong woman.

A cyber party would be very cool and cheap !!! See you all the 30th january !

01/17/2007 01:42:15 AM · #23

Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:

Is living in Alaska in the winter "normal?" : )

roflmao - I'm starting to think there is NO normal here. But yes, Alaska does stay inhabited through the year, including winter.