Month: February 2014

As this is our first house, we have no equity yet, so we do not qualify for a home equity loan for the repairs. Instead, we have maxed-out two credit cards at a total of $16,000. With our credit limit reached, we have no more financing available for big projects.

We have decided to use our limited cash flow to:

1. work on small projects ourselves
2. save up for emergencies, and
3. pay down our recovery debt over the next decade.

With the laundry room floor cured, I hook up the washer and dryer to the new water and HVAC connections. This is the first time we’ve had working laundry facilities in 7 1/2 months (since demolition began on June 25, 2013).

On this same day, the plumber bills me for parts used to date: $1,190.61. This does not include labor. I will be billed for additional parts and labor when the job is complete.

The plumber begins replacing all of the faulty copper water pipes in the house with pex piping, piece by piece.

He also adds a proper water shut-off valve behind the refrigerator.

Most of the new plumbing work is readily visible in the open walls of the downstairs bathroom.

My 16 year old water heater tank begins leaking. I call my plumber to schedule an emergency replacement.

A water heater typically lasts about 12 years, so the previous one had had a good life. It’s age was known before I bought the house, so no nefarious activity was involved. However, the timing of this replacement certainly adds to my financial burden: another $440.00 in parts.