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Well, more of a warning really.

As we are starting work on our bikes, or making them more winter-proof, please don't forget about your garages and homes. My workshop was at one point a fully fitted "Granny flat" at the bottom of the garden.. With electric, running water, toilet and even a shower! We've turned it in to a pretty decent workshop and use it to fix/maintain not only my own bikes, but also other peoples. We charge a small fee which keeps beer in our bellies and buys the occasional new tool!

Last night one of the regulars came round to have his steed looked at and noticed water pissing out from under the gate. I thought maybe the toilet had failed to seal and over flowed, as has happened once before (rectified of course).. But only if it was that simple. As I opened the door I was greeted with a curtain of water pissing out from the upstairs stores.. I dashed over to the stop-cock and turned the mains water off, but it was too late.. The damage had already been done. Countless manuals have been ruined, along with my PA/Disco system, various consumables, spares and not forgetting the ceiling itself. All this because it had got so cold, one of the pipes had burst, even though they're properly insulated.

So the point of my post is to warn all about making sure your pipes are in good nick and not leaky. I can't imagine what It would be like if this had happened in the house. Thankfully some stuff can be saved, but most can't.

Now.. Back to drying tools off and emptying buckets!

That's really bad news mate, very sorry to hear that.
Suppose it just shows the difference between insulated pipes in a heated house and those in a garage.
Hope you manage to salvage as much as possible.

Mate, thats terrible news. Hope you manage to salvage as much as you can

shite - hope it gets sorted soon

and insurance??

Oh dear.

Sorry to hear this Will.

I remember soon after we moved to Cov there was a particularly cold winter (went down to -18C .... a bit like it's been in some places recently).

Back in those days we couldn't afford to put the heating on more than an hour or so twice a day and used to sit in our sleeping bags. Unfortunately one of the upstairs radiators froze and burst - that was a right mess - really sympathise with you.

Have been at it most of the day. The place is starting to dry out a bit now. Found a few low spots and stabbed holes in them, which to my delight sent freezing cold water down my sleeve!!

Tools are clean and dry.. A bit of an extreme way to do it, but now done..lol.. Most of the books have been salvaged and the PA system seems to have escaped.. Not sure about the speakers though as they've not fully dried out yet.. Not holding out much hope for those.
Electric fixtures and fittings have been dried out and the powers back on. A blanking plug for the offending pipe is now in place and water supply returned.. Although I'll be turning it off and draining the pipes before I leave the place from now on..lol..

Back to work tomorrow, but shall be leaving the heaters on night and day to get the plaster dry. After work will see some re-enforcements put in place to hold the ceiling up, then get the place looking like a workshop again.

Nightmare.. yes.. But we're men.. We can rebuild her! The little that is completed, vanishes from the sight of one who looks forward to what is still to do.

Glad it's not quite as bad as you'd feared, but I'm sure you could have done without it.

Worth trying a dehumidifier?

MartDude wrote:Worth trying a dehumidifier?

I had thought about that, but don't know anyone with one. Probably be too cold for it to be effective anyway. There's a few heaters in there at the mo and I stick the propane space heater on when I'm in there.. Soon gets to t-shirt temperatures..lol.

A propane heater will produce gallons of water.

You can hire small dehumidifiers from tool hire centres.

I did look at hiring a dehumidifier, but the prices are a bit extreme. Am aware that propane heaters release a lot of moisture, but it's got to be better than doing nothing. It's drying stuff off and isn't on all the time.. Just when we're in there.