• Welcome to Photrio!
    Registration is fast and free. Join today to unlock search, see fewer ads, and access all forum features.
    Click here to sign up

Water pipe leaking in storeroom, emergency backup darkroom equipment getting wet. More as it develops.

So, main floor laundry room is where I have a RO system for drinking water. One of my 3 cats (I think it was Pistol Pete) pulled the RO drain line out of the laundry stand pipe. Flooded a large metal cabinet full of old darkroom stuff. Timers, safelight filters, empty enlarging lens boxes.
I just started filling a huge trash bag, trash is picked up tomorrow.
Fortunately my 3M commercial sponges didn't get wet. I'm done for tonight, fans and dehumidifier going. Dew point is around 0°C so should be fine. No drywall damage etc.
Sent a big old check to the Federal government today for taxes
 
Bummer!
Hopefully what got damaged wasn't critically important.

I hope you gave Pistol Pete a stern talking-to....that always works well with cats.
 
AnselMortensen said:
Bummer!
Hopefully what got damaged wasn't critically important.

I hope you gave Pistol Pete a stern talking-to....that always works well with cats.
Click to expand...

I gave him extra treats . Cats are cats, no biggie. Nothing critical, but big mess.
 
At least it was clean water. I had a flood in the basement a couple of years back, the pump for our sand mound failed during a deluge (2"/hour storm) and a couple of hundred gallons of you know what shot up out of the floor drain. I spent a week cleaning and sanitizing my DR.
 
It is not just fixing the leak. The floors and walls must be dried out thoroughly and all mold must be remediated. Mold is a health issue if not completely removed and it can mass on healthy cameras and lenses.
 
Found 2 storage bins full of water, all will be washed and saved. The Pistol on the left Gus on the right.

In the back, Margot Lane, the perfect cat of all time!!!

 
One bin full of Beseler condenser lamp housings haven't used in 30 years, the other full of Paterson tanks used sparingly in last 5 years. All that can be saved.

It could be worse, my back is killing me.

I still cuddled with Petey this morning, he was just being a cat .
 
Just as long as nothing happens to my feline family

THE NEW PATERSON TANKS FLOAT BETTER THAN THE OLDER ONES

 
No critical equipment seems to be damaged. Opportunity to get rid of some real genuine junque
 
Oh my. Good luck with that one. Any mold will have to be gotten under control. The outdoor cats frequently try to sneak into my building during cold wet weather, but rarely make it past the shop area into the darkrooms themselves. They have a pretty nice little waterproof hotel of their own, but just enjoy being naughty, it seems. I have to be extra careful to keep that door locked. We also have an indoor cat named Bandita who loves stealing little things, and even has a black face mask resembling a raccoon.

Our pistol kittie is an outdoor one named Martha Stewart because she decorates her sleeping box as well as doorsteps around
the neighborhood with camellia bush flowers, either fresh or dried. But she's also quite territorial and sprays front doors too.
 
Last edited:


Always a good time to clean the condensers. These were in a tote full of water. I've got everything out, dried, dehumidifier going full, furnace blower etc etc. Got rid of some junk, all ok.
 
It was just an unplanned "wash day". Glad nothing "catastophic" (hehe) happened!

(Frankly, I am surprised no one used that pun before!)
 
Good luck but it looks as if all turned out good for you.

I guess I am fortunate I have no running water in my darkroom. I have an old tub that I store water jugs in and they are my darkroom water supply. If one of the water jugs leak, which has happened. The tub drain is just piped out to the back yard so no harm is done. It is a pain in the you know what but it does save on potential water damage.

I have two Pistol Petes of my own. One was such wild one he was named Loki. However, he has settled down a bit as he has gotten older. But neither have access to my darkroom. I am not sure it could survive their attention.
 
This is my storeroom. I think must have been invention of the God of darkroom junk (Argus )

These were submerged overnight, clean now.
 
Yup! Sometimes our cats force us to do what we've been needing to do for some time. We have seven. Only the second time I've told my wife "NO" was when she asked to bring another into the house. We have a couple of "Pete's" one will run and take a leap off the back of the couch and land on the mantle above the fireplace. She's the real troublemaker.

Glad that nothing of value was damaged. I lost all my negatives a couple of years ago to a flood. Only the best was saved, it was in the enlarger.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register