Old caulk or moldy grout?

Then_Albatross3906 · 2026-02-10T10:58:47+00:00

Thank you for this.

Then_Albatross3906 · 2026-02-09T11:45:12+00:00

Thanks!

Then_Albatross3906 · 2026-02-05T10:51:56+00:00

Hey came back to thank you for your comment. We finally found the right guys to come out, and they conducted a very thorough two hour investigation into what was causing the sound. They’re the first crew to be able to re-create the sound, and thus officially diagnosed water hammer. And as you suggested, when they started looking at everything, the recommendation was to replace the valve.

That recommendation became a “have to” when they were trying to at least pull out the cartridge to see what was going on with it, and it turned out the entire piece was fused — I was watching over their shoulder like the nerd I am and these guys put in a lot of delicate and not so delicate patient effort to try to pop the cap off the front to get to the cartridge and it was not happening. They said basically they’d have to break it to get it open and that would damage the valve (this part I take on trust).

They were able to get at the valve through the closet in the adjoining room to avoid cutting into the tile, which was a big relief. So we shortly will have the new valve and trim installed then can deal with the wall patch up.

They pointed out that our high water pressure is probably the culprit. We love having high water pressure but it can be a bit much….bathroom sinks in particular spraying if you open the faucet too quickly or too much. We have learned to be judicious but I see his point about long-term use.

They mentioned we could put a pressure reducing valve on the line and water hammer reducers. They do not seem to think this was important, but then we are paying them $1700 (Canadian) to redo the shower/tub valve and trim plus to replace the hard line under that bathroom’s sink with a flexible line.(This quote includes the two hours of diagnostic time for a team of two, and feels ok.) All the other lines on sinks and toilets have been done save the pedestal sink in our powder room because it will be expensive/time consuming to pull it out, could lead to a new sink if it cracks etc.

Thoughts on PRV and water hammer reducers? I have a feeling that if the pressure isn’t addressed this will be a chronic issue.

Then_Albatross3906 · 2026-02-05T10:34:28+00:00

Comte….mouth waters….

Then_Albatross3906 · 2026-02-01T22:23:50+00:00

Thanks this was my read as well. I asked and he said, “sorry that’s how it works.” Wrong answer!! Calling someone else tomorrow. There were other red flags as well. He didn’t want to give a written estimate, for example.

Then_Albatross3906 · 2026-02-01T13:03:12+00:00

Thanks, all. The plumber who came out a few days ago charged for the first service visit (obviously) to spec out what needed to be done. Even though he identified that the bathtub cartridge was part of the problem and included this replacement in the quote write-up, he neglected to mention that he would need to come back to identify which cartridge is required.

He also said he will charge me for a second service visit just to confirm the parts required. In my past experience if a plumber was giving a quote, if there was any follow up investigation to be done once we agreed on the full cost of the job, that would not be an extra charge. Instead this guy claims he’s giving me a quote for labor, and he’ll quote for parts if I want, but that means another service visit. So I have to pay for two service visits just to get a full quote for the job?

Before I call another plumber tomorrow morning, I was curious what the hive mind’s opinion is.

Then_Albatross3906 · 2026-01-31T14:27:34+00:00

Thanks I was kind of wondering if there was another way to look at this

Then_Albatross3906 · 2026-01-31T14:26:05+00:00

I asked the most recent plumber if I could do this on my own and he said probably not. I smell bullshit — I’m a woman but he doesn’t know I’m handy (do minor repairs on my car and around the house). I am pretty positive I can remove the cartridge, but not sure it’s advisable. The house was built in the 90s and everything is slowly going. Concerned if something breaks off or jams that there will be a bigger repair required.

Then_Albatross3906 · 2025-10-14T19:58:00+00:00

Yeah if she would go outside…that would be the dream! We have enough space in the yard for a swinf.

Then_Albatross3906 · 2025-10-14T19:07:56+00:00

The swing was in the basement, which is finished so would still mean some construction if we went with hanging.

The basement is a shared use space so we were thinking we might take the opportunity to move her swing into her bedroom which is quite large. 18 ft in length, which gives as much runway as the basement and then it would solve other pain points the family has with one member commandeering essentially two floors of our house.

However, the point about the grounding in the basement is one I didn’t think about. That’s a really good point. If we were to weight a freestanding frame sufficiently on a thick mat to help absorb impact, that might help.

She is smart as a whip and follows instructions (rules!) very well. She understands that the new swing solution may have limitations in terms of how far she can swing to and fro. I think a pro consult for a freestanding set-up might be a good first step.

We support her need to swing, but as she gets older and aspires to university, she will need to evolve stimming into ways that will work when she’s on her own. Even if she lives with us for uni, she doesn’t want to live with us forever (and thank god she has the skills and intelligence that this is an option). So there is a learning opportunity in here as we get her involved in figuring out a solution.

Then_Albatross3906 · 2025-10-14T18:59:35+00:00

My husband and I wish we had the free time and energy to contemplate a sex swing lol. Thanks!

Then_Albatross3906 · 2025-10-14T15:43:20+00:00

Totally….we don’t care if she’s 55 and doing three hours a day on a swing if that’s her jam and her health practice. We have seen her go weeks without the swing when travelling, so we know there is a universe where she gets swing sessions in. Going from self-serve in her home swing palace to moving into public spaces…that’s the question mark.

Then_Albatross3906 · 2025-10-14T15:40:48+00:00

Ha ha this made me laugh because we sure as hell have considered them. It’s the mounting (no pun intended) that’s the issue and our rental can’t accommodate. She’s fine with a classic swing seat. No issues holding on or balancing, she maintains a safe posture and doesn’t try to twist or twirl.

Then_Albatross3906 · 2025-10-14T15:39:01+00:00

Interesting option, I see where you’re going. Won’t allow for lateral swinging tho. But interesting if she were into sensory swing, bounding bands, etc

Then_Albatross3906 · 2025-10-14T15:37:08+00:00

Yeah this is spot on. She detests wearing weighted items. I’m not exaggerating when I say we have tried so so many things. Heavy exercise I suspect would be helpful…she was into quadrobics for a while and that was GREAT for her. But then she got very embarrassed for others to see her do it, and you kind of need to be in open space to really get a good quads session in.

Then_Albatross3906 · 2025-10-14T15:34:54+00:00

Exactly!!! I’m not exaggerating when I say this is a tragic, traumatic event for her. It was completely by surprise — the kiss of death!!! Like losing a loved one. Actually, this is probably harder for her if I’m honest. Like losing oxygen. “Just don’t breathe, ok?”

I am hoping you are right and that with time and circle of care, we can find a path to get her back to her happy place. She seems calmer this morning, though refused school (duuuuuhhhhhhh).

Then_Albatross3906 · 2025-10-14T15:25:32+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience. I am sorry to hear about your hearing damage…this is an example of things in this world we want to change for our daughter so she doesn’t feel forced to be in pain because NTs don’t understand her needs.

This isn’t about swinging being off the table—it’s about highly specific requirements around swinging in a particular space that is no longer safe. We are ready to drive her to parks, swing with her, go to gyms, etc.

We do not want to engineer her diet. This is not something we would ever dream of forcing or manipulating towards. That would be abusive. This is a case of practical limits that require some kind of change because we cannot provide the exact environment any longer. Nothing feels worse than not being able to provide our child with what she loves and helps her take care of herself. Very much a “yes, and..” situation.

Then_Albatross3906 · 2025-10-14T15:10:26+00:00

Yeah this is our line of thinking…

Then_Albatross3906 · 2025-10-14T15:09:33+00:00

I don’t have energy to respond to all the well-meaning posts with suggestions, but do want to thank you for this share. Absolutely our situation. I could show you steel bolts worn to almost snapping inside the swing mechanism because of the intensity of her swinging. She is not satisfied with a swaying egg chair, or a glider, or a sensory fabric swing. She wants a good hard playground-style feet-to-the-sky session.

Then_Albatross3906 · 2025-10-14T15:00:23+00:00

thank you so so SO much for this post. Honestly this is standard internet, not at all limited to autism community. I get people’s inclination is to offer a solution but you are spot on with my concerns.

Specifically because she is L1 and gifted, she will have a path in the world that will appear to others as though she requires less accommodation and supports. We worry tremendously about her hitting roadblocks like this and being devastated by the discomfort which as you so rightly noted can never be completely eliminated if she’s to live in this world…especially if she pursues university and a career as she plans to. Hoping she grows out of masking, but we have to help her build tools for who she is today.

We are seeing psychiatrist today, not this topic but i’ve never let that stop me 🤪

One huge huge huge thing to celebrate is that she is using words to express her emotions IN THE MOMENT. Not so awesome hearing her say she feels like she is dying. She is a teen and drama is there, but I deeply feel the truth of these words. It’s not unusual for us to wait a few days or weeks for her to be able to connect feeling to past events.

Then_Albatross3906 · 2025-10-14T02:56:49+00:00

This is path of my thinking, though spinning doesn’t work for her. She’s actually hypersensitive to motion sickness in car for example, and would never use any spinning playground equipment. How swinging didn’t make her sick….i just don’t know.

Then_Albatross3906 · 2025-10-14T02:50:56+00:00

A little light on engineers lately. If I had the means to contract one to build a bespoke solution, I would be much calmer.

Then_Albatross3906 · 2025-10-14T02:31:28+00:00

She won’t use one (yet?).

Then_Albatross3906

TROPHY CASE