August 23, 2010
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Leaky pipe
The drainage pipe under the kitchen sink has been leaking. While it’s normal to call a plumber for most people, I thought it was easier asking my dad for his opinion. I’m sure many of our fathers are handy, able to work on simple electric work to all kinds of plumbing issues.
He told me the possibilities of the situation, from a hole in the pipe to maybe the loose bolt that clamps the pipe onto the sink. With the advice he provided, he expected me to be able to take care of it. While I have helped him with his work growing up, I have never done more serious plumbing issues on my own.
I think this was his way of testing my manly-hood, making sure that I wasn’t one of those guys who couldn’t do anything around the house. This would be a good test, simply because messing up wouldn’t result in anything catastrophic like flooding the apartment or losing water for an entire week.
It really got me thinking about many of my friends–how many of them know how to use different tools correctly? I can’t repair a car, but I can certainly do simple things like changing the oil, headlights or battery. While it’s normal for almost every guy in my dad’s generation who can repair things around the house, how many of my friends cannot even repair their own bikes?
Times have changed quite a bit. While many of us are more educated than our parents, I really feel that we lack many fundamental skills and knowledge. Just writing this post now, I realized how much he has taught me growing up, but I have never been tested. I wonder how long it will take me to become as handy as my father. I guess I will find out one pipe at a time.
Comments (28)
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i think if you just take it off, reapply some plumber’s tape and put it on snug, that’ll probably do it. i actually never had anyone to teach me about “home improvement” and fixing things when i was growing up, yet i was always fascinated with it. i’d be a mechanic if i didn’t go to college. if i ever have children, i’ll be so glad to teach them things like changing a tire or installing wall fixtures.
I feel the same way with vietnamese cuisine. I don’t know any friend in my generation who knows how to cook homemade viet cuisine like our moms do…
I actually really like a man that is handy. it’s actually pretty useful to have someone that can fix most household items, and know about car problems. I feel like he is able to take care of me or situations. Is it mean that if a guy doesn’t know how to change oil from a car, I feel like he’s a wimp?…
duct tape solves everything!
well that’s because services are outsourced to calculators, mexicans, etc
why do it yourself when they can do it for less without the mess?
lol…
I think its great that you’re trying to pick up on being a handyman. I myself have worked on alot of houses and jobs, so i know how to use more tools.
Times these days just tell us to “call a plumber”. I think theres a bit of pride to be able to fix things on your own.
WOW, was JUST going to update about this right now. gotta link back to your entry =)
Amen to that! Omg! Everyone thinks I’m super woman or something. I spent nearly all weekends as a child helping my parents with household projects. If we weren’t working on fixing/upgrading/remodeling something in the house, we would be working on a car–from full tune-up, to swapping transmission. My bf’s family, on the other hand, are a bunch of bookworms. They have read nearly every book out there, but probably can’t change their own lightbulbs. I just finished helping them remodel 2 bathrooms and a kitchen. I also just changed all light switches in one of my bf’s sister’s houses. I recently had to remodel (on budget) an old rental we were moving back into [mostly on my own].
People of my generation seem to think it’s ridiculous that I know how to do any of this stuff. I find these to be the most basic things a person can do–take care of your own household issues.
I used to think it was my dad that was into doing all these handy projects. I now realize it was all my mom. She was the one who would nudge him. She was the one who would always be there to do everything that didn’t require muscles. After she got ill, the projects became fewer and far between. After she passed away, the projects became non-existent. Now, my dad always says, “Just pay them to install it. Just call someone.” I’m not sure why it has turned out this way, but I sure miss weekend projects. I loved waking up early to work on something productive, then coming in an hour or two before lunch time to help my mom cook, then go back into the garage or backyard after lunch. Man, weekends were definitely time well-spent with family.
Thanks for bringing back memories of weekends with my mom.
so how did the leak go. u fix it.
i agree i am useless in so many ways
i would love to learn how to do plumbing, fix electricity, and repair my car, but i know no one who’s able to teach me all that stuff.
i want to learn too.
@tinatran80 - wahh thats cool. i want to do little house projects too.
hm i guess a nerdy guy won’t work then.. unless he is rich. >_>; my work would then be funded. fufufufu.
@Yosho - Buy a book. Ask the guys at Lowes/Home Depot. Use your head. (And make sure there’s someone around to call 911. ..)
Let me google it for you.
yo why you gotta bring up the bike for!!!!
jerk!
My father was the same way. I just bought my first toolbox so I can repair things around the house without always borrowing other people’s tools. I can see myself being fairly handy as an adult.
Totally agree. Our generation doesn’t know how to do anything basic…cook, fix simple things, or even do our own taxes/balance cheque books. Also consider other things we’ve lost…like the ability to speak/read/write in our “mother tongues.” Makes me sad to think that my kids will know even less!
good luck with fixing the pipe. i know i definitely have my limits when it comes to those types of repairs.
as for being trained with fundamental skills, i can understand. i even went as far as to buy one of those portable fire starter kits. i’ve realized how much there really is to learn about the simple things we take for granted, so i figure starting late is better than not starting at all.
@LillimNo9 - I guess I’m fortunate that my current bf/future husband is going to be a doctor–household projects galore! My kids will have toolbelts at an early age. =D
@Yosho - Home Depot associates. They know just about any and everything, and are happy to help.
when i need to do something basic but i don’t know… and no one’s willing to teach me, i look for a video tutorial. XD
great post and i agree with you – most people in our generation (especially asians) are pretty inadequate when it comes to doing things around the house. growing up in the midwest, majority of my friends (non-asians) did major renovations around the house (remodeling sinks, drywall, etc) and fixed up things like it was a hobby..plus we all did boyscouts since it was “expected”. as i moved into a more urban environment away from this, i realized that higher education often meant learning everything about nothing – even as an engineering major if you didn’t choose to focus on practical things (like using machine tools), you’d end up just doing most of the boring theoretical math. it’s pathetic i tell ya.
agree!
i had the same feeling, so i learned how to change my own tire in case I ever got a flat.
You nailed it. Ask us to look something up and we can come up with 10 different ways to look that item up and present it. As far as your pipe, were you able to trace where the leak was. At a pipe connection for example. Or up where the pipes/ faucets meet? Could it be a bad washer in need of replacement, versus a pipe connection that needs to be redone. Hope you fixed it but now, water damage can be a pain in the butt to deal with.
I agree! My dad amazes me with his repairman skills, and sometimes I feel bad that there’s no son in the house to learn all those tricks from him. My grandmother knows the names for all flowers but I don’t know much. It’s depressing.
I am quite fortunate (or not) as my dad has links with construction’s workers. Whenever something goes wrong, we’ll ask the worker to fix it. I am not sure how I’ll deal with it in the future, though. Guess I have to start learning.
thanks for bringing this up. 
This won’t succeed in actual fact, that is what I believe.
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