One of my hobbies is Amateur Radio. I have a nice little station set up in my bedroom. Only recently have I gotten it completely together after being in the house for over a year. The last few days I've noticed when I transmit that there is some interference type things going on. Solution: The station needs to be grounded better. So last evening I decided to but a "ground rod" into the ground just outside the bedroom where the antenna wires come into the room.
A ground rod basically is a half inch diameter, eight foot long, pipe that you pound into the ground with a sledge hammer.
So I'm hammering this thing into the ground. It goes down about 18 inches and won't go any more. What the heck? So I try to pull it out. It's stuck. Eventually I'm able to get it unstuck with vice-grips attached to the rod and hammering against them.
When I pull the rod out, I noticed this hissing sound. I look around to see what it might be. Wouldn't you know, it's coming from the ground where I pulled the rod out. A quick sniff at the hole confirmed my worse fears.
GAS!
So what are the odds of hitting the propane gas line feeding my house? It must be incredibly small. But I did it.
Turn the gas off.
Call the gas company. Yes they can come tomorrow morning.
( I really like my gas company, Northern Idaho Propane)
Put the electric heaters from the garage in the house.
Dig a hole to expose the pipe.
Did I mention that it was 18 degrees outside.
Get done in time to watch the Oregon and Oregon State game. A really good game by the way. My son Eric was there. Whoever won goes to the Rose Bowl. Oregon won.
A ground rod basically is a half inch diameter, eight foot long, pipe that you pound into the ground with a sledge hammer.
So I'm hammering this thing into the ground. It goes down about 18 inches and won't go any more. What the heck? So I try to pull it out. It's stuck. Eventually I'm able to get it unstuck with vice-grips attached to the rod and hammering against them.
When I pull the rod out, I noticed this hissing sound. I look around to see what it might be. Wouldn't you know, it's coming from the ground where I pulled the rod out. A quick sniff at the hole confirmed my worse fears.
GAS!
So what are the odds of hitting the propane gas line feeding my house? It must be incredibly small. But I did it.
Turn the gas off.
Call the gas company. Yes they can come tomorrow morning.
( I really like my gas company, Northern Idaho Propane)
Put the electric heaters from the garage in the house.
Dig a hole to expose the pipe.
Did I mention that it was 18 degrees outside.
Get done in time to watch the Oregon and Oregon State game. A really good game by the way. My son Eric was there. Whoever won goes to the Rose Bowl. Oregon won.
There's the pipe. It isn't suppose to have that big hole in it by the middle.
It only took me about an hour to dig enough to expose the pipe.
I'm pretty handy and do almost all my own work, plumbing, electrical, construction, etc. Gas though, is something that just scares me. I've decided to always have a professional do any work I've need done. I'm sure glad I did in this case.
At least now I know where the gas line runs. I wonder what I'll hit when I try to put the ground rod in this time.
At least now I know where the gas line runs. I wonder what I'll hit when I try to put the ground rod in this time.
1 comment:
as long as the heat's working when I come visit tomorrow, I'll be happy!
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