Cody Sunrise

Laramie, Wyoming

The problem:

         Mindy's renter calls for the fourth time, reporting a strong, unpleasant, odor like gas or kerosene, especially noticeable in Apartment B, and in the bedroom in Apartment C directly below Apartment B.  Plumbers say they cannot detect any gas leaks.  An automatic air vent is installed during one visit, and the next day, Thursday, the odor is back, strong as ever.  Mindy is in Arizona, and has already made one trip back to Laramie two or three months before, trying to solve this problem.  

         The plumber is at Mindy's apartment installing a faucet aerator instead of the automatic air vent when she calls to check on their progress.  This does little to increase our confidence in the competence of the plumber or his employers, and after discussing this development in great detail and astonished tones, it is decided that we need to make the six hour trip to Laramie.  

      Friday, 4 PM, we head out, and roads aren't bad...not closed, but the work truck handles poorly on the patchy ice.  We are relieved to see the black and white striped arms of the road closure indicators pointing straight up! We arrive to a very cold apartment, plug in the heat and huddling in the chilly blankets, go to sleep.

      

        When we get into the house at about 9 A.M. Saturday morning, there is no sign of an odor either in the house or outside in the clean-out. Jerry wants to try to detect a leak or break in the pipes, but accidentally left his scope at home in the charger.  I call four businesses in Laramie trying to find a scope. Only Murdoch's Farm Supply knows what I am talking about, but it would cost $300 and they are out of them.  

Plan B is to use one of the smoke bombs Duane has left here to see if we can find a leak or split.  

The "Jerry-rigging" begins....  

Safety first....

The $64 question: How much
smoke will
a smoke bomb make?

I was surprised by how much I like being a father; surprised at what a decent father I am, because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to dump my selfishness.
Michael Zaslow

Ace Hardware fittings....

Some duct tape to seal it up....

Add a pipe thawing blower and tape it on.

Teeing it in...

Add the lighted smoke bomb
 to the bucket,
 put on the lid....and  when
orange smoke starts coming
out the vent on the blower,
 run outside gasping for air...


Leave doors open to air out apartments.

Plan C

We extend a vent up in the attic which hadn't been reconnected when the roof was replaced.  We don't know yet if that will solve the problem, but there isn't much more we can do for now, so after fixing two leaking faucets, adjusting a lazy susan, and talking to a neighbor, we head back to...

CODY!

Neighbor's beautiful horses
in winter coats.

Selfishness is that detestable vice which no one will forgive in others, and no one is without himself.
Henry Ward Beecher

Selfishness must always be forgiven you know, because there is no hope of a cure.
Jane Austen

Storm coming.