Water! Contactor Marries House in Speedy Water Front Wedding Will it Last?

Summer is really threatening to turn into fall around here. We've had about a week of Rain! Luckily, it's not the rain that's coming in and wetting my basement. Remember the flood of July 2005 (there is a back story of two little boys almost 6 and 4 turning my laundry tub on full blast and letting the water cascade in water fall fashion over the side of the tub and a plastic Tonka boat floating in front of my dryer, and a GeoTrax Bridge over said laundry sink...the picture in my head is both scary and beautiful. The beauty is the power of 2 boys imaginations and vision)? nope not the kid either this time. It's the UV filter, seems our water is SO hard it's creating Iron oxide bacteria that ate away our UV pump.
The answer to this is a Water Softener or one of those new things that uses an electro magnet to distract the iron from creating a scale build up settling in the pipes,washing machines, dishwashers, and so on! So the beautiful blue carpet that has been in my basement for the last 3yrs is gone out of the main area, the second room that was damaged first time around was saved. Seems the dehumidifier we were running 24/7 was doing it's job on a damp basement, cause basements are damp,but a 5 day trip out of town? It just couldn't keep up! so the drips keep dripping and so the basement is wet. The Carpet and underlay were wet and the walls were wet, sucked up a lot of the water.
We have contractors this week, oh the joy of contractors. It's the same one that did our first repairs in 2005, but in 2005 I think he was just starting out working for himself, and did a good job, this time, it seems we're Married to the guy and well it's not as much fun as dating the guy. That's hubbies analogy.
The first time around 2005 we were dating our contractor but when we let him start hunting for water coming in from outside (bigggggg storm here while we were gone so there was a possibility) we were married. We've had to nag this time around about some things being cleaned up and drop clothes being put down while the work is done. We've had him patch some of the electrical boxes that cracked from the first date, and we've had to verify that they are removing the radiator that did get wet. Once those electrical units are wet people, it's no longer CSA approved. Electricity is scary stuff when you aren't a contractor. Contractors aren't scared in the least when it's not their house? Well the marriage will continue for this week and then we will be annulled! all illegitimate repairs will be done by us from this point on. I think also a big part of the dissatisfied wife in us is that Hubbie likes things neat and tidy, and everything in it's place, so having the basement in turmoil is the stress in this marriage of contractor and House.
The Boys are seriously Shack Wacky, we are also waiting for our Power company's contracted plumber to come and replace their hot water heater. We rent that and so we need it replaced before that's the next leaky in our basement. They said they would come this week and so I wait around, and they also said "we'll call" sounds like another suitor leading me down the garden path. The week ends tomorrow! I'm sure there are people on his list that pay on time (don't power companies try to hold off payments until the VERY last second? I'm guessing) or have leaking heaters. This one hasn't leaked yet so it's not top of the list maybe? I can see that but in this 'new relationship' I'd like to be #1 House because I may have to disallow my House dating him again. Next thing you know my House will be calling me from Vegas saying she ran off with an Electrician that sees no reason why he has to cut the power to the whole house if he's just changing 1 wire. Maybe I need to make rules for House before she goes on dating? Maybe she should play the field first? Maybe she should plan her next break down before going with the first repair suitor. Now I see the value in researching those guys.
The hugest Plus in all of this is I'm learning, I'm learning to be the adult, I'm learning to talk to suitors for House and her repairs, I'm learning to demand my service, and I'm learning to find things that will be full repairs not bandages. UV lights on iron Oxide are a bandage, softeners on Water will keep the water clear of the iron, which will decrease the build up of the bacteria. I'm learning too that maybe there are other ways to do things vs just what the first suitor says... it's all a learning experience. Maybe that's my lesson, Life is about learning, I'm still learning?