It was my first time using a wort cooler (30' copper with hoses attached) and I did everything I was supposed to do... I gave the device a quick "once over", wiped it down to ensure no debris got in my wort, and placed the device into the boil for the last 15 minutes. I attached the hose after flame-out and started running water through the cooler. The temp was dropping really fast, so I turned my back for a few seconds to get my ice chest ready (used to hold the temp on my primary bucket) and all of a sudden I hear water splashing behind me. I turned to see my wort kettle (I use an 8 gallon pot) over flowing into my wife's sparkly clean kitchen floor... along with all of my (now) diluted wort.

One of the clamps holding the hose to the copper was defective (short, mistooled screw) and would only hold the clamp in place for a short time before letting go. Just my luck, when the hose clamp let go and the hose detached, the water from the copper was left to spill directly into my wort... and eventually overflow into the floor.

I had already popped my WYeast a few hours earlier and it looked like a softball, so the only stuff I have left from that order that are useful are a nylon steeping bag, my priming sugar, and a "Make Your Own !@#$ Beer!" bumper sticker.
I will just have to regroup, buy a new clamp, reorder the ingredients, and get this batch ready before football starts in September... at least I still have time.

Hawk