Life's little amusements

[starrkers]

We woke up this freezing Sunday morning to a hissing sound. Investigation uncovered the cause: The hot water system was pretending it was a frilly lizard, hissing loudly, water was slowly spreading across the floor beneath it and steam was rising from it. Verdict: it's stuffed.
Brother-in-law rose from his sick bed (he was monumentally hung over after his in-laws took him on a journey of intoxication to celebrate his 30th birthday). His verdict: it's stuffed and it would be when I've got a stinking hangover. Officially it's his problem, as it's his house.
Now father-in-law (whose house it was up until his demise last year) was a canny old dude and had purchased a couple of spare hot water systems over the years and these were carefully stashed in the shed and under the grape vine (the latter providing a convenient launching pad for the cats to get on the roof).
So, BIL and hubby embarked on the task of replacing the tank. First, the old tank had to be emptied. This involved much flooding of the back room before it could be maneouvred enough to get a pipe over the outlet and let it drain into the back yard.
The elderly, rusted out and totally decrepit tank was removed and deposited in the now somewhat soggy back yard.
The "new" hot water tank was brought up from the shed and manhandled (with much cursing and assistance from the dogs) in to place. A quick trip to the hardware store and enough piping was purchased make it hook up to the existing fittings.
There was much rejoicing as the water was turned back on and it slowly filled.
There was much blue language when it was full and began leaking like the proverbial sieve. After several attempts at halting the flow had failed, it was roundly decided this "new" hot water system was also stuffed.
After the evil eye was pointed at the third potential tank, it was decided to investigate the possibility of purchasing a brand new, totally unused tank. A phone call, and the decision was made.
The new tank was an hour's drive away - hot water heaters are not available at the local hardware shop, which by now had closed anyway.
At 6pm the brand new system was installed and was heating. The floor was very clean, and still rather wet, despite the mopping.
Now all we have to do is hope the boys managed to hook up the electrics right and we actually have hot water in the next couple of hours...

 

[English Lady]

aint life grand, eh?

 

[cheerful_deviant]

Now all we have to do is hope the boys managed to hook up the electrics right and we actually have hot water in the next couple of hours...

zzzzzzzzzzzzttttt....

"Do you smell something burning?"

 

[wyckdwench]

Thank you for writing this - I thought this kind of stuff only happened when my family (aka Griswolds), embark on a repair.

ie: My Dad and Mom had a leaky faucet. Dad determined it needed washers replaced. Not able to manage the fine motor skills necessary any more Son in law recruited. All replacement parts installed - turn water on it works for one try and quits.

Dad decides ok its the faucet. Next day Dad get faucet from hardward store and SIL replaces faucet. Water turned back on at shut off - SIL goes upstairs to bath room - no water from the faucet. Check shut off under sink - determine the shut offs are bad - Dad goes to hard ware store for shut offs.

Next day SIL replaces shut offs. Water turned back on - back up to the bathroom goes SIL - no water. Dad says remove faucet - check supply hoses. Supply hoses have water - check faucet - faucet leads are plugged. Dad goes back to store for new faucet - new faucet installed and still no water.

Next day Dad goes to get new supply hoses - new faucet needs new hoses because the hoses are also too short (forgot that part). New faucet finally installed and it only took a week.

 

[starrkers]

We need a couple of taps replaced here too...I'm not saying a word about it to the men!