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Tuesday, March 5, 2013

WATER HEATER WOES

Part of what we have needed at the farm, to make it truly livable, is a water heater.  When we closed, the inspector said it was well beyond its life. It was a 10 year water heater about 20 years old.  We tried not to use it very often, but I'm here to tell you, no regular hot water makes for cold showers, and very difficult cooking/cleaning.  With Winter here, and us not staying overnight at the farm, we figured we'd put it off till this year.  Well, it's here, and so last Friday we went to the local big box store and bought a water heater.  Our problem was the place it's in.  I found out from 2nd Family that the water heater that exited there was installed and then a cabinet built around it.  Great.  Just great.  

So with the plumber the past weekend doing our other projects (connecting the new utility sink in the mudroom among them), we had to just keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best.


Here is the end result.  As you can see above and below, sections of the cabinet had to be removed, doors, shelves, trim, etc.  Being an old farmhouse, it wasn't perfect to begin with but now there will be some repairs to be made, painting to be done, etc.  There was trouble getting the old one out, he had to beat it with a hammer to dent it in so it would come out of the built in closet with less (!) damage than already done.  To top it off, when he drained it, the water smelled horrible.  Glad we weren't using it.  

Going in with the new one was a bit easier.  It sort of worked to let gravity get it into place, just push it to the opening and then let it fall in (gently of course).  However, even with that, there were problems and it's STILL not working!  Because of the original hookup and the modifications necessary for the old one to work, the new one needed some special connections.  The plumber started installing it on Saturday, and almost finished it Sunday. He needs a couple of special parts and will coming be back out this coming weekend.  Should only take him an hour or so but until then, we don't have hot water.  That was the frustrating part of the weekend; he was a nice guy but seemed easily distracted and not focused.  He could have finished it, but he let time slip away, he left early on Sunday and said he'd get the part this week and bring it back on the weekend.  Really?  You can't just drive and get it?  Sigh.


We can see the finish line, or perhaps the light at the end of the tunnel
(just as long as it's not a freight train coming head on, LOL) and so we'll wait until it's done.  We've been patient thus far, no sense in ending that trend now.

Once we have hot water, the house comes alive again.  The shower is usable.  We can wash dishes.  And clean.  And cook.  Even something as simple as washing our hands after working outside in the yard will now be possible.

10 comments:

  1. I feel your pain and rejoice in your new found happiness!
    Cold showers are definitely not my 'thing'!

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    1. Definitely not mine either, ha. Pain and happiness, often go hand in hand huh? ;-)

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  2. That's most definitely annoying, but how wonderful to have proper hot water there from next weekend onwards!

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    1. Yes, not being there all the time helps but it's amazing how little you can get done without hot water. Definitely keeping the end goal in sight.

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  3. What is that pink thing in the first photo?

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    1. Interesting you noticed that. It was something my Mom had (she passed away a few years ago). It's not old or anything, I think she found it at Marshall's or someplace like that. I'm not really sure what it is or suppose to be, it's a black iron stand that has these pink enameled bowls in it. I don't know if it's supposed to be a reproduction of something or a modern take on something old or what. I just figured since it was pink it would look cool in that otherwise empty corner of the room. Any ideas??

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  4. I think its an old wash stand or an interpretation of one the water would be poured into the top bowl the washing soap and facecolth would be stored in the next bowl and a jug would stand at the bottom, the iron rail around the top would be for a towel search online for victorian jug and bowl stand

    You could always use it until the water is working ;)

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    Replies
    1. That sounds about right. A modern interpretation of it would be a good description. Hey, you're so right, if we ever did have a problem with the water heater, we could make the stand do what it was modeled after, ha.

      Thanks for stopping by I see you are a new commenter, thank you!!!!

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  5. yep... a wash stand. My grandmother had one similar. btw... in the past when I went camping with friends, we heated water over the campfire. Since I'm a new follower, I don't know if your stove works or not. If so, you could try heating water on the stove. If not, build a campfire. lol

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    Replies
    1. yes, new stove (electric but still brand new). Hey I'd be all about the campfire too, ha. Thanks for the info, I always appreciate your comments.

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