Filed under: house, repairs, travel, wood heat | Tags: electric water heater, hot water, hot water heater, machines, repairs, water, water heater, wood fired boiler
So, here you are, planning a trip out of town and you have a problem with the water heater. If the house was to be empty, no problem, turn it off and deal with it later. Nope, I’m going alone,wife would prefer to have hot water while I’m gone.
Now nothing in our house is simple. It comes from not liking to pay fuel bills. When I hooked up our wood burning boiler to heat the house, I also used that hot water to heat our household water. There are extra things hooked to our heater and I would like to be here to explain when the new water heater is installed. I may not have the chance. I’m already in a time crunch and I have to plan on a water heater being replaced while I’m gone, wonderful.
So here’s the old heater. Notice the dark stain of wet cement on the floor? That’s what gave me the first hint of trouble. The heater is 20 years old so it has had its life. We are on load management with the electric company so they and I can save some electricity in times of high need, we both save money. Because of that I get a big water heater while paying less for a top of the line electric water heater. The electric company can shut the heater off periodically to save during times of peak demand, never long enough to notice if you have a larger, well insulated, tank.
Notice also the white lines on the heater? Those are signs of previous leakage. Not good things to find.
See that yellow tag, it’s wet. It hangs from the electric junction box on the water heater. When I removed the cover from that box I discovered that water was coming out of the heater from around the electric cables. This means I have to replace the heater. I make the plans to replace everything, and hope it all holds together so the plan will never go into effect. If things go wrong, one phone call and my wife gets her hot water back.
Luckily everything held together while I was gone, now I can get things done my way.
While I was gone the new a water heater was delivered. Today I wrestled it into the house and got it out of the box. The next step is going to be interesting. The tank is 30.25 inches wide and the top of my basement stair well 30.25 inches. Yep, tight squeeze. But hey, I’m home and the job will get done. It’s much easier for me and a load off of my wife.
It happens so often, you are headed off on, or just back from a trip, and something goes wrong. So far no problem, so far.
Michael
Filed under: cold, Farm Bureau, Hawaii, travel | Tags: american farm bureau federation, family, Farm Bureau, farm bureau federation, grilled cheese sandwiches, Hawaii, home, honolulu hawaii, sick, tomato soup, travel
Home! It really is a great word. It’s the place we long for, and always seek to be in the end. When we get sick, there is no place like home.
This last week I had the opportunity to attend the American Farm Bureau Federation meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii. It’s a bit of a trip and not one of the cheapest convention sites, but I have a daughter there so this year I went.
I arrived Thursday evening, Em met me at the airport, and we went off to eat. I got settled into my room and tried to sleep. Now my plane landed at what for me would have been 9:30 p.m. so I should have been tired, but the “not home” bed and the noise of a city that is very late to quiet down kept me from getting a good nights sleep. I took a morning walk, and before having lunch got some cough drops for a bit of a sore throat.
The next nights were not much better. Yes, I went to all of my meetings, I had a good time meeting and getting to know new people, but my body was in rebellion. I never did get a good nights sleep the whole time I was there, and the cough got worse. I don’t think I ever slept for over 4 hours straight the whole time I was there. Although food smells good, I can only eat a small amount and every restaurant portion is HUGH, each day I’m eating less. I’m starting to run a low grade fever. A trip to the drug store for some stronger cough, cold medicine didn’t help much. Here I am in paradise and I getting sicker by the day.
Wednesday, the last day, I pack up, check out, and call Em to come take me to a doctor. This day that was to be my last chance to see the sights and I’m seeing a doctor! Prognosis, don’t know. Em took me to her place where I got some sleep. Grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup for lunch, ah, comfort food.
The flight out is late, 9:40 and I’ve been in bed by that time most nights. I try to sleep some when we are in the air, and must have, but I don’t remember it. Before we got to LA I had the chills so bad I got a jacket out of my bag, I was COLD. We had a two hour layover in LA and all I wanted to do was sleep. Got some food for breakfast, a bagel and a banana, I was full after the banana. The flight into MSP arrives just before noon. Beth picks me up at the airport. I was traveling light so no checked luggage. She takes me to her place where I have a light lunch and sleep.
Now, I’m home. I’m still not feeling the best, but a full nights sleep did help. After breakfast, I went to sleep again. I feel like I might make it. I spent some time outside, wrestled our new water heater into the house, and am taking some time to write.
It’s GOOD to be HOME!
