I got the water heater blues…

It started last week, when our gas man came over to clean out the gas boiler. This is something they do on a regular basis. I thought nothing of it.

The next morning, I noticed that our hot water was almost non-existent.

I contacted the gas man to see if there was an issue, since our water tank is gas-powered.  He came over.  He said, “Oh, Mr. Miller, you’ve got a rotted and split thermocoupler, I need to replace that.”  He replaced it, and I got a bill.

That evening, however, the hot water was still non-existent.  I called the gas man.  He came back over and looked at the boiler.  The pilot light was out.  He re-lit it, then I heard him say the words that – whether it’s said by a gas man, a car repairman, an insurance adjuster or a health care worker – makes me sick to my stomach.

“I don’t like what I see here.”

And what he saw was my water tank actually dripping water onto the pilot light, putting it out as quickly as he could light it.

“Can the water tank be repaired?” I asked.

“Oh no, Mr. Miller, it has to be taken out completely and replaced.”

“Is that something you can do?”

“We can do it, Mr. Miller, and it will cost you only $1,400.”

That sound you heard was my heart stopping for about 30 seconds.

“We would need one-third right now, one-third when we come back and one-third when we’re done,” he replied.

My heart wasn’t starting.

Part of me would have handed over my credit card right then and there, hoping that everything could be put on plastic and paid for later on.  But that was – for better or for worse – the old Chuck Miller.

The current Chuck Miller, who’s been through situations like this where he has to make a crucial decision that is both fiscally sound AND emotionally correct (which is why I don’t have a Pontiac 6000 any more), wants to make sure that $1,400 to replace and install a hot water tank isn’t the only price out there.

So I traveled to the Orange Road.

No, not THAT Orange Road.  But a tippo de hat for all you anime fans who got the reference.

By “Orange Road,” I mean Home Depot.  I spoke to a representative at Home Depot, and after much discussion, we picked out a 40-gallon General Electric gas-powered water tank.  $400 for the tank, $300 to install and remove the old unit.  Plus $70 for a permit from the City of Albany for water tank installation.

Everything looked like it would be right on track.  Because the contractor was already booked up, I wouldn’t get the water heater until first thing Monday morning.  I could live with that – reluctantly, but I could still live with it.

Then, Monday morning, I received a call from the contractor.  “We’ll be there in the morning, Mr. Miller, but I need to ask you a question.  Where does your water tank vent out – is the venting chimney in the center of your house or on the side?”

I wasn’t sure what the difference was in terms of what answer I wanted to hear.  By previously saying I lived in the City of Albany, I was already paying the city $70 for a water tank installation permit.

“Here’s the thing, Mr. Miller.  If your chimney vents out the side of your house, then the chimney has to be internally insulated, and we can’t do that.  And we won’t come over if that’s the case.”

I quickly assessed the situation.  My water tank was actually in the center of my basement, and the pipes went into what looked to be a brick chimney in the center of my house.  But upon going outside, I noticed a chimney on the side of our house.  It took me a few moments to determine that the chimney on the SIDE of the house was for the fireplace (we used the fireplace maybe once and are still cleaning off the soot from things), while a second chimney protruded through the top of the house, dead center.

“It’s in the center,” I said.

“Good.  We’re on our way,” the contractor said.

And at about 9am, a work truck pulled up to my driveway.  A worker named Ray came out, assessed the situation regarding the water heater, and told me that I would still need some replacement vent piping to bring the unit up to code, but that it wouldn’t take very long to install.  I feared another batch of $$$$ leaving my wallet.  He said don’t worry.  It’s all good.  No extra charge.

He got straight to work.  The old water tank was drained of any fluid and hauled away.  The new water tank was installed, pipes were soldered and connected, the exhaust vent was carefully and properly guided into the center chimney.  Eventually his boss also showed up (his boss had the necessary additional venting pipe), and before long the water was back on.

A short time later, I tested the water flow.  And finally, after what seemed like an eternity, hot water flowed out of the faucets.  My long national nightmare was over.

Between replacing a water heater and replacing my old car, I’ve learned a few things.  The first is to make sure you don’t limit your options.  Never take the first option, because it’s never the ONLY option.  And also, don’t let your emotions get the better of you.  Things can – and will – be repaired or replaced.

Just don’t be afraid to wait until a proper solution can be found.