It's Always Something......

[littlebeaver]

For the Love of.... Man it's always something, Sunday afternoon My daughter and I go shopping around lowes and looking at stuff and got some food, get back and the wife is all upset,, she wants to shower but the water isn't hot,, she goes to the basement and water is coming out of the top of the water heater so she cut off the main supply,, I get home with some goodies to eat and all happy and joyful... Well, that was a mood changer because the valve water supply at the line above the heater was frozen, I couldn't get it to close off,,, Fudge man... why...???? If I could close that valve off we would have cold water through the rest of the house at least, just for now.... so I run over to lowes again and get some flux and solder and a new valve,,, I just want the girls to have water for now so I solder the new valve in place and shut the valve off, testing my work I turned the main on,,, Hey it held . ...We have cold water..... today I was busy going here and there and to the dentist for a check up,,, (I hate that place) and my daughter Amanda and I went to scope out the water heaters,,, Penny got home tonight and now we have a new Gas water heater in the basement waiting to be installed..... no problem installing it.... What is it next... Geez... Last summer it was the AC unit's evaporator coil I think it was.. We should be good for some time after this fix....I know you have a story to tell ... Hope I don't blow my ass up just kidding .......... Oh we have a drain right there,, nothing got damaged thank goodness..

[Aussie81Interstate]

Well done,

you have saved yourself some dollars by doing it yourself..

[littlebeaver]

We had to learn too,, we didn't have alot of money growing up,, everything was second hand,,, we did everything ourselves paying someone else was a sin ,,I think most of us around here are that way ..... School of hard knocks....I asked Penny if I can have the normal installation fee .. Should have seen the look she gave me...

[WingAdmin]

I always do things myself, as long as I know how - and if I don't, often I'll learn.

I put a tankless water heater in our house several years ago, which we LOVE...run washing machine, dishwasher, shower, all at the same time, never run out of hot water.

The only issue we have had is recently with a certain 15 year old girl who knows full well that she can take 40 minute showers and not run out of hot water.

Unless of course she ignores the warnings of the guy who pays the bills around here, and who isn't above turning off the hot water heater when he detects excessive shower time.

I used to do the same thing to my brothers as a kid, but that was purely for entertainment.

[cbx4evr]

Todd - I share your pain. Came home recently to find the dishwasher leaking and if that thing isn't working I'm dead.

I'll just give you one word of advice - Shark Bite
Throw out the torch and solder.

http://www.sharkbite.com/how-to/how-to- ... onnectors/

[RoadRogue]

Hey Nick , you must be getting old there my friend. You are starting to confuse me with the Beave........ although I too recently had to install a gas hot water tank . Like Martin says there is always something..........
Glad to see you are surviving the winter........

[littlebeaver]

I got it done fella's it went according to plans with the exception of one problem, the gas line ,, let me explain,, the pipe's center line to the original gas heaters connection was at 14- 1/2" to the floor, now the new unit was 11- 1/2", we got the same diameter 18" tank but it was a few inches taller,, no problem there ,, I had to refigure the gas piping and put in a longer vertical pipe to line up the new unit to..I took out a 4" pipe just below the valve and had a the nice man at ace hardware make a 7-1/2" one so that it would line up perfectly,, Hey fella's I didn't know Ace cut your piping, I was so thankful this new old man cut and threaded it for me, pretty sure you can only get 6" and 8" both wouldn't work.. You always hold your breath when you turn the water on for fear you didn't solder perfectly,, I happened to do a good job the first time around...I want to post photo's but my photo's won't load for some reason... Is 2.9 MB too large a size or what? maybe I will go through photobucket and try it. I had to reduce the size at photobucket to get these photo's.

Oooops.....

[cbx4evr]

Hey Nick , you must be getting old there my friend. You are starting to confuse me with the Beave........ although I too recently had to install a gas hot water tank . Like Martin says there is always something..........
Glad to see you are surviving the winter........

Dohhhh. Ya you're right I am getting old. Not on here very much and got mixed up. I'm retired now so the brain is getting enough work I guess. You two are like brothers so I was close.

[WingAdmin]

I know Lowes will cut and thread your blackpipe for you as well, no charge. I'm pretty sure Home Depot will, too.

I've got an "arm powered" black pipe threader, and it's definitely a workout doing it by hand.

[littlebeaver]

I never even bothered to ask,, unreal....Wonder where they keep their machine? Ace guy had his in the rear room...

[tom84std]

Oh they joys of home ownership! I live in a house that is 100 years old and NOTHING IS STANDARD. Simple jobs take twice as long and four times as many trips to the hardware store, but I've been in this house thirty years so it's my own fault. Beautiful job Littlebeaver.

[littlebeaver]

Saved a few bucks not having Mr. Plumber guy come do it, owning a house is fun,, it's always something but right now we should be good for a long long time... AC's evaporator coil was changed last summer, new blower motor installed by me last summer too...I will see what goes out next.. Frig..? thank you Tom, most of us by now are jacks of all trades and Master on none...LOL It's these electronic wizards that impress me... No offense to the real masters of their craft..