Water, Water

Wednesday was to be the day of relaxing. Family and friends were all gone. The house was still trashed, but who cares? The bed was calling to be used. Jennifer had stated she intended to stay in it all day. I had to get up and go in to work, my transfer had been officially approved. I needed to start checking out of the base so I could transfer to Corpus Christi to continue training. After a nice warm shower along with my normal morning routine I headed out the door to the garage and am greeted by an odd sound. I hear what seems to be water cascading onto cement, like an over sized water fountain splashing onto our patio. Surprised, I walk toward the back door to see what it could be. My neighbor out watering his patio? The kids leaving the hose on? Someone pranking me?

No, it was none of the above. As I rounded the car I stepped into a small river and became painfully aware that the sound was indeed coming from the room housing the water heater. I dash inside and tell Jennifer that we have a problem. I then return to the garage to find the shut-off valve for the water heater supply line. The shut-off is located on the line above the water. The water heater is already 7 feet tall (with it's stand) so now I have to get above it, reach around behind it and turn off the valve. All the while, water is shooting up, out of the water heater and cascading down around it. I can hear the burner (it's gas) boiling the water which happens to fall down the exhaust duct, adding some steam to the mix.

Finally I get the water supply turned off, without actually getting too wet. I then tell Jennifer I have to get in to work (I know, I'm the greatest husband in the world!). While I'm gone Jennifer researches hot water heaters on the internet so that once I return home we can make an informed purchase. Well, a few hundred dollars :-( later I can now say I have replaced my first gas water heater!


The good news: I didn't have to pay an installation fee; we have hot water again; the water heater was located in the garage, not the laundry room; other than the walls getting wet, the area mostly contained plastic bins, so everything is good!