In mid December we replaced the last appliance in this house that hadn't gone kaput -- the gas hot water heater. Fortunately, we caught it at the slight leak stage, not the 50-gallon flood stage (been there, done that, got the flippin' merit badge).
Out comes our handy-dandy Appliance Company/Plumber/Heater/AC/All-Around Do Everything With Appliances Company to take away old gas hot water heater and install new "energy-efficient" gas hot water heater and charge us the equivalent of a mortgage payment. Ouch. Woot. It's done. I can breathe easier...and do the dishes once more.
The day before Christmas we receive a postcard in the mail from our County Plumbing Inspector notifying us that the "Company" took out a permit to install the gas hot water heater. Thus, the County must come inspect.
This morning (27 Dec 2010) a rather surly fellow appears at my door. "Good morning," I say in my chipper voice. "D'ya know that having your water hose still attached to your faucet out front means in Spring that faucet will break?" he snarls at me. "You must be Scott," I reply, my teeth beginning to grind.
I yell upstairs for Devoted Spouse....no answer. Scott-the-Inspector says, "I can find it by myself." With my happy face...I flipped on the basement light and said, "Knock yourself out."
I returned to my Twittering and Frittering.
Devoted Spouse meanders to the basement in search of Scott-the-Inspector. I hear rumbles and grumbles and heavy footsteps. Ruh-Roh.
Scott-the-Inspector whips out his cell phone and makes a call. Looks at me in my comfy chair and mutters something about a pipe not installed correctly and he has to call a plumber. Oopsie - we failed inspection.
Oopsie again -- Scott-the-Installer called the wrong plumber. Snort. The correct installers are on their way. Devoted Spouse is leaving to volunteer at church. That's a good thing because he doesn't want to be here when the "Company" arrives. This redheaded-stepchild is workin' up quite a head of steam -- you see for the past few weeks we have been living in a house and breathing what Scott-the-Inspector terms, "gas exhaust". Now I realize that's not the same as a gas leak -- but it can't be good. The "Company" Field Rep and the General Manager for their Plumbing Operations WILL be accompanying the repair crew today. Don't mess with the red-headed stepchild... Oh Crap on a Crutch.
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| That space right above the bottom rung of crutch is a separation in the pipe. Nasty! |
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| The Fail here is the white cap above the water heater but below that silver pipe should not be tilting downward |
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