Now the hot water heater

**Shelli_wnj** · 03-04-2011, 10:37 AM

As if enough wasn't enough... now our hot water heater is leaking. I had to turn it off, which slowed the leak down to next to nothing. So I turned it on thinking maybe it was a pipe or something else. Nope, it's the water heater. So I learned how to do dishes without a dishwasher and hot water... LOL Sounds funny, but I have always had hot running water, and almost always had a dishwasher. I am getting ready to give the kids a bath - they are not going to be happy, they are used to plenty of water in the tub. They are going to get around 5 or so gallons today!

Obviously we need to get a new one, but not the piece of junk we have now. We purchased this unit about 5 years ago. Apparently it doesn't handle well water very well. We have done all the maintenance the unit is supposed to have, but still it did not stand the test of time.

My husband wasn't supposed to come home this weekend, but he got someone to cover his Sunday shift, and he is going to try to come home and replace the hot water heater on Sunday. That is going to be one heck of a day for him. He will have to drive 3 hours to come replace the unit to drive 3 hours back!

Anyone think I should try to do without hot water for all of next week?

**mauimagic** · 03-04-2011, 11:05 AM

Sorry for the latest on your list of challenges Shelli.

could you do without hot water for another week - sure. The only person who can answer if you will or not is you. Hot water is a basic tool that you use everyday as you care for so many others.

Let us know what you decide and take care.

**pollypurebred39** · 03-04-2011, 02:02 PM

Shelli, You could do what we did a lot of my childhood. My Mom took a big pot and boiled water in it to wash dishes and for us to have shallow baths. It won't be fun, but a week might not be so bad.

Real sorry you are going through this.

**wanderinggrandma** · 03-04-2011, 02:17 PM

You may be able to do this yourself and save DH a trip home. Go chat up the guys/gals at your Hardware store of choice and they can tell you step-by-step how to do it. Remember plumbers tape is your friend.

I talked DD thru the process over the phone. Of course SHE is a major do-it herself and save the money married to a total not handy guy.

Also I think Home Depot would bring and install one for not horrible cost. Maybe that is more reasonable than having DH come do it?

**Shelli_wnj** · 03-04-2011, 02:30 PM

Thanks, Polly. I figured out the dishes pretty fast

The baths I have still been pondering, as we have a standard sized tub and just can't see sitting in a puddle of water! LOL I think we will do it anyway.

Robin, I am a frugal cant-see-paying-for-anything-you-can-do-yourself person who is completely not handy! My husband is an electrician, a total do-it-yourselfer who would rather pay to have it done!

We don't have the money, though and he knows it. I wish I trusted myself enough to do this, but I am not sure I can even lift the thing off it's current block to get the rest done.

**Judi Dial** · 03-04-2011, 02:57 PM

Shelly, we did without a water heater for about 1.5 years. Our water heater has to be the short type because of our basement AND have an assisted exhaust, the most expensive combination there is for a propane type. It died right after DH had been laid off. The plumber got it fixed once, and then it died for good, alas, and we did without. Washing dishes I agree isn't so bad, but washing yourself with a stewpot of hot water and the rest cold is not something I really want to do again!

Glad your DH can fix this right away!

Judi