UPDATE: Sunday, Dec 29, 2024 · 12:24:51 AM +00:00 · jtg
UPDATE 6:
I GOT WATER AGAIN.
A Dkos supporter paid for a plumber to set up a heater bypass.
So, the water i still cold only, but it’s good to be able to flush and wash again. Laundry needs to be done too.
I’m on a list to get a new water heater via a PG&E program. I’m told I’ve been assigned to a local contractor and when my name comes up on the delivery list, Ill have hot water and be able to take a hot shower for the first time in many months.
I hope it arrives before my kidney stone surgery.
#jtg
UPDATE: Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 · 4:30:23 PM +00:00 · jtg
Update 5: I hope to have a plumber come by today to replace the shut-off valve on the broken water heater. He’ll leave it set up so that they can hook it up when PG&E finally brings me a new one in a month or so, they can hook up the new heater.
It will be nice to have water i the house again, even if I'm back to cold only. I’ve had only cold water for a long time, so I’ll just have to tough it out for another month or so
#jtg
Unnecessary pootie and woosle picture
UPDATE: Friday, Dec 27, 2024 · 5:35:02 PM +00:00 · jtg
The corroded valve to be replaced.
Latest update: A plumber will come by later today (hopefully). I’ll pay him to put in a new shut-off valve for the water heater so I can turn the water on to the house and get water to flush, wash, and Cetera. I will add that to my January needs list as I’ll have to take funds already gathered for Jan living expenses.
After a lot of calls this morning, I got the news that I may get a PG&E water heater in January. A local contractor has been assigned to my case and I am in the queue, currently appearing to be sometime in January.
I’ve gone without hot water for a very long time, so another month or so will be tough but livable.
#jtg
UPDATE: Friday, Dec 27, 2024 · 1:59:28 AM +00:00 · jtg
I appreciate all the comments about how to fix the water heater and valve problem myself. However, I need to point out:
• I had heart valve replacement surgery a few weeks ago.
• I have cardiac arrhythmia.
• As a result, I have a great deal of weakness and dizziness.
• The stuck valve is located about six feet high up the garage wall and is over a large sink. This means I’d have to both get on a ladder and reach out awkwardly to reach out one-handedly to saw off and attach a new valve. This could result in a fall that would not be good for me or my critters’ future.
• In addition to my recent weakness related to my heart, I have multiple massive hernias due to my 30-year-old colostomy, so replacing the old water heater, empty or not, could result in splitting my abdominal wall open even more than it is now.
If this was a couple of decades ago, I have no doubt I could do this myself, but at my tender young-senior age of 65, that’s not in the cards, or should not be if I want to keep being somewhat intact.
#jtg
Krampus brought me a “gift” on Christmas Eve.
He destroyed what was left of my water heater.
The water valve going into the water heater corroded open.
On Christmas Eve, I went into the garage and heard a dribbling sound. I discovered the source was a hole in the water heater. A constant dribble was coming out and flowing down the concrete floor.
I estimate several hundred gallons of water flowed out. The garage was flooded. The water valve to the heater was corroded open.
For those who don’t know or haven’t heard, my water heater has not worked for about a year. I’ve been getting along on cold water for everything, including showers. I get a brain freeze when I wash my hair. It is one of the worst things about my recovery from my recent heart surgery.
I’ve been dealing with cold water alone since. In the summer it wasn’t too bad, but winter weather has made the water flow like getting into a snow-melt stream.
The heater has not worked since it developed a small drip-drip-drip leak which unfortunately was directly onto the pilot light. I would relight it but it would go out within minutes.
I had PG&E turn off the gas to the water heater long ago, but with the valve corroded open, I could not turn off the water, so the small drip continued for months until it broke open big time. The only way to stop the drip was to turn off the water to the house, so I now have no flowing water for anything until at least the valve was fixed, never mind the ongoing lack of hot water.
The label of the leaky water heater my father installed decades ago
This also means my next water bill is likely to be huge. 💰💰💰
I’ve been on a waiting list from PG&E to get a new water heater as part of a low-income energy conservation program. However, it’s taking forever, about six months so far, and it is likely to be several more months before they give me a new water heater if they ever do. I’m starting to think this program is something they put into their PR but actually provides very few heaters.
I have not asked for funding to get a new heater as I wanted to put my priority on getting enough to pay my housing expenses putting in a new water heater makes no sense if I can’t pay my living expenses, but I may not be able to wait much longer.
I have distilled water bottles for my CPAP which I can also drink. I’ll just let unflushed pee accumulate in the toilet for now.
Since I have a colostomy and ziplock bags, I’ll reduce my food intake and bag up the feces pouches to throw out with the trash until this situation is resolved.
I am looking into resources to deal with this issue. I’m looking up the prices of new water heaters, which are not cheap. If I can’t get someone or some organization to donate the heater and installation, I’ll be posting a funding request here.
If you read through all that, thank you.
Please ask me anything in the comments.
