02-21-2024, 03:22 PM
So...the hot water heater at my mom's place is old. Not ancient, but not new either. The house has old pipes, and I'm sure, lots of minerals in the water, but in general, the thing is a tank (literally)...but in the last year or so, especially when there's a windy storm, the pilot light blows out. When we determine that that's the case, I go to the water heater closet, relight it and things work again...
But with the storms in the last few weeks, power outages, etc, my mom told me there was no hot water, so went I went to the office on Tuesday two weeks ago, I stopped there first and got it going again...Then more storms...Then, when I was there last week, no hot water. I started the pilot on Tue night. No hot water Wed AM. I restarted the pilot. No hot water, so I restarted it again.
My mom and I talk about it and agree that if the pilot doesn't stay on this time, she should call PG&E to inspect it.
I get a call from my mom over the weekend that she called and left a message that she got a plumber and he came and said she needed a whole new water heater. But he's a good plumber because he was the in the SJ Mercury best of the valley recommendations... It was expensive, but she was tired of boiling water.
I came on Tuesday and she filled me in on the details. She called PG&E, but the wouldn't have been able to get someone out to inspect until Tuesday this week (yesterday) and she really wanted to get it working. Final bill for the deluxe 40gal water heater + manifold and various parts + labor (minus 5% senior discount): $8978.00
...but wait, there's more...
The plumber didn't like the water pressure (said it was low). Came back to inspect, including going under the house. Determined that the combined copper and gavanized pipes are a no-no (which I know is true, but I don't know what's really under there) and it's leaking in various places. Showed my mom pictures to prove it, so she signed up to get all the the house plumbing replaced with copper. Total est: $41,283 (which includes a 5% senior discount). so together with the water heater it's; $50,261.
She's in a tizzy because she has to move crap so they can get to every plumbing fixture. We spent last night emptying cabinets and filling boxes...
It feels much like the time the Costco blinds scammer tried to soak her for thousands to replace 2 blinds.
My mom is rationalizing her decision like crazy which is waring.
I'm frustrated, tired, and busy with work, so I'm letting this go. Just needed to vent.
--tg
But with the storms in the last few weeks, power outages, etc, my mom told me there was no hot water, so went I went to the office on Tuesday two weeks ago, I stopped there first and got it going again...Then more storms...Then, when I was there last week, no hot water. I started the pilot on Tue night. No hot water Wed AM. I restarted the pilot. No hot water, so I restarted it again.
My mom and I talk about it and agree that if the pilot doesn't stay on this time, she should call PG&E to inspect it.
I get a call from my mom over the weekend that she called and left a message that she got a plumber and he came and said she needed a whole new water heater. But he's a good plumber because he was the in the SJ Mercury best of the valley recommendations... It was expensive, but she was tired of boiling water.
I came on Tuesday and she filled me in on the details. She called PG&E, but the wouldn't have been able to get someone out to inspect until Tuesday this week (yesterday) and she really wanted to get it working. Final bill for the deluxe 40gal water heater + manifold and various parts + labor (minus 5% senior discount): $8978.00
...but wait, there's more...
The plumber didn't like the water pressure (said it was low). Came back to inspect, including going under the house. Determined that the combined copper and gavanized pipes are a no-no (which I know is true, but I don't know what's really under there) and it's leaking in various places. Showed my mom pictures to prove it, so she signed up to get all the the house plumbing replaced with copper. Total est: $41,283 (which includes a 5% senior discount). so together with the water heater it's; $50,261.
She's in a tizzy because she has to move crap so they can get to every plumbing fixture. We spent last night emptying cabinets and filling boxes...
It feels much like the time the Costco blinds scammer tried to soak her for thousands to replace 2 blinds.
My mom is rationalizing her decision like crazy which is waring.
I'm frustrated, tired, and busy with work, so I'm letting this go. Just needed to vent.
--tg