Hot water....a foreign term to me. In fact, I haven't been in hot water for a very long time....until recently. Thanks to CKC Plumbing, I am, at last, in hot water once again.
Flash back to about 2 years ago: It was winter and the hot water did not seem to last as long as it used to. The knob in the shower would get turned all the way to hot almost immediately upon stepping into the shower. We attributed it to the fact that the water heater was now about 12 years old and it was winter. So, when spring came around and the hot water did not return along with the warm air, we called our home warranty company. Well, well, what do you know-- one of the heating elements was shot, so it was replaced. Yay, we will have hot water. But it didn't happen; at least not like I hoped. So again, the conclusion that the water heater is way beyond it's usual life span became a disappointing reality. And so we waited. For what? For the water heater to just plain old quit. But it didn't. The usual timing of showers in between washing clothes and dishes became routine.
Fast forward to about 8 months ago: Another call to the plumber. His conclusion--"you have a house full of girls who use a lot of hot water and wash a lot of clothes and dishes, so of course it won't last long." Uh, excuse me, using a lot of hot water? What hot water? Again, back to the routine of scheduling time in the shower between what is now 5 females in the house.
Back to the present: Gary had heard enough complaining about how we had to rush through the shower without getting out with icicles hanging from our noses. And yet, another call to the home warranty company. This time, they sent the right guy. He discovers that the tube that runs down to the bottom of the water tank (which is very important because is draws the water up to the top and throughout the house--without it, the only water getting pulled into the pipes was the cold stuff sitting near the top) ...is gone. Yes, gone, deteriorated, corroded, no more, not there, kaput.
Another flash back, to about 3 -4 years ago: We started noticing this white, powdery substance combined with small pieces of plastic, coming out of the kitchen faucet. It was horribly annoying as it was clogging the screen of the faucet and had to be cleaned out every few days. At first, we were just annoyed, but then a mild sense of panic set in....wondering what in the world this is and where is it coming from. Then, one day, it dissappeared. So, life goes on. Now we know what it was---the very important tube had been slowly corroding and fizzling away.
Yesterday: I am back in hot water. Really, really, really HOT water. In fact, I don't think I even touched the knob or had to turn it up, up and up until it would not turn anymore. I finished shampooing, etc, without rushing, and then stood there. What do I do now? Hmmmmmm, how about just continue to stand here. So I did. And stood some more, and more and more. It was actually disapponting to finally get out of the shower with hot water still available; I felt like I was cheating myself of something.
So now, as steam pours up from the kitchen sink while washing dishes, one of the kids is in the shower and the washing machine is running-- all at the same time !! -- I think "thank you" to the guy at CKC Plumbing, who finally got us all back in hot water !
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