It began not too long ago in the dark deep basement. You could easily hear it – Drip…Drip…Drip. Oh how faithful it was – drip…drip…drip. Oh how dreadfully worrisome it was to the listener – drip…drip…drip.
A study was done which led to a final analysis:
Cause of noise – droplets of water plummeting upon the concrete floor inducing a certain consistent sound best described by the word – drip.
Place of noise – right beside a huge tube-like structure called a gas water heater.
Reason for noise – leaking gas water heater
Remedy for noise – new gas water heater
Proceeding actions as a consequence of Final Analysis:
1. Went to home depot and purchased a 50 gallon gas water heater. Brought it home and down into the dark deep basement.
2. Disconnect the tube like structure from it’s many appendages: black pipe, copper pipe, 3 1/2 in. pipe for exhaust. (#2 allows the following to be truthful)
Question:
“Drip?”
Answer:
“Gone!”
3. Carried out the structure with four hands, two backs, and four legs.
4. Carried new water heater with aforementioned body parts to the vacancy just made by the tube-like structure.
5. Gave appendages to the new water heater by connecting water lines, gas lines, and the exhaust pipe to the proper places on the heater. Tools and supplies needed for the gas and water lines were: flexible pipe, copper pipe, Teflon tape, a joint-sealing paste called dope, flux, solder wire, and a propane torch.
6. Checked gas lines carefully for leaking gas. First, with soapy water which was slopped upon the joints to see if the bubbles were agitated in anyway (Leaking gas emitted from a crack would cause the agitation). Second, with the human sensory systems used for smelling (propane gas smells like rotten eggs).
7. Began to fill water tank with water and purged the air from it by opening the hot water valve on an upstairs faucet. This also proved to be a test for the water supply joints. Unfortunately, two leaks were found, one was easily fixed but the other continued leaking. It turned out to be a manufacturer’s flaw which the installer had to find a way to fix.
It finally was fixed after one failed attempt.
8. Lighted flame to start the heater. First the air has to purged from the gas line and then the pilot button was pushed down and held down. The electrical ignition was then activated. The result – a flame.
9. Heater turned on and the water began heating up
10. Test the water tank with a warm shower.
Observations (encompasses final analysis and the resulting proceedings):
Installing a water heater was an enjoyable undertaking and God used it to teach an important lesson.
I had scheduled out how long it would take me to finish the job and in the end it took twice as long as what I scheduled. One of the major reasons for this was because of the manufacturer’s flaw causing a leak. My reaction to this could either be an attitude of frustration or flexibility. Flexibility is willing to change plans or ideas according to the direction of my authorities. In this situation, God was my authority and he determined a stalling factor to enter into my schedule. I had to realize it was a classroom. A time to learn that God holds all things in the power of his hands and I just have to be a diligent flexible plumber.
Conclusion of the matter:
In the dark deep basement a sound: drip, drip, drip…was not heard.
The information given in this article, regarding installation of a water heater, is only helpful advice. It is not complete or error-proof. Please view it as such.
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