We're in hot water...

...and that's a good thing. I was thinking of naming this post "We got tanked..." but that sounded like something that was just rather inappropriate and unbelievable. We have been planning this for a long time and are grateful that it has happened.

Saturday morning we woke up and filled a few pots with water and set them on the stove - just in case things didn't go so hot. I began draining the tank and Tony showed up to give me a hand with the installation of our new hot water tank. I think Tony did more work than I did. I soon realized that the build-up inside the tank was preventing most of the water from escaping. After painfully waiting and assessing all the parts needed with Tony, we left to get more. By the end of the day, we had been let into the Maintenance Shop three times to get more parts. You'll soon discover why.

We were getting impatient trying to remove the tank, but we were able to cut the copper lines at the appropriate locations to make the tank fit out the access door on the side of the trailer. The problem was that it was a little heavy because it was still almost half full of water. It was now draining out the cold water intake as well as the spigot on the side, so we had to get the bulky monster out fast. We used a 4x4 timber to jack it out and let it fall to the ground and leave a big dent in the lawn. Fortunately, no one was injured. Once this was done, we were able to see what was previously unseen...

We tried using as much of the old lines as possible, but discovered that there were leaks in a few, the soldering wasn't working on others because the water wouldn't drain, and the fittings we had didn't quite fit because the 1/2" copper lines were larger than 1/2". Oh, and the main line into the trailer (the point after the stuff I had replaced last year because it blew a hole in it) was corroded and the shut-off inside the trailer was seized open. I had to take apart my nice work from last year and start almost from scratch. Now the plumbing to the tub, sink, tank, and a portion to the other end of the trailer are completely new. We also have four more shut off valves than we did before. This ended up taking us most of the day. Sorry Tony.

BUT - I don't worry about the lines. There are no leaks. Sure, when I turned on the main line I got a cold shower and had to re-tighten and re-move a couple of inches of pipe to make it work (twice), but after I torqued it all on there things were in working order! Fortunately we were invited out for supper, and I got the toilets working just as Faith and the kids were about to go out the door and use the facilities at someone else's house. That reminds me of Faith's first week in Caronport when they had to use the showers at the gym because our water wasn't working then and I was in Calgary and could not repair it. Nasty!

The kids and Faith were at a birthday party / picnic in Moose Jaw while we worked on the lines, so they had a great time. Then they napped while we were banging away. It was an all day job, but it got cleaned up and things are working better than ever. We have pressure in all of our lines! The shower gets hot and hits both shoulders - at the same time even! If I turn on the hot water in the kitchen, it is warm in under a minute (it used to take 2 minutes or more)! When both taps are on, I have to turn the cold water all the way up so that I don't scald my hands in the sink! I know, it seems so silly, but we needed this thing replaced last year. Now it is finished.

- Mark