how do I get to my water heater

Please, someone help me think through this. I did not inherit the DIY gene, so I'm thinking there must be a simple solution to this problem and I just am not seeing it.

I live in a 1BR condo on the second floor of a 3-story building. My water heater is in an attic storage space on the third floor which is accessed through a panel in the hallway ceiling. The ceiling is between 7 and 8 feet tall. There is no pull-down stair to get into the attic.

I think the water heater is more than 10 years old, however I don't know for sure. I would like to get up to the attic to take a look at it.

On a 6-foot ladder, the tallest step that is safe to stand on is less than 4 feet high. So that leaves a gap of more than 3 feet to get into the attic.

But an 8-foot ladder is taller than the ceiling, so it won't fit in the hallway.

So how do I get up there?

p.s. I already asked the condo office for help and they told me I'm on my own on this one.

The 8 foot ladder will fit through the attic access, won't it?

The other thing is, I would totally use a 6 ft ladder, because the attic access would give me enough to hold onto to get up in the attic hole from the very top step. I used to have a job that I used ladders all the time, so I'm used to moving them around while I'm standing on them. The top step CAN hold you, but it's just not the wisest idea. Get a friend to hold the ladder, especially when you come back down. You may have to hang drop a little.

The other thing is to rent a 12 foot straight ladder and lean it up into the access hole, and viola! Stairway to heaven.

Karen

I'm not sure why you're on your own on this one, because I think it's their liability if you fall getting up there.

I have a ladder like this, that folds up, telescopes, etc. that I use.. but that's kinda expensive to buy just so you can look at your water heater:

http://www.littlegiantladder.com/lit...t/type-1a.html

Since the water heater is my responsibility, it's my problem to deal with it, regardless of where it is located.

But I think Karen nailed it - I wasn't thinking about using the sides of the open space to the attic to support myself on the upper rungs of the 6-foot ladder. I knew there was something I was missing!

Meanwhile, I just spoke directly to the condo association maintenance guy, to ask him what he would do if he were in my position. He said he would look at it tomorrow to see if I could use a 6-ft ladder safely, or if not, what kind of ladder would be necessary.

Thanks!