One small step for Ace...a home maintenance tale

[Mr. Bloom]

Rules of the Hot Water Heater: If the pilot light lights, make sure you hold the ignition button down long enough for it to stay on. If you don't get it to light, make sure you're using a long enough match (I like fireplace matches). If none of this works, make sure you have paid the gas bill.

Rule of the Hammer: Make sure your thumb is out of the way and don't let the strength of your hit be greater than the aim of your eye.

Rule of Intimidation: Remember, even Bob Vila started somewhere before he became the king of home improvement.

Oh, the stories I (or Silver) could tell...

[ace]

Yup, turned out that a part need replacement (I think it's called a thermal guide- without it the pilot won't stay lit. The guys said they last about 6 years, and I've had the water heater for 6 1/2), which cost me $50 for parts/labor. I have hot water, and know how to light the pilot light. It was a good day

[bmccasland]

I've found if you don't have the long matches, then using hemostats to hold a regular match works.

I've accumulated a pile of matches trying to relite various water heaters...

[sbctwin]

no real comment...just wanted to tell you Ace, that I love the pic of your puppy...

[Mr. Bloom]

Yup, turned out that a part need replacement (I think it's called a thermal guide- without it the pilot won't stay lit.

Well, I don't know what a thermal guide is, so I guess $50 is a bargain

[ace]

Thanks, sbctwin. He is the handsomest boy on the planet- I'm missing him- I haven't seen him in 16 hours (ok, I'm crazy, but he's my primary relationship), I'm away on a business trip. He's probably sleeping or tossing his rubber pink elephant up in the air right about now....

Mr. Silver, that thermal thingy is some teeny little 5 inch long skinny wiry part that keeps tabs on the water temp, according to the water heater guy and my gas company, if you don't have an old water heater, and your pilot light won't stay lit, that's the probable culprit.

[silver]

Oh, the stories I (or Silver) could tell...

Like the $$$$ that you spent trying to fix the toilets yourself and then finally gave up and it only cost like less than $100 to have the plumber come fix them all.

Like the time that you put together the crib in the living room even after I said that's not going to fit through the door to the bedroom......

Like the time that you tried to fix the light switch but didn't turn off the circuit breaker.



Teasing........Mr. is really very handy!

With Mr. working in another town, I've had my share of House fixits traumas. I've had to call our "backdoor" neighbor several times, as recently as last week. (Garage door opener broke and I couldn't get the quick release to let go)

[Mr. Bloom]

Silver, darling....thanks for not telling the really embarrasing home improvement stories.