Feeling overwhelmed!

[tuffystar]

Others have said this many times before, it never rains but it pours!

Last night I noticed our heater wasn't running so I went to investigate. Chantelle came home and we opened the closet that the water heater and heater are in and we thought we could smell gas. So we called our gas company (about 2 am) and they said get out of the house now. We took the dogs and went out to our cars. I grabbed my purse and keys and phone and began to wait for the gas company to come check out our house. It was cold and windy and I have a sinus infection and Chantelle had a migrane. The dogs had fun but we did not.

Good news no gas leak. Bad news in their inspection the heater was not installed up to city codes. The man shut off our water heater and home heater. So we are without hot water and no heater and headed into the week-end! I have not slept anymore than 3 hours in 2 days. To top it off we have to figure out who installed the heater and try to get them to fix the problem.

It would not be all that horrible but they have to run a large vent through the house and out our brick wall to our home all before the nice weather gets bad again. The days are unseasonably warm but the nights are a bit cold right now. Kevin is a mechanic for our trash company and comes home very much in need of a shower and has no hot water. Not to mention he works 60 hour weeks and midnights! I have been feeling horrible and have to try to get this taken care of and I can't find the paperwork that has the name of the contractor that installed the heater! Inspite of the long hours Kevin works we don't have the money to pay for this ourselves. We may have to though because we could be in for a legal struggle with these creeps!

Oh yes I am having not only hand surgery but both feet operated on all before December 31st.

Sorry to be so long winded but I just needed to whine to someone.

Thanks for being there for me.
Please keep us in your thoughts because we need all the positive energy and thoughts we can get!

[SamsonsMom]

SO sorry Kathy. Been without heat also before - and it SUCKS!!! The no hot water sucks even more. They make really energy efficient space heaters nowadays. The radiating kind seem to warm the largest area. The blowing ones seem to work best in small rooms. But at our local walmart there are tons available in all price ranges. Our living room doesn't heat very well - not enough vents for that big of a living room. So if it gets chilly I'll put the radiating one on a coffee table (so the dogs don't accidently hit or tip it over) and it warms up pretty quickly.

If you can't find the contractor paperwork, you might just crack out the phone book and start calling people and explain the situation. Someone might cut you a break - or maybe trade some mechanic work by your husband for some water heater / heater work. I've bartered some secretary work for mehanic work before. Sucks to ask for that type of thing (trust me I know) but if you're in a bind, people might surprise you by their generousity. I rent my house - I traded painting the walls myself for no security deposit (and landlord provided the painting supplies, I just provided the labor).

Hope everything works out ASAP for you!!! Another option would be calling your gas company and explaining what happened and seeing if they know of anyone that could assist you.

Keeping you and your family in my prayers!

[lindamarie]

(((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS KATHY!))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
I don't know what else to do. I wish I could help.
Hang in there. Prayers coming your way!

[tuffystar]

Thank you both for the good information and hugs and support! I am on the phone while our mortgage company is doing research but so far no results. They have that we paid the fees for the warranty program and such but no record of who did the work. It doesn't help that we refinanced and country wide was bought out by bank of America. I am afraid we may just have to pay for this ourselves. The heater and the water heater work fine it is that the heater wasn't installed up to code. We do have a room heater but we have to have hot water to do dishes and shower so we are in a bit of a bind right now. The bank did not have the information, so now we have to look harder to see if we still have the papers. Wish me luck!

[kirama]

Originally Posted by tuffystar

Thank you both for the good information and hugs and support! I am on the phone while our mortgage company is doing research but so far no results. They have that we paid the fees for the warranty program and such but no record of who did the work. It doesn't help that we refinanced and country wide was bought out by bank of America. I am afraid we may just have to pay for this ourselves. The heater and the water heater work fine it is that the heater wasn't installed up to code. We do have a room heater but we have to have hot water to do dishes and shower so we are in a bit of a bind right now. The bank did not have the information, so now we have to look harder to see if we still have the papers. Wish me luck!

If the work was done under a home warranty, call the company that provided the warranty- they will have the records that you need, and they might also provide some coverage for work done under their plan that is substandard.

[tuffystar]

Thank you we are looking for that information! I appreciate the help.

[KingstonTodd]

I am sorry you are going through a crappy time. We had our hot water heater catch fire a few months ago from an electrical short from a dripping inlet pipe, and had to replace it. we only has 2 days of cold showers but that was in the warmer weather and I just took the dogs down to the lake and waded in with them! They thought that was great, but I dont recommend that now. Brrr.

[Jac]

Ugh, Kathy, I can relate...the winter before last we lived in Oroville in a place that can only be called a "tear-down" (so glad we decided not to buy!) We had only a fireplace in the living room and a wood burning cook stove in the kitchen...the fireplace was no help, even sitting in front of it we could see our breath! We all huddled (even all of the dogs) in the kitchen and small attached dining room.
We used room heaters, but we had such bad wiring that it kept blowing our fuses and we would go without electricity. We could not run the water heater and the washer at the same time or a fuse would blow. It was a mess...
Our well pump was on the electricity, so when that was out, we had no water! LOL
Plus the well was filled with bacteria so we had to have it shocked...we were out water for over a month while this process took place...which meant no flushing! hahaha
Our bathroom never went above 40 degrees (we had a thermometer in there so I know).
Once in a while we would rent a hotel room just to shower...
So, take it from me...I do understand...and if you wear LOTS of layers it will help...room heaters do work...just find the room you want to use and keep all of the activity in that room...the radiant heat ones are good.
Contact your local community service agency...they may have some assistance money available for such emergencies...or your church might help...you can always pay them back if you want, but they can help you get through this.
Prayers coming...

[tuffystar]

Just a quick thank you and an update. I have had the flu since I wrote you last and still do so this is going to be short. We came up with a temporary solution based on a contractor's suggestion (for free). We put a vent in the door and got a carbon monoxide detector. We have lots of homework to do to be sure we do the right thing for resale and structural integrity. So for now the heat and hot water are back on as long as we have some windows open a little bit. Now if I can get over this flu thing I would be happy!!! Thanks for all the support and ideas. I will write again as soon as I can sit without throwing up.

[Jac]

One step at a time...poor girl...we're praying for you...so glad that the heat and hot water is working!

[SamsonsMom]

VERY Happy to hear you have heat and hot water again! Sorry about the flu, but at least you don't have the flu and it's cold inside.

Jac - have you been through EVERY situation? LOL

Oklahoma Ice Storm of 2007 knocked out a ton of people's electricity - bunch of people ran electric wells. No heat - no water - no electricity. SUCKED!! People at my job were actually coming to work just to stay warm and a very nice gym in the building donated the use of their showers for the people with electric wells.

[Jac]

Originally Posted by SamsonsMom

Jac - have you been through EVERY situation? LOL

Ummm, it seems that way, doesn't it?? hahaha I guess if you live long enough, you have! (I plan to live long enough to at least double these experiences! )

[lindamarie]

Kathy,
I hope you are feeling better by now. Is it the BIG flu we all worry about? I sure hope not.
This H1N1, I heard, can come in the form of the stomach or respiratory systems.
BE SAFE with that water heater! But, I am happy you have HOT water again!

[tuffystar]

Thank you everyone. Linda I feel better (weak but better) so I don't think it was the H1N1 type of flu. We had a contractor tell us that we are ok with the change we made to the closet door. He said we don't have to worry about any inspections or fines. I think Chantelle will be moving because she doesn't trust this choice and we told her that we can't be responsible for her health or Malakai. She doesn't know what to do with Kai but I said I just can't keep being ill from being allergic to her dog. It looks like big changes are coming to our home!

[SamsonsMom]

Well change can be good. I'm sure it'll all work out for the best. VERY happy to hear you are feeling better, and I'm sure you'll gain your strength back in no time. Keeping you guys in my prayers.