Cut out cabooses! When we arrived back at our city home Sunday the water heater failed and dumped 40 gallons of water in 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Called Servpro and letting them handle it.
I got out of their way and started cutting styrene. I ended up with 6 SRR b/w, 4 SRR wood sides, 8 L&N wood sides, 6 CB&Q NE12 way cars, 4 Central of Ga and 2 more CN Point St Charles. I finally ran out of styrene but more is on the way.
Replies sorted oldest to newest
For starters, I'd invest in a water sensor.
A water sensor connected to an electric cutoff valve. I hope they put a catch pan under your new water heater.
Jan
Why are you heating hot water? 
My HW heater has a pan with a drain and an alarm. It helps that it's also in the basement. The washer is on the 2nd floor, and it also has a pan and a drain.
I have a tankless water heater. Will never have this issue again!
Sounds like he was away from the house for a while (winter home?) and the water to the heater was shut off. Otherwise there would have been a lot more than 40 gallons.
Sounds like he has a lot of cabooses coming.
Marty,
Your right. Technically a "(cold) water heater"!
Got rid of my conventional water heater tank and it gave me room enough for a freight yard. Water is now heated in an out of the way corner located Renai tankless water heater. Luv 'em!
Non panned washers and water heaters gave us a lot of floor repair work over the years.
Such calm under pressure, water pressure! Your equanimity is as enviable as your artistry.
Since you've sent away for more styrene and Servpro is dealing with the debacle, would you consider building a few Chicago Great Western extended vision waycars? They're available in HO and N but not O. Harrumph!
I got lucky on the last one. We heard it letting go! Still had a mess but it wasn't as bad as it could have been.
Wasn't so lucky on the washer up stairs. The pan had a tiny drain that was easily blocked. The new pan has a custom 2" drain and there's a second one in the room's corner.
So what happens next? This week the fridge's ice maker got stuck filling and water started coming down stairs while I'm ballasting. I never even heard of a fridge doing that! Now I know. If it can happen, it will happen.
After 28 years in Public Works, I have seen alot of messes. For my peace of mind, I turn off the water service valve and the breakers to the heaters. Even if I go away overnight. It takes a couple minutes to turn back on, and in 20 minutes you have hot water. Dave
Engineer-Joe posted:So what happens next? This week the fridge's ice maker got stuck filling and water started coming down stairs while I'm ballasting. I never even heard of a fridge doing that! Now I know. If it can happen, it will happen.
I've had that happen, I had to yank the cover off the hinge on top and unplug the water valve control plug, that stopped the flood.
Bossman284 posted:I have a tankless water heater. Will never have this issue again!
Don't be to sure. I've heard of them failing also.
Any water service can fail, the thought is to be preemptive with braided hoses, burst safety valves, drain pans with shower drains, alarms, easy access shutoff valves, multiple sump pumps w/ battery back up, etc etc.
As a flooring contractor I have seen a lot of water damage. The most frequent damage has not been from bursts but a slow drip leak over a long period of time which produces extensive hidden rot. A total shocker when starting a floor install. One job was so soaked that in addition to cabinets and two joists, I had to remove the vinyl siding to replace rotted/soaked insulation & OSB because the water wicked up off the floor.
Hey Brother Love, if my water heater fails, I’m calling you first! I can clean up the mess later. Think of all those cabooses!
A leaking toilet hose has put off my layout building for 3 years while I saved up to replace the floor. This happened in the basement but the previous owners had carpet down there that I had to remove. The good news is the floor went in in early October and after Christmas the new permanent layout will begin. I now keep that toilet off unless we have company over. My next step is to install a monitor and shut off valve. I hate water.
After the carpet was pulled.
New floor. Just need some ceiling work and paint.
Nice job making lemonade from lemons, Brother Love! ;-)
My plumber got my landlord a good deal on a second hand water heater; had been lightly used in a local church who switched from gas to electric. So now I take showers in holy water. Haven't burst into flames yet, so I must be doing SOMETHING right...
Mitch
As a precautionary measure, if were going out of town over night, we turn off the hot water heater and cut off water to it. Washing machine also, we turn off water supply to.
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
