OT June Chitchat

[Howie]

My Grandmother always ordered that when we ate at a restaurant. I've never tried it, but sometimes drink coffee that has completely cooled off. Add a few ice cubes, and it WOULD be iced coffee!

[agate]

If you're planning to ice it, you might want to brew it pretty strong because it will get diluted by the ice cubes, of course.

[SalpalSally]

It's 86 right now, heading for 94 before the day is over. I hate high temps! Yet what am I doing? Drinking hot coffee! If I had half a brain.........

Here too Howie!

[Howie]

I love coffee, and it is a great way to start the day. While it's brewing, I do my cat chores, then fill my coffee mug, and come back to my room, and get online. I don't have a time to go to bed, or get up, but the cat/coffee routine starts every day no matter what time it is.

[Jeanie Z]

:) Now y'all have me worried. How old does a hot water heater have to be to start leaking?

Andy and I went down to Ft. Lauderdale to see my sister Teresa in the house they rented. It was really nice and beautifully decorated, has a pool and has water on both sides of the property. They did not say how much it cost for a week but I'm sure it was not cheap. Another couple flew down with them and shared the expenses.

My brother Steve came down from N FL with his wife and two daughters and he brought steaks, hamburgers and stone crab claws. Andy and I took a large cake. My son Jim and Carla also drove down. There was plenty to eat and it was nice catching up on everyone. The house was about 100 miles round trip from here.

My sister's husband just had one kidney removed because he had a tumor on it. He also has gout in his knee. Two things that make gout worse are shellfish and alcohol. He is still drinking and ate crab claws. My sister and both of my brother's girls have all gained a lot of weight. I should not comment as i still have some more lbs to lose.

I am hungry but do not want to cook. I might just eat a sandwich. My hot water heater was put in in 2003. Any ideas appreciated. Jeanie :)

[Frog42]

My hot water heater was put in in 2003. Any ideas appreciated. Jeanie :)

Lenny says it depends in so many things. Is yours gas or electric?

[Howie]

Jeanie, the average lifespan of a modern water heater is 10 years. You got 13 out of that one which was good. I had to replace the one I have here about 2 years ago, but don't know how old it was.

Try Lowes if you have one in your area. A good price, and a friend put it in for free, but watching him, I think anyone could do it themselves. "Top feed" or "bottom feed" is about all you need to know to buy one. "Feed" is simply where the water enters it, top or bottom. And how many gallons which it says on the heater.

[Virginia]

Jeanie, is your hot water heater located inside your house or outside in a storage area? Thankfully, mine is outside in a storage room. That makes a lot of difference in how much you have to worry. If it is inside the house then it is getting pretty old and you might want Andy to check for rust.

Sounds like you had a nice time with family. I am glad you and Andy got to go and spend time with your sister and nieces and brother-in-law.

Wish I could still drink coffee. I use to love it, but have not had a cup in years due to the tremor. Decaf is just not the same in my opinion.

[Howie]

Decaf is just not the same in my opinion.

Amen to that!

[stillstANNding]

Jeanie, my water heater was a week over 12 years old. The reason the cost have gone up so high, according to the plumber, is that there are federal regulations now saying the walls must be 2 inches thick (probably insulated) w an extra 2 inches at the top. Manufacturers had to re-tool yada yada. Gary would be a help here.

ANN

[Virginia]

That must have been what they meant the last time I had one put in. They said it had to be brought up to code. I did get a good hot water heater and not one from Lowe's or Home Depot, so that drove the cost up. I had had one from there and it did not last very long.

[Jeanie Z]

:) I got it from Sears and it is electric. I only have carpet in the back bedroom and the computer room. I imagine I could put towels down and turn off the water and it would not get to the carpets. I'm sure Jim could install one. Jeanie :)

[Catdancer]

Where you buy the heater doesn't matter. The brand of heater does! And the model, the capacity (how much water it contains). Lowe's and similar stores have cheap brands....and high-end brands. Like anything else, you have to do your research before you go shopping. There are lots of sites on line that compare types (electric or gas), capacities, life expectancies, how they're built, whether suitable for a mobile home, ground level, in a basement, enclosed, exposed -- all factors you need to consider. Lowe's has heaters that range in price from around $250.00 up to $950 and higher, depending on these factors. And that is before installation, which can add another $500 or more.

As for leaking, there is a LOT of water in one of those, and even if you shut the water off right away, all that water will leak out once there is a break in the tank.

Life expectancy varies from as little as 9 years up to 18, with electric heaters more at the low end of the range.

Tom Cat (and a friend) replaced ours last year. The gas water heater, with a 15 year warranty, cost $560 , bought at Menards, a Midwestern chain similar to Lowe's.

And, like any big appliance, if you buy it from the plumber who installs it, or from an appliance store that only carries one brand, it will always cost more than buying from a store like Lowe's, and you have to consider that often a plumber is getting compensated from the company who's brand he is selling.

[Catdancer]

My ignore list just gained a new member...

[agate]

My ignore list just gained a new member...

I see what you mean.