We're Cool

Heatless in Oberlin

We have heat! Nothing like a night with no heat and no hot water. I warned Nicki that the water heater wouldn't still have hot water after 16 hours. Warm almost. The story goes like this. Nicki had noticed for quite some time a slight smell of natural gas near the garage (where the gas meter is/was) and called the gas company later afternoon Wednesday. Apparently they treat any gas smells as emergencies and sent a crew right out and yes they found a leak in the line going to the house and then they shut off the gas which fuels our furnace and hot water heater. I guess we were lucky that the leak was found and that our gas wasn't shut off a week ago in the middle of the winter storm and the extreme cold. And we found out that it isn't as easy to contact a plumber after 5:00 PM. But we did and a team came out this morning and dug a pit in our front yard and another next to the garage and snaked a new plastic line through the old pipe and moved the meter out of the garage (code violation). And the gas company came out just before supper and turned the gas back on. Tomorrow the plumbing crew comes back out to fill the pits and tune up the furnace. But right now we have heat and hot water and that's okay.

By the way - homeowners out there - if your gas company offers that gas line repair coverage you might want to get it. Wish we had had it. We don't have the bill yet but I'm sure it is going to be impressive.