I decided today to put the new-to-me GE washer to work washing a full load of the girls' bedding. As with all of my 'extra' washers, this one is on the carport (I do not have a basement or garage). When they are used I have to bring one garden hose from the backyard and one from the frontyard for my supplies and I usea free-standing 2" PVC pipe with an ell on one end as my standpipe. There is a GFIC device just inside the utility room so with this nifty arrangement I can actually wash. However, I've always felt like the neighbors opinion of this arrangement is something like "OMG he looks like the Beverly Hillbillies over there - doing laundry on the carport"! Nevertheless, I don't let their opinion deter me from enjoying my new Filter-Flo washer.
Today I tried something different. I realized that the drain for the water heater is right there, within reach of the washer - VOILA - a source of hot water (not really so hot since it's the bottom of the tank, warm at best, but still - not tap cold). This drain does not have a handle. The entire valve is the handle; one grasps the plastic valve and rotates it one way to open the valve, the other way to close the valve. But with the threaded end for a hose, it can be confusing which way produces which result (when I attached the hose I tried to pre-curl it in the opposite direction that opening the valve would twist the hose). It's important to remember direction-thing as it has direct bearing on the rest of the story.
The wash was perfect. I got the washer leveled, she filled with warm water, washed, spun, re-filled with water (warm water option selected), rinsed, and drained. NO unusual sounds, just a wonderful chug-chug during wash and hummm during spin. Leveling the washer makes a big difference! When the washer turned off, I proceeded to disconnect the hoses so I could clean up the area and let the tub dry. Started with the hot hose first. Now, lets see, which way do I turn this valve to close it (hose is all twisted by now because apparently I pre-curled it in the wrong direction)? Hmmm... I think it goes this way. Psssssstttttttt!!!!! Uh-oh, that's not the way! I frantically turn the other way - nothing happens except more water comes out. I turn the valve back the other way - THE EFFIN VALVE COMES OFF IN MY HAND!
CAPTAIN - WE'VE STRUCK AN ICEBERG!!!!!!!!!
Now I have a full-blown stream of water coming out of the bottom of the water heater, drenching me (pants, shoes, socks) and the room. Nothing seems to work, I can't get the valve back on the nipple and each attempt results with a faceful of water. Sh*t! Where's the cutoff? There it is - close it! Nope no difference (must be the blankety-blank hot side). I do not see another valve.... Crap, now I've got to go to the street to turn off the water; I start, stop, say to myself "No Dummy, there HAS TO BE a shutoff on the cold side - look again"! Water is now everywhere in the utility room and flowing out the door across the carport. I look again and TA-DA; there it is. I close the valve (it seemingly takes 283 turns to close that valve) the water stops. Must have been how the Titanic crew felt - when's it going to turn????
Now the room is drenched, standing in maybe 1/2 inch of water, flowing out across the carport, my feet squeek inside my soaked tennis shoes; and I stand there... Nothing to do at this point except laugh - and start brooming the water out of the utility room. The Filter-Flo did great! Filtered out all that nasty fur, hummed through a perfect spin, perfectly balanced; but Granny Clampet didn't do so well.
Storal of the Morey: I am going to have a dedicated hot and cold water line installed before I use the Filter-Flo again. I can still use an improvised standpipe and allow the water to drain across the carport, into the shrubbery and yard, but no more messing around with that *!//%%$ water heater valve for me.
lawrence
Today I tried something different. I realized that the drain for the water heater is right there, within reach of the washer - VOILA - a source of hot water (not really so hot since it's the bottom of the tank, warm at best, but still - not tap cold). This drain does not have a handle. The entire valve is the handle; one grasps the plastic valve and rotates it one way to open the valve, the other way to close the valve. But with the threaded end for a hose, it can be confusing which way produces which result (when I attached the hose I tried to pre-curl it in the opposite direction that opening the valve would twist the hose). It's important to remember direction-thing as it has direct bearing on the rest of the story.
The wash was perfect. I got the washer leveled, she filled with warm water, washed, spun, re-filled with water (warm water option selected), rinsed, and drained. NO unusual sounds, just a wonderful chug-chug during wash and hummm during spin. Leveling the washer makes a big difference! When the washer turned off, I proceeded to disconnect the hoses so I could clean up the area and let the tub dry. Started with the hot hose first. Now, lets see, which way do I turn this valve to close it (hose is all twisted by now because apparently I pre-curled it in the wrong direction)? Hmmm... I think it goes this way. Psssssstttttttt!!!!! Uh-oh, that's not the way! I frantically turn the other way - nothing happens except more water comes out. I turn the valve back the other way - THE EFFIN VALVE COMES OFF IN MY HAND!
CAPTAIN - WE'VE STRUCK AN ICEBERG!!!!!!!!!
Now I have a full-blown stream of water coming out of the bottom of the water heater, drenching me (pants, shoes, socks) and the room. Nothing seems to work, I can't get the valve back on the nipple and each attempt results with a faceful of water. Sh*t! Where's the cutoff? There it is - close it! Nope no difference (must be the blankety-blank hot side). I do not see another valve.... Crap, now I've got to go to the street to turn off the water; I start, stop, say to myself "No Dummy, there HAS TO BE a shutoff on the cold side - look again"! Water is now everywhere in the utility room and flowing out the door across the carport. I look again and TA-DA; there it is. I close the valve (it seemingly takes 283 turns to close that valve) the water stops. Must have been how the Titanic crew felt - when's it going to turn????
Now the room is drenched, standing in maybe 1/2 inch of water, flowing out across the carport, my feet squeek inside my soaked tennis shoes; and I stand there... Nothing to do at this point except laugh - and start brooming the water out of the utility room. The Filter-Flo did great! Filtered out all that nasty fur, hummed through a perfect spin, perfectly balanced; but Granny Clampet didn't do so well.
Storal of the Morey: I am going to have a dedicated hot and cold water line installed before I use the Filter-Flo again. I can still use an improvised standpipe and allow the water to drain across the carport, into the shrubbery and yard, but no more messing around with that *!//%%$ water heater valve for me.
lawrence
