Would really love a hot shower...

Wednesday, I had GOLF, and get home to discover that the basement has a minor flood. It took a while to discover the leak was coming from the bottom of the water heater, and even longer to clean it up to a satisfactory point.
Thursday, was spent shopping around looking for a good price on a water heater. Finally, in the afternoon - one was discovered at LOWES for $340.00.
The rest of the afternoon was spent trying to locate someone to install it for under $300.
When the individuals came out Friday morning, it was discovered that, the water heater was the wrong type. What we have is a gas 48" Power Vented water heater. What I purchased was a 58" gas water heater. After discussing at length with the servicemen the proper water heater needed, I began to look.
And look and look.
I was unable to locate a 48" Power Vented hot water heater (in fact, LOWES doesn't even carry them). HOME DEPOT and MENARDS had the taller ones (58"-59"), and MENARDS even had them on sale (and one that was considered an 'open box'). But alas, it was Friday afternoon and were were bound for Wisconsin.
Eventually, a rep from SEARS informed me that retail does not sell 48" Power Vented water heaters. Well, the person that modified this place was a contractor (and from what I am discovering... a cut-rate one too. The only water supply we have is the garden hose and the cold water from the kitchen sink) which is how the 48" came to be installed. So now, we have the decision to make....Get a non-power vented water heater and re-do the duct work, or get a power-vented water heater and re-do the piping. Since there is no time with the schedule at that moment to review and test any decision, off we went ti WIS, with the issue unresolved.
While in WIS, the Memorial weekend was more of a chore-based visit. The major task at had was the dock. A few years back, the ice had shoved the dock under the steps, and now, due to the lack of rain, the end of the dock was in water too shallow for the pontoon to rest at its usual spot. So, the dock was extracted from under the stairs and moved forward about 8'.
Now...to get reach the dock, you need to jump approximately 24" onto the sandy/rocky slope. Not good for the 3 senior citizens up there.
So, a 4-step riser (three pieces; for Left, Right & Middle) were obtained and mounted, followed by the planks to extend the walking surface to the ground.
Next came the railing, and finally leveling them. (Well, they were made closer to level. I wouldn't call them 'plumb').

We arrive home Monday night after 10PM...kids asleep. We got the kids put into bed, the car emptied, and some of the items put away. Then my wife goes to bed and I research water heaters. I see HOME DEPOT is offering a sale on appliances (although hot water heaters are pictured, the sales rep & LOWES told me that water heaters are not considered "appliances" when it comes to the 'free installation'), I am not sure about MENARDS because their advertisement doesn't 'come out' until tomorrow (Tuesday JUNE 1st).
At HOME DEPOT.COM, I price a Power Vented water heater on-line and in referring to my notes from last Thursday = it is the same price. Hmmmm..... I reckon tomorrow might give me a better idea.

So, just before I go to bed, I decide to measure the height from floor-to-ceiling. Should we go with the 58" power-vented model, I want to know if we have enough room.

Naturally when I get down there, I am disagreeably surprised to discover a mild flood.
Again.

(sigh)

It is now 12:15 AM on Tuesday, June 1st. I've used the dirt-devil to vacuum up most of the water out of the carpet. I also have the dehumidifier running and the box fan on. I've checked the MENARDS add, and there is no water heater sale. I've made the measurements I need. My plan is simple, take some Ibuprofen, floss m teeth and hope tomorrow will deliver unto me the answers I need.

Here endith the blog...