It's a gas, gas, gas...

Let me start this post by saying "It could be worse."

The plumber came by to complete the leak test, and found a small leak when he hooked up the gauge, about 1/2 psi an hour --but he was pushing 4 psi through a line that normally hold 1/2 a psi. Two hours later he found the leak, with the aid of Mr. Fixer Upper. Once Mr. Fixer Upper heard we were paying $100 per hour for them to leak hunt, he left work early and started ripping down sheet rock in the house, looking for old gas lines. 'Cause that's how we roll. Someone give that man a crowbar.

They did find a small leak in an old line in the downstairs bathroom, apparently before the house was updated with central heating there were small ceramic heaters inset into the wall. When the heaters were removed, probably thirty years go, they capped the lines poorly. At least one of these lines has probably been leaking ever since. The bad news is that our house still isn't up to "safety code" at this point, and the plumber is threatening to go to the city and pull his permit (he needed to request a permit from the city to start work on the gas line) unless we have this, that and the other thing done. All of which are small jobs, but expensive. Such things as replacing the hot water heater vent cap with one that does not allow the re-penetration of radon, cutting some sheet rock away from gas lines because they are supposed to have a two inch air gap around them, etc. The cost, $2000. Slightly more than the $500 we have budgeted for. I whine, and mope, eat chocolate and consider going back to work while Mr. Fixer supervises the work. We are hoping to be "certification ready" by the end of the day, so that the energy company can start work tomorrow. I KNOW that we are doing the right thing, our safety and whatnot. It's still hard to write those checks.

Shortly I will be leaving to drive out to meet the Energy Company rep and write another check so that they can start their work tomorrow. Then back to work to make some more money to spend on the house.

So, what does this leave us? House poor and experience rich? There has to be a silver lining somewhere, so I suppose the fact that our house will not spontaneously combust must be the lining in this case. I guess the other 'good thing' is that we do not have to replace all the piping in the house. The plumber estimated that would have easily been an $8000 to $10000 job, Ouch. Time to switch to electric heat and hot water ----

In other, more positive news, the cat is absolutely enthralled to have us home in the middle of the day. He has been lounging around the house, following us from room to room, and is currently sitting on the desk in front of me, purring as I type. Sometimes, it's the small things. Otherwise, we would all be running around like neurotic basket cases, screaming at each other and pulling our hair out.