Flood!

Esther had an early release day and we were settling into a quiet afternoon. It was a few minutes after 1 pm and I was in the kitchen when I heard a strange hissing noise from the other side of the wall (the water heater is in the garage on the other side).

I peeked into the garage and saw nothing unusual about the water heater so I sat down to Google it, afraid there may be danger of it blowing up. I checked again to find water flowing from under the pedestal it sits on - coming from under the wall.

I called Daron and then I ran around trying to make sure things were off the ground. Then the kids started screaming about it coming into the kitchen! They stood on the piano bench and wailed.

And I must admit that the sight of water pouring into your kitchen is not a pleasant thing. I downright panicked!

Daron was trying to help me find a knob or something on the heater but between panic and my eyes not focusing (due to bad sinus pain that was making me slightly dizzy), I did not spot it on a pipe at the top of it.

So he tried to get me to turn off water to the house. I couldn't locate the proper tool and once I did, took it out to the yard and tried to pry open the box. I couldn't get it open all the way and tried to do it through a little hole.

All the while it is raining outside and I'm kneeling in the grass getting filthy. The kids come out with rain boots and umbrellas, leaving baby brother screaming inside the house. I tried the only neighbor I knew was home, an older Vietnamese guy with little English skills. He couldn't turn it either.

Daron was on his way home and the kids and I start moving furniture and stuff off the pantry floor. The living room carpet is squishing now and the towels I'd thrown down in haste are soaked. The foundation is tipped so it was flowing into the living room.

I called Mom and she walked me through finding the lever on top of the water heater (thanks, Mom!) and I got the water stopped. Daron got home and turned the water off outside. He also turned off breakers to that area of the house and unplugged the fridge.

After calling USAA, a water restoration company, and a plumber, Daron mopped up the worst of it.

And Esther and I got ready for our annual night at the Nutcracker. Great timing, huh? Just as well since the water was off and the boys were going to have to eat out anyway.

Well, while we were gone, Dalworth came and cleaned up. Now we've got three powerful and noisy fans and one large dehumidifier working round the clock until Monday.

Now we are waiting for the plumber. He's on his way at 11 pm. Hopefully we can find the source of the leak and get the water back on soon.

Everything is topsy turvy, the tree is still not decorated, I have loads to do, and I'm feeling rather frustrated. Especially at myself for not getting the water turned off sooner.

Well, it could have been worse. I keep reminding myself that. And we did have a nice time at the Nutcracker. And Jacob survived not sleeping all afternoon. And no one got injured. And nothing blew up! So why am I complaining?

Now we know what else to add to our emergency preparedness plan.

A few pictures I snapped quickly with the phone are included.