12 February, 2017

Under Water

So, if you read my last post you know that we had been floating, on a boat, for two weeks. We returned home in the wee hours of Wednesday morning this past week. Tired after two flights across the country to get back home, I put off the task of unpacking until Wednesday afternoon. I was in the middle of the process, had just carried a load of laundry to the other end of the house when I heard a strange noise coming from our master bedroom, a noise I couldn't identify; I thought maybe Hannes had gotten into something, I headed back to the bedroom and couldn't believe what I found. Hot water was gushing, full force, through the recessed lighting surrounding the tray ceiling in our bedroom! The nightstands, lamps, bed (bedding, mattress) carpet, and floor were all being flooded. I shifted immediately into high gear pullling furniture out of the way and grabbing towels all the while calling, loudly, for my husband to come rescue me!  It turns out that the hot water supply line to the kitchen sink in the theater room (converted attic space) had blown loose from the fitting, in turn flooding the kitchen above before it made its way to our bedroom below.  Mr. Goodneedle was able to get the valves shut down and we salvaged as much as we could. It turns out that an adjoining bedroom as well as our master bathroom suffered water damage too. A call to the insurance company resulted in a disaster relief company responding with big guns-- hugs fans, dryers and dehumidifiers; they've been running non-stop for days. Oh, the noise in here! It sounds like we live at the airport right now with jet engines surrounding us. It's too early to tell how much long term damage has occurred just yet, time will tell. I keep reminding myself that this nightmare and resulting chaos is only temporary. We know that were very lucky, if this had happened even one day earlier it could have been an epic disaster, property-wise. How quickly our position shifted from being on top of water to under it!
  
I am counting my blessings today (with my fingers in my ears). 
Life is Good.

14 comments:

Samplings from Spring Creek said...

WOW! Am thankful you were home when this happened. The lines to our washing machine burst in the middle of the night--it is amazing how much water can be released in a short period of time.

Nancy Near Philadelphia said...

I can't even. Yes, the timing was good. xx

Anonymous said...

Well you have one epic mess!! Thank goodness you were 'on the spot' to minimize the damage and have insurance to help with the clean-up. Always best to focus on the bright side.

Carolyn said...

Flooding is so frustrating! Our hot water heater sprung a leak(actually the bottom fell out)and thankfully I was just about to walk out the door when I heard a noise! Never disregard the feeling something is wrong. My experience of draining the tank was one I won't forget!

cityquilter grace said...

true the timing was impeccable....so often we don't see god's hand in disasters but He's there...

Rebecca said...

Oh My goodness... Things happen in 3's.
On the water (trip)
In the water (house)
next?

Shelina (formerly known as Shasta) said...

Oh how awful! So good that you were home when it happened and that you have insurance to cover it.

Quiltdivajulie said...

One of our hot water heaters started leaking last weekend - which led to all sorts of chaos and a costly install for a new gravity system. SO VERY GLAD you were home when this happened (my one boss from the law firm had it happen while they were out of town - you were indeed blessed).

rondiquilts said...

Same thing happened here but not to that extent. So thankful this occurred while you were home. Hope it all dries out with very little damage.

Rondi

Quilting Babcia said...

So sorry you have to go through the mess, but thankful you were home to catch it before additional damage occurred.

Connie said...

O my goodness -- what a terrible thing to have happen. Wonderful that you were home indeed!

Janet O. said...

What a tender mercy that you were home when this occurred!

LizA. said...

wow! yes, you were very lucky on the timing of this....just think of what would have happened if this had been at the start of your vacation?!??!!?

Tanya said...

How scary! Yes, imagine if you'd been away for days before you could respond! And the water bill!