"Hello, plumber? I smell gas..."

Every once in a while we'd smell a whiff of gas but only when the hot water heater was running. It was so diffuse I thought I was imagining it.

Ah, nope.

Finally got the plumber in and yep, the water heater is leaking gas. The heater is 11 years old, out of production, broke down over the summer and the parts are hard to get.

Estimated cost to fix: 4,000 dollars.

Estimated cost to replace: 6,500 dollars.

Thank dog we put money away for just such an emergency.

We're now poorer but have hot water.

-m