RicodJour wrote:
wrote:
A buddy of mine was away for a week and returned to find that the water
heater in his rented condo had sprung a major leak. He said it was
running about like half of a wide open sink faucet rate. The friggin
thing was about 23 years old. I remember seeing the label on it, how
the area around the pipe connections looked corroded, etc. I warned
him about it and told him to make sure he shut off the water when he
was away on trips, but obviously, he didn't.
Good news is that the water was handled by the sump pump. Bad news is
a lot of water may have been billed. Not sure about the gas, as he
shut the thing off without finding out if the thing had been fired up.
The water coming out was cold, but at that flow rate, it could just be
that it couldn't heat it fast enough. He did say he didn't hear it
running. I'm hoping the water put the pilot out, but on the other
hand, from where it was leaking, it sounds like it was the anode rod
fitting area at the top of the tank that went.
Just wondering, does anyone have any experience in what happens with
the water or gas company in a case like this. Do they expect ful.l
payment for the water/gas? Or if you can show it was an accident do
they negotiate or give you a break?
Also, what are views on the landlord's responsibility for paying for
the water/gas if the utility company does not? In the general case,
where it just happens to say a reasonably new water heater, it would
seem to me this is a grey area as to whether the landlord would be
responsible to pay for water. In the case of a 20+ year old water
heater, I think he has a much better case, as it's well known that
these things usually fail long before that, so it looks like a case for
negligence could be made.
The major causative factor was your friend ignoring your advice and
warning. There's the negligence for you. The landlord may or may not
have been aware of the age and condition of the water heater. Unless
your friend sent a letter to the landlord alerting him to the heater's
imminent demise, then expecting the landlord to rollover on the
gas/water bill is highly unrelaistic. He's already facing a larger
than usual monthly cost in replacing the water heater and probably
won't take kindly to be asked to spring for more money to cover utility
bills.
The gas and water companies have no role in this. If you consume, you
pay.
This is one of those situations where the tenant escaped a bullet.
Expecting to be reimbursed for the bullet is ridiculous. I wouldn't be
stoking the fire for compensation from the landlord or utility
companies, but rather pointing out the tenant's role and ultimate
responsibility. Throw in a "I told you so." or three so they learn
something and will listen to you next time.
R
Having been a landlord........I'd have to agree with R & Edwin except
for maybe the fact that the landlord (IMO) should know the age &
condition of his equipment.
That said, you did warn your friend about the w/h AND gave him a
preventative measure. It's one of those unfortunate situations....he
would have probably caught the leak had he been in town.
I figure at 5 gpm & $1.50 per 748 gallons he's got about $100 water
bill coming (could be as much as $200 depending on water rates or less
if my flow rate guess is high)
Depending on the heating capacity (BTU / hr) of the w/h , nat gas rates
in his area & whether the pilot stayed lit......my guess is that the
guess bill is going to be an extra $75.
To quote my former 85 year old neighbor......"a cheap lesson; nobody
got hurt, nothing got ruined".
If the sump pump had failed to keep up & he had expensive stuff down
there, the whole situation could have been a lot worse.....$$$$'s.
He should consider himself lucky & listen to his knowledgable friend.
Maybe his insurance MIGHT cover his ultility loss?
cheers
Bob