TOPICS:
FEB 18, 2006 10:41 AM
FEB 18, 2006 10:41 AM
FEB 18, 2006 10:44 AM
FEB 18, 2006 10:45 AM
Jaxtrble said:
Make sure that the cover protecting the pilot light is fully closed (and one exists), this is frequently the reason why pilot lights go out. Other than that you could have a valve issue, inwhich case you'll need a pro.
My main problem is I can't really find the pilot light since it isn't lit. 
FEB 18, 2006 10:51 AM
FEB 18, 2006 10:55 AM
FEB 18, 2006 10:56 AM
DeadFuzzyKittens said:
toothpickmoe said:
DeadFuzzyKittens said:
Not without seeing it.
I'd be afraid to make any assumption about it then hear you blew yourself up following my advice.
BTW...Most states have renter's rights now. If you contact the appropriate person about getting your hot water heater fixed and they don't send anyone you can call a repair man yourself and pay for it then deduct the expense from your next month's rent in many cases. You may have to submit the request to your building super in writing under your particular state's provisions but it doesn't have to be anything fancy.
DATE
My _________is broken.
Could you plaese send someone over to repair it as soon as possiblr?
Thankyou,
NAME
Bone up on your state's renter's rights.
LA itself has some very awesome renter's rights, so I'm not worried about that.
I've got a printed maintenance request form that I will mail to them (but it's a holiday weekend so it won't get there until Tuesday at the earliest) and they are extremely uncool about calling in anyone without their approval. There is no super, perse, and there is no way to directly talk with anyone (of the two people) that runs the management company. I have to leave a message and cross my fingers. Total bullshit.
As far as the heater goes, it's a 30 gallon old-as-shit crap machine. The dial on the front is calcified beyond recognition. There is a red button I believe controls the flow of gas and a broken black knob. Oh, and there is water dripping very slowly out of a small white nozzle off to the side.
The black knob is PROBABLY the water. No need to touch it.
The calcified dial is PROBABLY the temp setting. No need to touch it.
The red knob SHOULD control gas and lighting the pilot. USUALLY, the way it works is if you turn it all the way to the left the gas is essentially off, but you can then depress it(OR depress it and turn it farther left) and hold a match to the pilot light nozzle and if the gass and everything is working a small flame will come on. While depressing the knob try lighting the pilot. If it lights continue holding the knob down for 10-30 seconds and releasing it. If it stays lit you are in business and you can turn the knob all the way to the right. Sometimes there is a trick to it, like 'turn knob to the right, it will stop, depress knob and continue turning to the right.
As long as you don't leave anything on too long without getting something lit there shouldn't be an explosion. 
[Edited on Feb 18, 2006 by DeadFuzzyKittens]
Ah, it appears that I may not be doing the turning part. I'll give that a shot. Fingers crossed about not blowing up!
FEB 18, 2006 10:58 AM
FEB 18, 2006 10:58 AM
DeadFuzzyKittens said:
The black knob is PROBABLY the water. No need to touch it.
The calcified dial is PROBABLY the temp setting. No need to touch it.
The red knob SHOULD control gas and lighting the pilot. USUALLY, the way it works is if you turn it all the way to the left the gas is essentially off, but you can then depress it(OR depress it and turn it farther left) and hold a match to the pilot light nozzle and if the gass and everything is working a small flame will come on. While depressing the knob try lighting the pilot. If it lights continue holding the knob down for 10-30 seconds and releasing it. If it stays lit you are in business and you can turn the knob all the way to the right. Sometimes there is a trick to it, like 'turn knob to the right, it will stop, depress knob and continue turning to the right.
As long as you don't leave anything on too long without getting something lit there shouldn't be an explosion.
[Edited on Feb 18, 2006 by DeadFuzzyKittens]
Yep, what the Kitten said...
FEB 18, 2006 10:59 AM
Shalome said:
You can call the gas company here and they'll come do it for you and teach you how to do it -- and it's free. They don't want people blowing up.
[Edited on Feb 18, 2006 by Shalome]
Hey, there's an idea...
Of course, if I do that my building management company will find out and ask why I did so. 
FEB 18, 2006 11:00 AM
FEB 18, 2006 11:00 AM
toothpickmoe said:
Shalome said:
You can call the gas company here and they'll come do it for you and teach you how to do it -- and it's free. They don't want people blowing up.
[Edited on Feb 18, 2006 by Shalome]
Hey, there's an idea...
Of course, if I do that my building management company will find out and ask why I did so.
Why should they care? The gas company doesn't charge anything for the service.. and besides, you can tell the management company "because you were unavailable and I didn't want to blow myself up and damage your property in the process."
FEB 18, 2006 11:02 AM
Shalome said:
toothpickmoe said:
Shalome said:
You can call the gas company here and they'll come do it for you and teach you how to do it -- and it's free. They don't want people blowing up.
[Edited on Feb 18, 2006 by Shalome]
Hey, there's an idea...
Of course, if I do that my building management company will find out and ask why I did so.
Why should they care? The gas company doesn't charge anything for the service.. and besides, you can tell the management company "because you were unavailable and I didn't want to blow myself up and damage your property in the process."
Good points. I just have had nothing but grief from these people. They treat me like I'm a child and seem to have little respect for any of their tenants. I try to keep my interactions with them to a minimum.
FEB 18, 2006 11:04 AM
toothpickmoe said:
Shalome said:
toothpickmoe said:
Shalome said:
You can call the gas company here and they'll come do it for you and teach you how to do it -- and it's free. They don't want people blowing up.
[Edited on Feb 18, 2006 by Shalome]
Hey, there's an idea...
Of course, if I do that my building management company will find out and ask why I did so.
Why should they care? The gas company doesn't charge anything for the service.. and besides, you can tell the management company "because you were unavailable and I didn't want to blow myself up and damage your property in the process."
Good points. I just have had nothing but grief from these people. They treat me like I'm a child and seem to have little respect for any of their tenants. I try to keep my interactions with them to a minimum.
Understandable. Still, a little explanation of why you called the gas company is better than a big explanation of why a fireball destroyed your apartment.
FEB 18, 2006 11:05 AM
Shalome said:
toothpickmoe said:
Shalome said:
toothpickmoe said:
Shalome said:
You can call the gas company here and they'll come do it for you and teach you how to do it -- and it's free. They don't want people blowing up.
[Edited on Feb 18, 2006 by Shalome]
Hey, there's an idea...
Of course, if I do that my building management company will find out and ask why I did so.
Why should they care? The gas company doesn't charge anything for the service.. and besides, you can tell the management company "because you were unavailable and I didn't want to blow myself up and damage your property in the process."
Good points. I just have had nothing but grief from these people. They treat me like I'm a child and seem to have little respect for any of their tenants. I try to keep my interactions with them to a minimum.
Understandable. Still, a little explanation of why you called the gas company is better than a big explanation of why a fireball destroyed your apartment.
Haha! Too true.
Okay, I'm calling the gas company now. So much for do-it-yourself.
FEB 18, 2006 11:07 AM
FEB 18, 2006 11:08 AM
DeadFuzzyKittens said:
toothpickmoe said:
Okay, I'm calling the gas company now. So much for do-it-yourself.
pussy
Somehow I knew that was coming...
They've got some pretty kick-ass 60s rock for their hold music.
[Edited on Feb 18, 2006 by toothpickmoe]
FEB 18, 2006 11:10 AM
Relighting pilots is like sex... if it's your first time, it's best if an experienced professional is your guide.
FEB 18, 2006 11:11 AM
FEB 18, 2006 11:11 AM
Shalome said:
Relighting pilots is like sex... if it's your first time, it's best if an experienced professional is your guide.
I should mention this to whomever they send my way.
...if I ever get off hold that is...
FEB 18, 2006 11:13 AM
toothpickmoe
Los Angeles, CA
May 2004
FEB 18, 2006 10:30 AM