Water heater leak, single clay roof tile repair

HOME IMPROVEMENT Water heater leak, single clay roof tile repair

By Robert Lamoureux Signal Contributing Writer

Water heater leak Hi Robert,

I discovered my 50-gallon gas water heater sprang a major leak at the bottom last Friday evening.

My kids are grown and I no longer own a large vehicle to transport a new water heater, so I called around about getting one delivered. The quickest I could get one delivered was in three days.

So I called a licensed plumber that we had previously used for repairs and he said he could install a new replacement on Saturday for a set fee. We agreed to go ahead and let him do it.

The new unit was installed Saturday afternoon and so far is working fine. However, after it was installed, my wife’s relative mentioned we should check if we need a low NOx water heater.

I did some research on the internet and confirmed that our zip code is within SCAQMD jurisdiction and per SCAMQD Rule 1121 available online at https://www.arb.ca.gov/DRDB/SC/ CURHTML/R1121.HTM it contains the quote below.

I checked the label on the front of the new water heater to find out the model number, i.e., Bradford White Model No. RG250T6N, and it clearly states on the label “does not comply w/jurisdictions having 10 ng/J NOx REGS”.

Per the quoted language below, as the installer, it would appear the plumber has some responsibility in complying with the rule. I like my plumber, and as I said, the unit is currently working fine. However, I am planning on retiring in the next two to three years and am concerned that this infraction may be discovered when I try to sell my house.

I would appreciate your advice on this matter.

– Sincerely, Tom D. Tom,

Thank you for being a reader. This is a tricky situation being that you purchased your own equipment. My best advice to you would be for you to reach out to this plumber, especially since you’ve already got a working relationship with him, and talk to him about it.

There is no absolute in this situation, so do your best to communicate and see where you end up.

Best of luck to you, and for all of the readers, I recommend that when you are having a contractor do work on your property, have them supply all equipment/supplies, that way they are responsible for the entire job. Always remember too, be sure to work only with a licensed and insured contractor.

Clay roof tile Hello Robert,

This is the first time I have emailed you but I’ve read your columns in The Signal for many years before you took a hiatus from them (which was too long). I am so glad your column is back in The Signal.

I learn something new every time I read your column … if only I could

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I have a question which I don’t recall seeing in your column. I have to replace one clay roof tile. Is there a local place where I can buy only one piece?

It looks like a wavy tile and I can take a picture if that would help. Also, approximately how much would that cost?

Thank you for your time. Have a nice week.

– Carolyn Carolyn,

Thank you for being a loyal reader. Please forward an address and our office will send you a coffee mug from IMS/The Signal. I’ve sent the recommendation privately. Good luck to you.

Pool issues Robert,

We have an irregularly-shaped

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pool. For some time now, either the pool has been sinking or the surrounding materials have been rising, presumably pushed up by roots although the trees are not particularly large.

Short of undertaking major surgery, my pool man suggests I should cut a sleeve, say max one-half inch, between the pool and the surrounding materials, and fill that with some weatherproof elastic emulsion. This would prevent further cracking. What do you think?

– Patrick D., Stevenson Ranch Patrick,

The broken piece in the photo is typically due to improper compaction under the concrete. Concrete is brittle and when load is applied to it with no support, this is what happens. You can form, pin (pinning is coring and installing a couple pieces rebar in the good area) and pour a new piece back in place after you install new dirt and compact it well. Good luck with this project.

Robert Lamoureux has 38 years of experience as a general contractor, with separate licenses in electrical and plumbing contracting. He owns IMS Construction Inc. in Valencia. His opinions are his own, not necessarily those of The Signal. Opinions expressed in this column are not meant to replace the recommendations of a qualified contractor after that contractor has made a thorough visual inspection. Email questions to Robert at robert@imsconstruction.com. \

TRAVEL Soak up thesprings

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer W inter travel doesn’t have to be about playing in the snow, carving your way down a slope in deep powder or finding a warm, sunny beach. You can soak your cares (and stress) away in natural geothermal pools and frolic in volcanic mud (it’s amazing for your skin.)

For centuries people have visited natural mineral springs to “take the waters.” Hot springs have been touted as a way to improve health and relieve aches and pains. Once reserved only for the wealthy, affordable geothermal hot springs resorts are available throughout California. Stewart Mineral Springs 4617 Stewart Springs Road, Weed Info www.stewartmineralsprings.com Soak up healing mineral waters and drink in the view of Mount Shasta from the private wilderness oasis of rustic Stewart Mineral Springs.

Indulge in private mineral baths, massage treatments and a wood stove sauna. Cozy cabins nestled in the forest have a queen bed, wood burning stove, bathroom with shower and a kitchenette with fridge, microwave, hotplate and coffee maker start at $120 a night. Apartments, with private bathroom and a small kitchen with a fridge, microwave, hot plate and coffee maker, start at $100 a night.

A variety of “spa” experiences are offered, including massage therapy. “Taking the Baths” offers a 75-minute mineral water soak, wood-fired sauna, creek plunge and towel rental for $35.

Vichy Springs Resort is a unique 165-year old historic hot springs resort two hours north of San Francisco. A steamy, naturally heated adult-only pool at Indian Springs Resort. PHOTOS COURTESY VISIT CALIFORNIA

Indian Springs Resort & Spa 1712 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga Info www.indianspringscalistoga.com The historic Indian Springs Resort & Spa in Calistoga has been in operation since 1861. It is the oldest perennial spa in California.

Set amidst 17 acres of olive and palm trees, with four thermal geysers, the resort includes a variety of Mission Revival style lodges, shabby-chic cottages, modern bungalows and free-standing homes. The showpiece is a 1913 Olympic-size pool with a naturally heated, adult-only pool nearby. The best time to visit the mineral-fed pools is around 9:30 p.m. when you can float on your back in the 102-degree water and look up at the stars.

The four on-site thermal geysers supply a stream of mineral water, plus a substantial deposit of pure volcanic ash runs through the property. Water and ash are combined to create the mud in the famous mud baths, and the water is fed directly into the mineral pool, steam rooms and Buddha Pond. Room rates vary depending on when you visit. If booked far enough in advance you can find rooms for less than $250. High-season rates can soar into the range of $500-plus a night. The Spring Resort and Spa 12699 Reposo Way, Desert Hot Springs Info https://the-spring.com/about/ Less than two hours from Los Angeles exists one of the greatest natural geothermal mineral springs regions in the world. Desert Hot Springs waters have been compared to the famous healing mineral springs spas of Baden-Baden (Germany) and Evian (France).

Crystal-clear waters rise from underground at 170 degrees, filling the resort’s three sparkling mineral pools. This intimate, palm-tree-lined resort offers a variety of room options, some with outdoor soaking tubs. The spa offers a full range of services including facials, massages, saunas and more.

Rooms offered from $230 a night depending on date and advance booking. Mercey Hot Springs 62964 Little Panoche Road, Firebaugh Info www.merceyhotsprings.com Well off the beaten path and far from a “luxury” resort, Mercey Hot Springs is described by many visitors as “rustic and remote, but also historic and charming.” Visitors can book stays in cabins or Airstream trailers from $165 a night. RV and tent camping sites available from $50/person per night. Massage and yoga offered. Vichy Springs Resort 2605 Vichy Springs Road, Ukiah Info www.vichysprings.com Vichy Springs Resort is a unique 165-year-old historic hot springs resort two hours north of San Francisco. Vichy Springs offers the only naturally warm and carbonated “Vichy” mineral baths in North America. The waters have the same carbondioxide-rich makeup as the famous carbonated waters of Vichy, France.

A half-hour walk leads to Chemisal Falls, where you can plunge into the creek’s chilly pool. Famous Vichy Springs soakers have included Teddy Roosevelt, Mark Twain and Jack London.

Depending on season and advance booking, rooms (and cottages) run from $200 to $500 a night. Included is breakfast, use of the “Vichy” mineral baths, hot soaking pool, Olympic size swimming pool (in season) and 700 private acres for walking and hiking. \

When we almost became Ventura County TIME RANGER

Top of a beautiful Santa Clarita Sunday morn. Nice to see you friends, neighbors, saddlepals and saddlepal-ettes. Time to time travel. We’ve a most interesting trek in front of us (and speaking of, make sure you’re looking at a saddlehorn directly in front of you and not a swishing horse’s tail).

There’s hostile squirrels, SCV mini-pandemics and, among other things, a state law to outlaw Hispanics. How would humans make it through a day without pointing fingers and proclamations?

C’mon. Let’s all see something beautiful, laugh a lot and mosey into the mystic together … WAY BACK WHEN & THEN SOME • You’re gonna need more than one umbrella Torrential rains in January and February of 1862 did a pretty good job of wrecking the brand-new Beale’s Cut. L.A. County and Gen. Edward Fitzgerald Beale were building the major north-south road to link Los Angeles and Central California. The walls of the 90-foot cut were reinforced with concrete back then. FEB. 9, 1920 • Dear me and cripes, I’d kill to have the t-shirt or feedlot cap Here’s something to put on your resume. We were a member of the Squirrel Control Association, a spin-off of the state Horticultural Department. In the previous year of 1919, we spread 6.5 tons of poison grain around 184,000 acres of the extended Santa Clarita Valley, which back then included going all the way up to Fort Tejon. Some 1,200 men were employed to spread the poison. There’s a CNN joke in there, but we’re going to be a gentleman and walk around it… • Flu to you too Life certainly goes in cycles. The world is currently terrorized by a giant coronavirus. A century back, the country and the Santa Clarita was hit by a big influenza outbreak. According to county health records, approximately 0.4% of the SCV’s population was stricken. That worked out to two people —Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Hodgell. • Happy Birthday, mighty legionnaires This week one whole century ago, our local chapter of the American Legion was formed.

FEB. 9, 1930 • Don’t think my pal Ernie Villegas would talk to me if I voted for this one On the ballot for the California election was something called the Mexican Exclusion Act. The authors felt Mexican nationals were taking the jobs of Americans, especially in the agricultural fields. For years, there were stories about lawmen in neighboring Santa Paula and Fillmore rounding up anyone who looked Mexican, putting them in trucks and dumping them across the border. Many a long-time citizen had a long hike back because of this jingoism. FEB. 14, 1939 • One hot school On Valentine’s Day, Newhall Elementary School burned to the ground for the third time in history. FEB. 9, 1940 • Great name for a bad but angry garage band A “deranged youth” was killed near the Baker Ranch. He had escaped from a mental institution after complaining that rats were eating his brain. He had walked from L.A. to Saugus and was hit by a truck. He was found dead on the road with both hands in his pockets. FEB. 9, 1950 • Came this close to being Ventura Supervisors in Ventura County met with locals to discuss the possibility of annexing the Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys into Ventura County. Locals were enraged at the corruption on the L.A. County Board of Supervisors and the plans to turn both valleys into giant hog ranches where ALL of L.A.’s and the San Fernando Valley’s garbage would be dumped. Local citizens were also outraged that the city of Los Angeles already dumped thousands of their felons here. The move,

obviously, never happened. Wonder how development would have turned out if Ventura, instead of Los Angeles County, was calling the shots? • Court gets ugly Think today’s impeachment circus is raucous? At stake was the multi-million-dollar estate of the late silent movie star, William S. Hart. Johnny Imperial, one-time foreman of the Horseshoe Ranch, testified that he had seen Hart and his sister, Mary, unclothed and in a compromising position. Two lawyers for Bill Hart Jr. — who was contesting his father’s will that left him without a belt buckle — quit the case, privately citing their disgust for the sleazy direction the trial had taken. FEB. 9, 1960 • Makeup saves the day A tube of lipstick may have saved the life of Mojave waitress, Eunice LaRue. She was kidnapped by Jack Grant. When they stopped for gas up by the old Ron Dee Cafe near the Vincent Station in Canyon Country, Eunice was allowed to use the ladies’ room. She scrawled, “HELP! CALL POLICE!” on the bathroom mirror and left Grant’s license number, too. Grant was soon arrested and LaRue lived to serve another burger. FEB. 9, 1970 • Surprise. You’re fired. One of the biggest shocks in William S. Hart Union High School District history occurred on this date. In a surprise move, the five-member board asked for the resignation of their popular superintendent, Collins T. Haan. The board had called a surprise executive meeting, where they had kept Haan waiting outside for over an hour. Then, board president Curtis Huntsinger asked for Haan’s resignation. No public reason was given (all five members refused to speak with the press), but later it was learned that Haan had refused to fire Canyon High Principal Don Jerry. Haan refused to resign. Only E.J. Agajanian supported Haan, who was subjected to a four-hour verbal tirade by the board members. In a later meeting, more than 400 people attended. Huntsinger moved to remove all media and people from the meeting, then deleted the Haan item from the agenda. Huntsinger further told members of the media that they could not record the meeting. State educational agencies and the local teachers’ union tried to mediate. It later came out that Huntsinger was upset with Jerry because kids at Canyon were sneaking off campus and smoking on campus. Huntsinger also objected to the students protesting the Vietnam War. Huntsinger said the board was upset with Haan for implementing a system of no grades without informing them, along with several other policies. FEB. 9, 1971 • Did the earth move for you, too? We had that big 6.6 earthquake here. Some call it the Sylmar Quake. We called it the Newhall Quake. It hit at 5:59 a.m. and the most famous memory of it was a car falling head first into a sinkhole near Hart Park. FEB. 9, 1980 • Shoulda fried the vampire On this date, a jury found Vampire Van killer Ronald Doyle Wilburn guilty of the murder, dismemberment and partial eating of hitchhiker Mary Ann Linco. He escaped the death penalty on a technicality. • Green crooks That little government with the big long name — The West Los Angeles County Resource Conservation District — made the headlines again. The WLACRCD was famous for its oddball collection of board directors (a mental patient, a thief, and one fellow who brought beer to the meetings and sipped it out of a paper bag) and shenanigans (hiring interior decorators to spruce up their offices; buying cars and bicycles for personal use). The latest prank was when one board member started to resign, then didn’t, then got into a fight with another member who tried to wrestle his keys from him. Ahhhh, the people we elect to office …

Darn that was fun. Thanks so much for the company, dear saddlepals. See you all next week with another exciting Time Ranger history adventure. Until then —¡vayan con Dios, amigos! John Boston has been writing about SCV history for more than 40 years. You can buy his books and novels on Amazon.com. Best you do…\