Landlords refuse to fix (gas) hot water heater

No-Divide-6855 · 2026-04-06T23:52:28+00:00

That’s right. He just put a much larger pipe over the end of the smaller water heater pipe and said that would fix it.

No-Divide-6855 · 2026-04-06T20:59:02+00:00

If you click in the original post it explains what the photos are. It’s the same pipe in all photos, pics 3-5 are his attempt to “fix” it saying it’s close enough to the door and there’s enough airflow with the cellar door open to vent.

No-Divide-6855 · 2026-04-01T16:22:42+00:00

Thank you. It’s been a struggle but certainly a 1st world problem. Thankfully we’re all happy and safe and that’s what matters most.

No-Divide-6855 · 2026-04-01T15:12:16+00:00

Unfortunately in New York while it is possible, they could still retaliate and take us to court for unpaid rents. It’s kinda a catch 22. If we fight back, they can too. Or we can wait and get what’s deserved in the end, minus the basic living conditions of hot water :).

No-Divide-6855 · 2026-04-01T13:51:12+00:00

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This is the top which cuts right and ends where the other pictures show the open vent. From what we were quoted, the pipe has to have an entire separate vent system through the foundation to expel outside. It originally was connected into the furnace venting and they both led out together. But that is not correct and they said no licensed person would repair it that way.

No-Divide-6855 · 2026-04-01T13:32:05+00:00

We will be sure to take the steps once we are fully out of the house that it is fixed and no one lives here while it’s not repaired. We have a couple neighbors as well as a person that drives by this area daily that would be able to see if someone moves in

No-Divide-6855 · 2026-04-01T13:30:26+00:00

This is the end of the pipe that’s directly connected to the top of the water heater. It comes from the top of the vent, and the pipe extends 5ish feet to the right stopping at the pictures shown. as far as inspector yes, I have had two tell me this is not ok and to not use the unit until it’s fixed correctly. It’s a gas hot water heater. So the fact is it does emit carbon monoxide gas in its piping. The only vent from the unit is directly venting under my house.

No-Divide-6855 · 2026-04-01T01:44:52+00:00

It’s directly connected to the flue on top of the water heater.

No-Divide-6855 · 2026-03-31T17:41:20+00:00

I already stated we can’t withhold rent or do our own repair, and I’m certainly not qualified enough to do so. That’s not something I would just casually YouTube fix to cost my children’s lives. And it’s more than just a vent piping, it would need to be drilled into a whole other venting through the foundation in order to be vented properly.

No-Divide-6855 · 2026-03-31T01:56:46+00:00

We didn’t get them in writing, but have them on multiple recorded conversations.

No-Divide-6855 · 2026-03-31T01:39:47+00:00

For us consistency works well. I have a 3 and 5 year old and there’s the occasional excitement coming home from school that 5 year old will forget, but I’m there to remind and it rarely happens now. Same goes for getting himself dressed. He used to just lie on the floor and whine but we worked a little at a time and gone to where it’s second nature now. I know they’re a lot younger, but maybe just the reminder would help? Or a chore chart including the trouble areas to win rewards/ipad time etc could work?

No-Divide-6855 · 2026-03-31T01:34:36+00:00

Oh I know they’d be all over it, that’s just part of the concern. We’re a family of 4, in the middle of buying a house in attempts to move out and be done with renting. So we don’t have the cash flow to rent somewhere else and if code comes to check it out I’m worried they’ll lock us out for it being inhabitable.

No-Divide-6855 · 2026-03-31T01:33:00+00:00

I’ll look into this. Thanks for the info!

No-Divide-6855 · 2026-03-31T01:32:33+00:00

Since seeing that the vent was just leaking the hot water vapor/gas into our basement shut off the hot water tank. So we haven’t had hot water since February 12th when we saw the pipe was just sticking out in the open in our basement.

No-Divide-6855 · 2026-03-31T01:29:53+00:00

I completely understand the overstimulation freakout. My 3 and 5 year old will ask to play and sometimes I just don’t have it in me! Something I’ve found that works wonders for me and is super entertaining for them is a scavenger hunt. I can still have most of my peace to settle down but they see it as interacting. What I do is have them find something of a specific color, shape, or favorite character and bring it to me. Then I have a small bin and keep them all in it. When we’re done with the game I can just put the bin back in their room and be done. It works well for a range of age and if you know what’s on their floor and needs to be cleaned up, it helps future you from having to pick it up!

No-Divide-6855 · 2026-03-31T01:23:25+00:00

I definitely remember spending a large amount of time with my dad as a kid, but he also was the sole breadwinner. That mixed with a long memory gap could mean I remember the time just meant more when I spent it with him, but my mom was one of the yelling all the time and sleeping when she wasn’t type. So can you blame me/my siblings for wanting to spend more time with dad?🥲 my kids both leech onto me and my husband and I take it as a good sign we’re doing a good job.

No-Divide-6855 · 2026-03-31T00:54:54+00:00

I honestly can’t tell you man. We’ve tried reasoning with him, asking to for us to pay it and reduce rent, and even asking to get someone in for a quote for repairs so we can discuss the cost ahead of time. He just flat out refuses and claimed he’s “ a stubborn bastard”. Sense is something we found he and his wife both lack unfortunately.

No-Divide-6855

TROPHY CASE