Standing Behind the Inconvenient Truths

TO SPEAK about Mishkon’s facilities maintenance needs, I must claim my role as the purveyor of inconvenient truths. Because it’s so easy for most of us to ignore such needs, or put them off, let me spell out my basic approach…

When is the right time to replace a water heater?

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" That's a standard guideline for many things in life. Normally it applies to water heaters, as well. But as you know, in contemporary society many items are replaced as a matter of course before they actually break. For example, aircraft engine turbine blades. And the timing belt on the engine of your car. Why? Because they are considered critical parts. If they fail, the whole system may go down — in some cases, literally. 

In this post, I will discuss a case in which a water heater appears to be a critical part — and therefore warrants replacement even before it fails.

Water Intrusion Under Front Steps — Not Yet Stopped

FEW PEOPLE ARE AWARE that our sanctuary’s front steps sit atop a portion of the basement. Until now, probably even fewer have known that whenever those steps get wet (from rainfall, or being hosed down, or washed), water percolates through and finds its way onto the ceiling of the rooms beneath. 

The results of this intrusion? They include: rusted rebar, spalling of the concrete, degradation of basement wall surfaces, damage to the ceiling drywall, discoloration of ceiling paint, dripping of water onto the floor, and potential dry rot in the ceiling joists.

In this post, I will discuss the nature of this problem, our attempted resolutions, and my plans for future action.