Yeah, it’s wild how much you can miss with just a meter. I’ve definitely learned to trust my senses more—if it smells funky or feels soft, it’s probably trouble. Patience is key, like you said. Rushing just leads to more headaches later.
I totally get what you mean—sometimes your nose is a better tool than any fancy gadget. I always tell folks: if you’re dealing with a rogue water heater, start by shutting off the power or gas first. Then, check for leaks or odd smells before you even touch anything else. If it’s soft around the base, you’re probably looking at a tank issue... no quick fix for that, sadly. But draining the tank and flushing out sediment can buy you some time if it’s just making weird noises. Patience pays off—rushing usually means missing something small that turns into a big mess later.
Had to laugh at the “use your nose” tip—my last water heater gave off a weird eggy smell before it finally quit on me. I tried flushing the tank, but honestly, I just ended up with a mess and a cold shower. Ended up replacing it, but at least my wallet survived (barely). Sometimes, you can only patch things for so long before they win the battle...
