My hot water heater started making a popping noise recently, so I do some research and learn that it's sediment causing the water to boil under it and a simple drain/flush will fix. Great. So Sunday morning I drain and flush the tank. Easy. At the same time, I read it's a good idea to test out the T&P release valve to make sure it's working properly. Done. After I'm all done, I realise there's a slow drip coming from the T&P drain. The valve isn't closing fully and I need a new one. Crap, off to Home Depot.

I return, drain off some water in the tank, and replace the valve. I go to turn the cold water supply back on and the handle just spins and spins and never opens. Double crap. Now I have to go to Home Depot again for a new shutoff valve.

New shutoff valve in hand, I turn off the water supply to the house, get out my torch, remove the old broken valve and install the new valve. When I went to turn the house supply back on, I was fully expecting that valve to also break, but thankfully it worked.

All in all, a 15 minute tank flush turned into a 2+hour job, 2 HD trips, and $50 in parts (at least the parts were cheap). The only good part of the job was the slip joint shark bite valve, which is amazing technology.