Basement Geyser!

Friday morning I was working in my office (basement version) and I hear water running. Now, it's not raining outside so I immediately deduce TROUBLE. I go out to the water heater and the expansion tank has sprung a leak and is spraying everything, including the basement furnace. Not good!!

Not being real sure about how big a problem this might be I shut off the water to the house and contact American Home Shield. They sent a plumber out and $55 later he told me 'the expansion tank has a leak' and the warranty doesn't cover it. I'm beginning to wonder just how dumb I am to keep calling AHS and paying for them to tell me 'not covered'. Anyway, the plumber, Ed O, was nice and said I could replace it myself.... uh huh, I'm not a plumber but he showed me how.

So, off to my favorite store for a new tank. I buy one, a little pipe dope (for the threads!!) and head home. The instructions say that I should release the pressure in the tank before removing. OK, so I turn everything off, no gas, no heat to the tank, etc. and wait a while. I grab my two plyers and set to work on it. The tank screws off so as I am unscrewing I notice water coming out of the connection. Not good but I'm committed (or should be). I go ahead and unscrew the tank all the way and WHOOOOSH, a geyser, right there in my basement. Cool but crazy, I'm soaked and the hot water tank is soaked again but hey, it's off!! I'm laughing my head off and Teresa is yelling downstairs making sure I'm OK.
I wipe everything off, apply the sealant and screw the tank back on the water heater, SUCCESS!

The basement is try, the showers are hot and I'm a little wiser than before.