If this house as you say is on a farm then I assume you have a well. and if the house has been empty for some time then you may have to do the same thing I did when I moved into my old farm house. with a well you have a pressure tank on the line. you may have to replace the pressure tank's pressure switch. this is a switch that tells the pump to come on. and the problem you are having with the water heater is a easy fix. drain all the water out of the tank and then when the water comes on refill the water tank but make sure you open the pressure pop off valve so the air can escape while the tank fills. you should have no other problems with the system after you do this.
Mickey-G
September 2008