A sudden an unexpected home improvement project was completed today. Let me explain...
Last night, at around 7:45 PM, I was working at the computer and noticed my hands felt like ice. I went over to check the thermostat and, lo and behold, it was set to 68 but the temperature was reading 61.
So I went out around and checked the various vents. Hmm... nothing. I went down to check on the furnace. Hmm... making a loud noise but nothing is even remotely warm. I don't see any pilot light.
My best guess, knowing NOTHING about furnaces, was that the pilot light had gone out. I tried to look online on how to start it but quickly gave up. I was afraid of, like, blowing up the house, or something. I decided to call a local Heating and Air Conditioning place instead. I called around 8:30 PM.
"Sorry, ma'm. I am afraid we are very busy and I cannot give you a time, but someone will be there tonight."
Ok. I put on my wool socks. I put on multiple layers and fleeces and big puffy down jacket and warm comfy boots. I drank some hot chocolate. The temperature continued to plummet. Someone finally showed up about quarter past 11. $200 and 2 hours later he was unable to diagnose the problem and it was decided I would get a new furnace. It was probably time since, ya know, the furnace was older than the nice gentleman that was there to diagnose it. The furnace, it turns out, was manufactured in 1982. Almost as old as me, and we all know I am OOOLD.
Since it was after 1AM at this point The Boy and I decided to rough it for the night and stay here. It's really not that much longer until 8 AM when the other guy is expected to come to install, we figured. Pile on lots of blankets! We will be fine! In retrospect, this was probably a bad move. The temperature inside the house at 8AM was 47 degrees. The temperature outside during the night was 7 degrees. Seven, i.e., way below freezing.
The sales guy who was supposed to help me determine the appropriate type of furnace called at 8:45. Said he would call again at 10:30. Called at 11:30 and was at my house around noon. Let me tell you, that is a long time to wait WHEN IT IS 47 DEGREES IN YOUR HOUSE. He checked out the situation and quickly determined the type of furnace that would best suit my house. After he left we went to The Boy's parents to get a space heater and shower. No way was I removing any type of clothing in my house. We had to rush back to meet the guy with the new furnace at 2:30. He arrives and starts his work. At 5:30 PM we see smoke in the kitchen and dining room, and hear the fire alarm go off. Apparently that is the signal that it is done? I turned to The Boy and said, "Um, should we go down and check on that?" The guy dismantled the alarm (which is still dismanted at this moment) and the smoke eventually cleared. All was well.
I now have a nice brand spanking new furnace that is much much smaller than the previous old beast. I also have a fancy new programmable thermostat, which I don't really know how to use yet. And, the temperature is now a balmy 64 degrees.
Is there some sort of house repair god that I pissed off or something? 'Cause seriously, first the roof, then the garage, then the furnace. All in one month? I dunno, seems like a lot to me.
Last night, at around 7:45 PM, I was working at the computer and noticed my hands felt like ice. I went over to check the thermostat and, lo and behold, it was set to 68 but the temperature was reading 61.
So I went out around and checked the various vents. Hmm... nothing. I went down to check on the furnace. Hmm... making a loud noise but nothing is even remotely warm. I don't see any pilot light.
My best guess, knowing NOTHING about furnaces, was that the pilot light had gone out. I tried to look online on how to start it but quickly gave up. I was afraid of, like, blowing up the house, or something. I decided to call a local Heating and Air Conditioning place instead. I called around 8:30 PM.
"Sorry, ma'm. I am afraid we are very busy and I cannot give you a time, but someone will be there tonight."
Ok. I put on my wool socks. I put on multiple layers and fleeces and big puffy down jacket and warm comfy boots. I drank some hot chocolate. The temperature continued to plummet. Someone finally showed up about quarter past 11. $200 and 2 hours later he was unable to diagnose the problem and it was decided I would get a new furnace. It was probably time since, ya know, the furnace was older than the nice gentleman that was there to diagnose it. The furnace, it turns out, was manufactured in 1982. Almost as old as me, and we all know I am OOOLD.
Since it was after 1AM at this point The Boy and I decided to rough it for the night and stay here. It's really not that much longer until 8 AM when the other guy is expected to come to install, we figured. Pile on lots of blankets! We will be fine! In retrospect, this was probably a bad move. The temperature inside the house at 8AM was 47 degrees. The temperature outside during the night was 7 degrees. Seven, i.e., way below freezing.
The sales guy who was supposed to help me determine the appropriate type of furnace called at 8:45. Said he would call again at 10:30. Called at 11:30 and was at my house around noon. Let me tell you, that is a long time to wait WHEN IT IS 47 DEGREES IN YOUR HOUSE. He checked out the situation and quickly determined the type of furnace that would best suit my house. After he left we went to The Boy's parents to get a space heater and shower. No way was I removing any type of clothing in my house. We had to rush back to meet the guy with the new furnace at 2:30. He arrives and starts his work. At 5:30 PM we see smoke in the kitchen and dining room, and hear the fire alarm go off. Apparently that is the signal that it is done? I turned to The Boy and said, "Um, should we go down and check on that?" The guy dismantled the alarm (which is still dismanted at this moment) and the smoke eventually cleared. All was well.
I now have a nice brand spanking new furnace that is much much smaller than the previous old beast. I also have a fancy new programmable thermostat, which I don't really know how to use yet. And, the temperature is now a balmy 64 degrees.
Is there some sort of house repair god that I pissed off or something? 'Cause seriously, first the roof, then the garage, then the furnace. All in one month? I dunno, seems like a lot to me.
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