Owning your own home is great; it gives you the flexibility to make any changes you want — as long as you can afford them, of course.
But once in a while something you want gets bumped down on the to-do list by something you need. Case in point: instead of my 60-plus-year-old home getting siding this year, a more important — and very timely — issue has come up: the furnace.
After hiring a highly rated heating and A/C company that I found on Angie’s List, I learned that my nearly 20-year-old furnace was, according to the serviceman, “on its last legs.” I’m typically not a gambling man, and the thought of my furnace going caput as the harsh Indiana winter approaches sends chills down my spine.
So, I guess I have little choice but to buy myself a nice new furnace — and just in time for the holidays. That is, unless I wait to see if Santa puts enough coal in my stocking on Christmas morning to help heat my house.
Archive for the 'heating & A/C' Category
I’m new here at Angie’s List as the new podcast producer. I’ve got lots of things to sort out, and getting used to a drastic weather change is one. I’m from the Deep South and the balmy winters of Mississippi have not prepared me for big city cold weather. My jackets are wimpy; my amount of sweaters equals almost zero and gloves? Pshaw! This is not apparel for sitting on the veranda sipping ice tea! I scoff at such apparel — well I did until now.
This brings me to the point where, as a 30s-something adult, I had to turn on a furnace for the first time. I rented an older home in a historic district of Indy and I love it, but this heating system is enormous, and dealing with natural gas has always freaked me out. It should be easy right? WHATEVER! With years of Southern fear and guilt bred into me, the dramatic “Lighting of the Pilot Light” was a big deal. A ritual, if you will, leaning over a prehistoric space heater, letting the gas run through the line and waiting to spontaneously combust. I can hear my mammaw saying right now, “ You’re gonna burn yoursef’.” or “Oh, lawsee, you’re all gonna die of carbon monoxide poisoning!”
The thing is, I was terrified of this monstrous furnace and lighting the pilot until a little research working on one of the November Angie’s List podcasts featuring heating and cooling service providers. We interviewed a local HVAC guy about furnace maintenance and his info on yearly check-up tips eased my mind about fiddling with the flame on my furnace. After a cold night, I got over that fear quick, successfully getting my new found giant warm fuzzy friend lit with a little help from the List.
Good grief. It felt like it was at least 90 degrees this weekend. And it’s October. Where are my crisp autumn days?
Actually, I should bite my tongue. I’m sure the cool, windy, rainy weather will be here before I know it. I just wasn’t expecting the July-like temperatures while I was out and about this weekend. My poor car’s air conditioner usually gets a much-needed break this time of year, but not lately. And I refuse to turn the house air conditioner back on, much to the chagrin of my family. But they’ll be OK. I just keep the curtains closed to block out the sun and the windows wide open to welcome any sort of breeze. I mean, it’s October. No A/C in October. Continue reading ‘It’s too hot for fall’
