I’m never sure if my landlord is a nice guy, or an awful one. He’s that strange blend of person where you can’t quite tell if he’s just clueless, or being purposefully obtuse to get out of paying for anything. Regardless, my landlord is trying to get out of one of the key aspects of caring for his property, and my roommates and I have about had enough. Last month we went downstairs to inspect our basement for water damage. Our town had recently suffered a bad bout of flooding, so our landlord asked us to please do a walkthrough and let him know if we found anything. If we discovered any damage or flooding, he promised to have a guy out here ASAP to clean out the water and make any repairs necessary. Well, while we were relieved that our basement is still dry and safe, we discovered another small horror. Our oil boiler is properly ancient. As we’ve never had any issue with the central heater, we’ve never thought to bother checking on it before. The year the boiler was first built is 1986. What’s worse is the tag from the local HVAC company. Kind of like a library card, it details what maintenance was done and when it was performed. The last recorded date of maintenance is from three years ago–the same time my landlord starting leasing the house out. I called the landlord to let him know that the basement was fine, but we needed a central heater inspection ASAP before winter properly set in. He doesn’t believe the oil boiler even needs an inspection. I told him that the average boiler only lasts for 20 years, and this thing is 16 beyond that. He finally consented to have an HVAC contractor out next week.
We got some great reviews
Did you expect that some Heating, Ventilation and A/C companies incorporate sheet metal? The reason Heating, Ventilation and A/C businesses would job with a sheet metal supplier is for air duct, when I got my HVAC system installed, I did not realize how well I picked out my Heating, Ventilation and A/C provider, and i just picked a Heating, Ventilation and A/C dealership with fantastic reviews. I decided on central Heating, Ventilation and A/C for my large home since the Heating, Ventilation and A/C supplier said it was a fantastic idea, typically, a Heating, Ventilation and A/C corporation does the Heating, Ventilation and A/C set up, and then has to hire out for the air duct to be made! A separate supplier makes the metal and uses the dimensions the Heating, Ventilation and A/C supplier gives them. The air duct is then sent to the Heating, Ventilation and A/C corporation and a Heating, Ventilation and A/C provider installs it. It is a lot of wait around time and also, possible error. If the measurements are not exact, the Heating, Ventilation and A/C ducts can get twisted or bent. Also, the air duct could get setup not respectfully and allow air to leak out. With my Heating, Ventilation and A/C business, teh metal people worked right with the Heating, Ventilation and A/C people. The sheet metal guy came in and used technology to measure the home. There was no human error element. The technology then cut the metal, as well. The air duct upgrade took half the time than most companies. The air ducts were the exact right size and did not get dented in transport, my central Heating, Ventilation and A/C program is perfect because of the Heating, Ventilation and A/C corporation that I choose. Talk about luck of the draw right? Ductwork repair and Heating, Ventilation and A/C repair will go better I bet too.
That is confusing
I am looking at getting a new apartment. I have multiple options that I am debating between, but one locale is super beautiful. It is right on the beach, brand new countertops, plus all new furniture; That locale does not have any HVAC though, then no furnace or air conditioner equipment. There is not even any existing ductwork in the wall; Since the beach condo was recently set up, putting in HVAC will be hard. It would have been smart to be HVAC in the initial installation… I recognize that the expense of the shack was too much plus getting HVAC was not within in the budget. So if I got that locale, I would be on our own for climate control. I would have to get multiple window air conditioners plus section heaters. Then I would need to pack them up all when I leave, but last thing I want is to install permanent HVAC in a locale that I will eventually move away from. However, portable HVAC is bad for electricity bills. It will seriously increase our utilities week to week using so much electric, and but, I guess the beach condo might be worth it. The other option does have HVAC. The central HVAC is okay, the condo is okay plus the location is just decent. It technically has everything, although I am not excited. The beach condo is perfect except for the HVAC equipment. I guess it might be worth messing with portable cooling plus heating for a year or more. Maybe I their resale value will increase over time, too.
The facts you should know
My partner and I have had enough of these insane energy costs. The utility bill is getting completely out of hand. And, the energy costs trend is simply unsustainable. She and I can’t fork over this much of our paycheck to the power bill alone. I understand that where both of us live is a power sucking vortex during the summertime months. It is a given. But, I’m sick of simply taking it while not attempting to focus on lowering some of these costs. I’ve installed the smart temperature control as well as synced it to the new automatic blinds. I’m expecting some significant savings from this investment. However, this is not enough. I want to create better habits while still having a decently cooled lake home to live in! To that end, she and I are attempting to add some modifications which should improve upon the heating and AC efficiency. First, we got rid of every single incandescent light bulb in the house. I had no clue how hot those things get. Those bulbs reach temperatures of nearly 340 degrees! While an equivalent LED bulb gets to less than 90 degrees. Additionally, we went up to our attic to seal around the perimeter while also adding more r 60 insulation. I never realized how out of date our insulation honestly was. Fans get turned on in any room my partner or I occupy. They cost about 30 times less to operate than the central air conditioner. While they don’t honestly cool the air, it sure feels great on our skin. This allows myself and my partner to leave the temperature control a bit higher more constantly. Finally, supper is either grilled outside or straight from the fridge. The oven as well as the range are to be used truly sparingly during the height of summertime. Just doing all these things in conjunction with furnace and central AC tune ups should help myself and my partner to at least fight back some against the towering utility bill.
My blood is thinning
Family comes first. I was taught that from the earliest of ages. Perhaps taught is the wrong word. In fact, I was shown that family comes first. Within our extended family, there was consistently an example of a single member of the family helping another a single. There were aunts and uncles who took in cousins. Sons looking after siblings. It’s just how it was done. I am now putting my money where my mouth is with this principle. My mother-in-law has finally gotten to the period where she needs attention. She is fiercely independent but the time has come to bring her close to my wife and I. Neither of us have a ton of money, but her sisters, my wife, and I decided she should come here since we live furthest South. My wife believes that is the largest of her challenges. Her old Colonial home doesn’t have satisfactory heating and A/C for her now that she is elderly. The system is old so, it’s cheaper to bring her here for the Wintertime months than replace the her old gas heater wall unit. The heating system does a pretty unbelievable task knocking off the chill. But honestly, it was not meant to do the task of an heating and A/C component with a legit gas furnace. I believe my heat pump will surely keep her hot on the rare afternoons it gets freezing. However, she’s a mountain lady so she’ll really scoff at the easily idea of turning on the heat when its only 48 degrees outside. My wife’s blood and mine have thinned considerably over all the years of living down here. There is no way either of us could make it through a Wintertime at my mother-in-law’s historic home. My wife and I our relieved that our heating and A/C system will keep her mom cozy this coming Wintertime. She deserves at least that.