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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by noa on January 25, 2003, at 17:58:57
The heating guy came today and fixed the eat pump. It had blown a fuse. He couldn't find any acute reason for the blown fuse, so he chalked it up to the age of the unit and the fuse.
But while he was fixing and checking, he also checked the outside unit, where the compressor is, and discovered that the freon in the compressor is really low and the compressor is "on its last legs". It is 22 years old! Of course, I've only owned it for less than a year. Interesting, the disclosure forms from the person I bought the home from said the unit was 18 y.o. Oh well, it isn't the first fudge I've discovered since moving in. 22 or 18, not that much difference considering these things are supposedly good for about 15.
So I have to brace for another big expense soon.
But it is a relief to have heat. It was freeeeezing here last night and this morning. You should have seen me--I was all layered up in pj's and sweats and a robe and my insultaed lumberjack shirt, and three pairs of socks plus warm slippers, and 4 blankets on the bed, etc. etc. I did discover that running the dryer vented inward helped a little, though.
Well, I hope I don't have to do that again.
Posted by judy1 on January 26, 2003, at 12:08:11
In reply to YAY! Heat's back on!, posted by noa on January 25, 2003, at 17:58:57
Did your house come with a one year warranty on major appliances?- pretty common here, and I just renewed my policy, I think it is $400/year. Even though my house is new, I had to have a plumber come and it was $40 for the visit and no charge for any work or parts. Is that something you can look into? I'm glad you have heat, I know a lot of the country is in a deep freeze. take care, judy
Posted by noa on January 26, 2003, at 13:35:41
In reply to Re: YAY! Heat's back on! » noa, posted by judy1 on January 26, 2003, at 12:08:11
No, it is an older home--no warranty. I did look at some literature on a warranty and decided against it because it wouldn't have covered the big stuff anyway.
I can probably take out a home equity loan for the heat pump/ac because there is some equity already built up, both from the down payment, and also because I was lucky to buy low just as the market was going sky high. Comparables in my neighborhood are going for about 30% to 40% higher. I just am a bit wary of the idea of borrowing--having been buried for years in consumer debt and student loans. But if I have to, I will. First I'll see if I can eke some more life out of the old unit without spending too much on maintenance.
Posted by stjames on January 26, 2003, at 23:01:07
In reply to Re: YAY! Heat's back on!, posted by noa on January 26, 2003, at 13:35:41
Do you have pets ? In the winter my cat
shares the bed with me and we keep each other warm. I load up the wood burning stove one last time and load up the blankets. The cat snuggles in
and is quite warm, as cats body temp is a few degrees higher that humans. She has even learned
to hop up to the sideboard next to the bed if I need to shift or get up during the night. Still
she tries to steal my warm spot if I take too long in the bathroom. The fire lasts till about
3 am, being well banked and from then on it gets quite cold inside the house. Before I leave for work I bunch up the blankets around the cat, who
has again taken my warm spot. By 9 am the house is warm if the sun is up, due to passive solar design. She then moves to one of the sunning places I have made for her by the windows and sleeps or if I remembered to feed the birds, watches the deck with intrest.
Posted by shar on January 26, 2003, at 23:14:34
In reply to Re: YAY! Heat's back on!, posted by stjames on January 26, 2003, at 23:01:07
Posted by Phil on January 27, 2003, at 8:40:04
In reply to Noa--glad it worked out! (nm), posted by shar on January 26, 2003, at 23:14:34
I guess when the heats off, bath and showers are way down on the list.
Glad it's working again.
Comparable to our 110 degree days in summer and our AC goes out.Phil
Posted by noa on January 27, 2003, at 20:37:15
In reply to Re: YAY! Heat's back on!, posted by stjames on January 26, 2003, at 23:01:07
What a lucky cat you have--you take care of her needs so well.
I loved your description of the bed, the cat, etc. I can just see a cat stealing the warm spot.
No, I have no pets.
Well, the heat went off again yesterday and it got really cold again. The heating guy came back this evening, and started to check. He pulled the fuse module out and tested it--it was ok. He put it back and started to unscrew the door to the main unit, and lo and behold, the heat came back on. Can't figure it out.
I still may need to replace the outside unit, and possibly the inside unit. But don't know, until someone can figure out what went wrong.
In the meantime, I was doing laundry and the washing machine stopped right at the point when it is supposed to start spinning to drain the water. I tried restarting it, etc. several times (also trying different cycles, etc.) and it keeps on stopping before the spin. So I've got the washer full of a load of laundry soaking in cold, soapy water that I can't get rid of!
You know what they say--"If it's not one thing, it's your mother!"
This is starting to feel like the old Woody Allen nightclub routine about mechanical objects. I have it on an LP, but haven't heard it in over ten years, because who has a record player anymore anyway (oh, boy--I know I'm gonna get some flak for that one, knowing this crowd :->).
It starts off, "I have never had (Woody Allen pause) a good relationship (Woody Allen pause) with mechanical objects..." It goes on to describe how his tv was acting up so he hit it to make it work better, and soon enough all of his mechanical objects stop working in protest. So he calls all of them into the living room for a meeting, and says to them, "I know what you're up to, and cut it out!" He then goes to a meeting in a high rise, and when alone in the elevator, the elevator asks him, "Are you the guy (pause) who hits his TV?" The elevator proceeds to jump up and down from floor to floor, knocking him about, and then spits him out in the deserted basement of the building.
Ok, so my synopsis doesn't do it justice, but you get the idea. And at the moment, am I able to relate.
Posted by noa on January 27, 2003, at 20:39:40
In reply to Re: Noa--glad it worked out!, posted by Phil on January 27, 2003, at 8:40:04
Re baths, showers--the thing is that being in the hot shower actually warms me up a lot. It is just the before and after parts that are not appealing!
Posted by stjames on January 27, 2003, at 22:28:41
In reply to Re: Thanks shar, phil,james,judy, posted by noa on January 27, 2003, at 20:39:40
As a child I was obsessed with electrical things.
I got mad once because I could not go to Sears and see the vaccume cleaners.Sounds like the clutch or maybe just the timer
is the problem.
Posted by noa on January 28, 2003, at 22:46:33
In reply to Re: Thanks shar, phil,james,judy, posted by stjames on January 27, 2003, at 22:28:41
The clutch? On the heater or the washing machine? I didn't know they had clutches--I think of my previous old standard shift cars. Well, heat was still on when I came home today--thank goodness because the temp dropped again, big time. Even with normal winter temps, being without heat would be annoying. But especially so wiht the deep freeze we're having.
I have to call the washer manufacturer--I remembered today that it is still under warranty!
Posted by stjames on January 29, 2003, at 2:13:38
In reply to Re: Thanks shar, phil,james,judy, posted by noa on January 28, 2003, at 22:46:33
> The clutch? I didn't know they had clutches--I think of my previous old standard shift cars.
The washer. Thats the "cluck" you hear when the spin cycle engages.
Glad your heat is on and the washer can be fixed.
Posted by shar on January 29, 2003, at 12:11:32
In reply to Re: Thanks shar, phil,james,judy, posted by stjames on January 29, 2003, at 2:13:38
When my washer does that it's usually because the load is unbalanced (that sounds so appropriate, somehow). So, I go in and moosh around in the cold water, redistributing the clothes so the weight is more equal around the tub.
BTW, a hot shower will warm me up better than anything else. Some days (not too often in Texas) I get a CRAVING for one, if it's been cold out for a while. And, I agree with the before and after parts.
Shar
Posted by noa on January 29, 2003, at 20:14:48
In reply to It couldn't be this simple.....Noa, posted by shar on January 29, 2003, at 12:11:32
Thanks, Shar and James.
Shar, I tried the mooshing thing. I even took everything out and checked to see if there was anything stuck in the agitator. I don't think it's a balance thing this time. My washer does become unbalanced* sometimes, though. What happens is that it goes absolutely wild on the spin cycle! It rocks and rolls and jumps up and down. If it weren't confined to a closet, it would probably travel across the room. Once in a while it does move enough that I cannot close the closet door, and have to shove it back in the closet again.
*Being "unbalanced", you think maybe it needs a little meds? What would it be--a stim for hyperactivity, or a mood stabilizer, maybe? Or perhaps an anticonvulsant--yes, that's the ticket because its behavior does resembe a full tonic-clonic siezure!
Posted by shar on January 29, 2003, at 21:16:07
In reply to Re: It couldn't be this simple.....Noa, posted by noa on January 29, 2003, at 20:14:48
Yikes!! I'm thinking of "Christine" again!
You may be right on with the anti-c idea. Or, if it is really young, it may just be trying to get attention....8-)
Shar
> Thanks, Shar and James.
>
> Shar, I tried the mooshing thing. I even took everything out and checked to see if there was anything stuck in the agitator. I don't think it's a balance thing this time. My washer does become unbalanced* sometimes, though. What happens is that it goes absolutely wild on the spin cycle! It rocks and rolls and jumps up and down. If it weren't confined to a closet, it would probably travel across the room. Once in a while it does move enough that I cannot close the closet door, and have to shove it back in the closet again.
>
> *Being "unbalanced", you think maybe it needs a little meds? What would it be--a stim for hyperactivity, or a mood stabilizer, maybe? Or perhaps an anticonvulsant--yes, that's the ticket because its behavior does resembe a full tonic-clonic siezure!
This is the end of the thread.
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