It's COLD!!!

[Judy G. Russell]

The Weather Channel says it's now 32 degrees F here. The overnight low is supposed to be 28 degrees. We may get a dusting of snow. And the total source of heat in my two-story house is a space heater which is on full blast next to me as I sit pecking away at my computer with my cold hands.

My gas steam boiler has been acting up for 2-3 years. I thought we had finally isolated the problem two weeks ago when the ignition unit was replaced. But it won't stay on for more than about five minutes an hour, and the house is now about 50 degrees and dropping. I know a new boiler will be expensive, but I am not going through another winter without heat I can rely on, 24/7.

The repair folks are due to be here at 8 a.m. All I can say in the meantime is thank heavens for space heaters and electric blankets...

[ndebord]

The Weather Channel says it's now 32 degrees F here. The overnight low is supposed to be 28 degrees. We may get a dusting of snow. And the total source of heat in my two-story house is a space heater which is on full blast next to me as I sit pecking away at my computer with my cold hands.

My gas steam boiler has been acting up for 2-3 years. I thought we had finally isolated the problem two weeks ago when the ignition unit was replaced. But it won't stay on for more than about five minutes an hour, and the house is now about 50 degrees and dropping. I know a new boiler will be expensive, but I am not going through another winter without heat I can rely on, 24/7.

The repair folks are due to be here at 8 a.m. All I can say in the meantime is thank heavens for space heaters and electric blankets...

Judy,

Ouch. I have been lucky in my buildings in the past. Now that I'm an apt dweller once again, it is up to the landlord, who thankfully is good about it. But I'm on the top floor and some times, the heat doesn't make it all the way up. So a space heater and a silk comforter does the trick so far.

<weak grin>

Hope they make the repairs without any nasty surprises.

[Mike]

The Weather Channel says it's now 32 degrees F here.
<shiver!>
We have a spare room...

And Clancy and Ciara are welcome (Jasper is looking for four-legged company)!

[Judy G. Russell]

Hope they make the repairs without any nasty surprises.Thanks. They're here at the moment (and, fortunately, I was able to show them exactly what was happening: the worst fear is that it won't do it when the repair folks are there!) and I have my fingers crossed. But I'm prepared for the worst, which would be a new boiler. I am NOT going through another winter with this thing misbehaving.

[Judy G. Russell]

<shiver!>
We have a spare room... And Clancy and Ciara are welcome (Jasper is looking for four-legged company)!Thanks, and believe me: if it wasn't for this minor little matter of having to work for a living I might very well take you up on it. The repair crew is here now and I've got my fingers (and my few unfrozen toes) crossed!

[Dan in Saint Louis]

But I'm prepared for the worst, which would be a new boiler.
Unless the boiler is leaking or plugged inside with rust, there is not much that can go wrong with it. What usually happens is that the thermocouple that senses the presence of the pilot goes bad (ca. $60), or one of the other sensors that detects overheating or "blowback" (the flames blow back towards the room as a result of a downdraft through the chimney) goes bad.

The short-duty-cycle nature of your problem suggests something like an overheating or blowback sensor.

Get a second opinion before springing for a boiler unless you see convincing physical evidence.

[ktinkel]

Oh, no!

Our heat died twice recently, both times on days that got seriously cold. It appeared our problem was a defective switch, which we had replaced. But the burner went out again, and this time the plumber determined that we had to clean the chimney. So we did that, and so far so good.

Neither thing was very expensive, fortunately.

But being without heat in the winter is seriously unpleasant. May you have good fortune, a quick, cheap fix, and assurances for the future! :)

[Judy G. Russell]

Get a second opinion before springing for a boiler unless you see convincing physical evidence.Turned out to be the damper motor. Without the damper moving properly, the gases would build up and the safety would shut the boiler off. As soon as the gases dissipated the boiler could be restarted but would shut off again as soon as the gases built back up.

The fact that the two major electrical components of the boiler system have had to be replaced in the last two weeks (ignition system and damper motor), I suspect these may have been affected by a lightning strike that damaged some other parts of the electrical system this past summer.

At any rate, it's now fixed. At least for the moment!

[Judy G. Russell]

But being without heat in the winter is seriously unpleasant. May you have good fortune, a quick, cheap fix, and assurances for the future! :)So far so good -- just a damper motor. I'll have to talk to the electrician the next time he's here, but I suspect that this may have been part of the residual damage from a lightning strike the house took earlier this year. No matter, the house is now at 65 degrees and climbing!

[ktinkel]

So far so good -- just a damper motor. I'll have to talk to the electrician the next time he's here, but I suspect that this may have been part of the residual damage from a lightning strike the house took earlier this year. No matter, the house is now at 65 degrees and climbing!That doesn’t sound too bad.

Now, if you are at all like me, you can go back to turning the thermostat down to see if you can be comfortable while saving money!

[Judy G. Russell]

Now, if you are at all like me, you can go back to turning the thermostat down to see if you can be comfortable while saving money!No, nope, never. I hate the cold. I am more than willing to pay extra to be warm. But I do have some calls out to increase the insulation in my house...

[ktinkel]

No, nope, never. I hate the cold. I am more than willing to pay extra to be warm. But I do have some calls out to increase the insulation in my house...Also check the windows — the amount of cold air that creeps in around ours was amazing!

[Judy G. Russell]

Also check the windows — the amount of cold air that creeps in around ours was amazing!There's no doubt about that. But I can't afford to replace windows, so it'll be weatherstripping or nothing.

[Lindsey]

No matter, the house is now at 65 degrees and climbing!

I'm so glad they fixed it! It is not fun to be sitting around in a house with no heat on even a moderately cold night!

--Lindsey

[Judy G. Russell]

I'm so glad they fixed it! It is not fun to be sitting around in a house with no heat on even a moderately cold night!The cats both had such affronted looks on their faces when I woke up this morning. They've never been through a cold cold night in their lives! They were most adamant that I do something about that right this minute!

[Lindsey]

The cats both had such affronted looks on their faces when I woke up this morning. They've never been through a cold cold night in their lives! They were most adamant that I do something about that right this minute!

What? You didn't let them snuggle under your electric blanket?

[Mike]

Glad to hear it's cured... for now!

[Judy G. Russell]

What? You didn't let them snuggle under your electric blanket?I did and they did. But it turns off in the morning, and that was -- in their view -- just intolerable! (At least it didn't get cold enough to put a layer of ice on their water dishes!)

[Judy G. Russell]

Glad to hear it's cured... for now!Thanks! So am I! I wouldn't mind too terribly much if I have to replace the boiler, but there are some tax incentives that kick in on January 1, and I sure don't want to have to replace it until I can squeeze out every penny I can get on it.

[PeteHall]

Also check the windows — the amount of cold air that creeps in around ours was amazing!

And watch out for outdoor ice rinks... something like 9 have opened in London in the last few days and it's freezing!

[Judy G. Russell]

And watch out for outdoor ice rinks... something like 9 have opened in London in the last few days and it's freezing!I'm not sure about cause and effect here... In any case, the contractor is going to take care of one window which is leaking cold air badly and the front door (a Dutch door so the weatherstripping needs to be replaced frequently). Plus insulate the attic to R30.

[Mike]

I wouldn't mind too terribly much if I have to replace the boiler, but there are some tax incentives that kick in on January 1...
Do tell!

We were having some problems with ours last year, and we investigated our options, all of which would have a result of spending a lot of money that would not pay result in savings from 7-21 years (depending on the option). We even looked into ripping out the hot water system and installing forced air, which was among the cheaper options, but even that wouldn't result in a payoff for 10 years. :mad:

[Judy G. Russell]

Do tell! We were having some problems with ours last year, and we investigated our options, all of which would have a result of spending a lot of money that would not pay result in savings from 7-21 years (depending on the option). We even looked into ripping out the hot water system and installing forced air, which was among the cheaper options, but even that wouldn't result in a payoff for 10 years. :mad:Yeah, there are incentives that kick in January 1 (see this web page (http://green.msn.com/Green-Living/6-Ways-To-Save-On-Taxes-In-2009/)). It's really not a whole lot of money; it's just that in this economy, we're all trying to save as much as we can. I was thinking about delaying my attic insulation job until January 1, but the tax credit for the insulation itself (labor isn't included) would probably be less than what I'll save on gas costs in December from doing the insulation then!

If I have to get a new furnace, though, well 10% of $2000 or so ain't chump change. Plus most states have some additional incentives (in NJ, on a high-efficiency boiler, I'd get a rebate of $300). So between the state and federal programs, I'd save about $500.

[ktinkel]

What I really want is geothermal heating and cooling. Turns out CT (and maybe NJ as well) are well suited to it, with the right sort of deep rock formations.

Friends looked at a house in Connecticut that had it a couple of months ago, and were convinced. (Unfortunately, the house was too weird to buy for other reasons.)

Economical, low-noise, green as all get out. Needs a reliable source of electricity, with a back-up generator. Can be added to existing houses, if you are lucky in your site and type of construction.

Installation cost estimates from a CT supplier: roughly twice what it would cost to replace both boiler and air conditioning. ROI: 10 to 20 percent/year. Fuel savings from a federal study: 30 to 70% for heating, 20 to 50% for cooling.

[ktinkel]

And watch out for outdoor ice rinks... something like 9 have opened in London in the last few days and it's freezing!Well, it would be, right? <g>

Where I grew up, we flooded the backyard after the first major snowfall (between Halloween and Thanksgiving) and had our own ice rink. Mother Nature supplied the coolth, but I don’t think the rinks (all our neighbors had them as well) had any effect on the weather.

[Judy G. Russell]

What I really want is geothermal heating and cooling. Turns out CT (and maybe NJ as well) are well suited to it, with the right sort of deep rock formations.I just heard a news report on CBS Radio in the last couple of days about a building in NYC that switched to geothermal. In drilling they even hit a bunch of rubies!

[ktinkel]

I just heard a news report on CBS Radio in the last couple of days about a building in NYC that switched to geothermal. In drilling they even hit a bunch of rubies!I saw that story.

It is very appealing. It would be too tricky here, but it is on my list for our next house. If nothing else, it insulates the owners from wild gyrations in gas/oil prices. While it works on electricity, it uses relatively little power.

[Judy G. Russell]

I saw that story. It is very appealing. It would be too tricky here, but it is on my list for our next house. If nothing else, it insulates the owners from wild gyrations in gas/oil prices. While it works on electricity, it uses relatively little power.It sure is appealing. I wonder if this is an option in the area of Virginia where I may end up retiring...

[ktinkel]

It sure is appealing. I wonder if this is an option in the area of Virginia where I may end up retiring...I bet so, depending on the specific terrain. When you get close to going there (and who knows what will be going on in the world by then), you could consult with a contractor who does that stuff.

[sidney]

It sure is appealing. I wonder if this is an option in the area of Virginia where I may end up retiring...

When I read "geothermal" I wondered if Connecticut and New Jersey had volcanic activity that I didn't know about. :) Then I Googled and found out that they are heat pumps that concentrate ambient heat from the earth instead of from the outside air. We did look at those when designing our remodel and found that they are practical and available in New Zealand (even for people who don't happen to live over one of our volcanoes), but not practical for us. We have just enough flat space for the house addition and the new septic system. The heat pump requires a large mass of pipes to buried fairly deeply, which requires space to dig up and a place for the digger to sit while it is digging.

The climate is pretty mild all year round anyway. We'll make do with a few in the wall flued propane heaters and a small wood stove.

Right now we are trying to figure out how much insulation we can fit under our roof. There are space constraints that seem to limit us to R-15. I know that in California the building code requires R-30, but here many people don't even have insulation, most don't have central heating, and they all pretend that it doesn't get cold in winter. It may be mild, but it isn't that mild!

We are getting a heat pump water heater, which gets its heat from ambient air.

[Judy G. Russell]

I bet so, depending on the specific terrain. When you get close to going there (and who knows what will be going on in the world by then), you could consult with a contractor who does that stuff.And, of course, assuming I will ever be able to retire, considering the condition of my savings and investments and 401K...

[Judy G. Russell]

Right now we are trying to figure out how much insulation we can fit under our roof. There are space constraints that seem to limit us to R-15. Does anybody down there do blow-in insulation? You can usually get a better R value that way if space is tight.

[ndebord]

And, of course, assuming I will ever be able to retire, considering the condition of my savings and investments and 401K...

Judy,

Sooo... who wants to retire anyhow? Now that I'm out of the restaurant game, I figure I'll be working for at least another decade.

<g>

[sidney]

Does anybody down there do blow-in insulation? You can usually get a better R value that way if space is tight.

I thought there was a reason we were not going to use it here, but your question got us to take a second look which has led to looking at rigid polyurethane spray foam insulation. We're still Googling it, but that may be the way to go.

[Mike]

What I really want is geothermal heating and cooling.
See if you can find a rerun of Suze Orman's show that originally aired on 11/22/08. She discusses going green and when it makes financial sense to do so.

One couple was inquiring about putting geothermal heat in their house somewhere in New England. The cost to install would be $33-38K, but they thought the drop in oil cost (from $3,400 to $1,700) would make it worthwhile.

Suze pointed out how many years it would take to repay that installation cost. When the couple noted they were planning to refi the house to buy it, she showed them how they really couldn't afford it (with a refi, they would extend their mortgage payments for 15 years!).

[Mike]

blow-in insulation
My parents had that done a couple years ago, and I got to see it when we put the house on the market. I was amazed at how well it filled the various nooks and crannies in the attic.

[ktinkel]

Sooo... who wants to retire anyhow? Now that I'm out of the restaurant game, I figure I'll be working for at least another decade.And if you were still in the restaurant biz, it would be what? Another couple of decades? <g>

Unless you were Mario Batali under an alias or something; I think he and the Bastianiches are doing okay.

[Judy G. Russell]

Sooo... who wants to retire anyhow? <raising hand> <the sooner the better> <not in this economy though>

[Judy G. Russell]

I thought there was a reason we were not going to use it here, but your question got us to take a second look which has led to looking at rigid polyurethane spray foam insulation. We're still Googling it, but that may be the way to go.Hope it works out for you!

[Judy G. Russell]

My parents had that done a couple years ago, and I got to see it when we put the house on the market. I was amazed at how well it filled the various nooks and crannies in the attic.I have my fingers and toes crossed that it also fills in the nooks and crannies the @#$%@# tree rats occupy in the winter!

[sidney]

Hope it works out for you!

We had a bit of drama about that today. It turns out that polyurethane foam installation, spray in or otherwise, is not yet certified for residential use in New Zealand. While it is available, it appears that the companies who install it only do so in commercial settings, playhouses, etc. It will take a vendor who wants to take it through a somewhat long certification process before it can be used.

That left us with fiberglass batting as an option, and led to the discovery that our draftsman had drawn up plans for the ceiling with specification of insulation that can't fit in the space he drew. It simply can't be constructed the way he specified it.

This is not the first mistake of his we have had to deal with. It's been somewhat of a nightmare and we aren't going to go back to him to insist that he correct anything on the plans because when we did that at first he would introduce new errors with every correction or revert old errors because he didn't keep track of which disk file was most current.

Anyway, to get the insulation we want using fiberglass we need 115 mm wide boards where he had specified 90 mm. But the boards come in 90, 100, and 140mm sizes. We can't go bigger than 115mm because of constraints on ceiling height and roof pitch. For a while we were actually thinking of going through the expense and the waste of ripping down 140mm boards. Then Bonnie came up with the brilliant idea of going even larger to 240mm and splitting them in two. With 5mm allowance for wastage in the cut that is exactly right.

Everyone had suggested that we just don't put in ceiling insulation -- Apparently nobody here uses insulation in a cathedral ceiling. Although that is changing because the new building code, starting just a couple of months after we got our permits, requires all new building to have insulation.

All seems cool now, at least until the next crisis :)

[Mike]

Sooo... who wants to retire anyhow?
Moi.

[Mike]

All seems cool now...
And now we're back to the beginning of the discussion.

[Mike]

I have my fingers and toes crossed that it also fills in the nooks and crannies the @#$%@# tree rats occupy in the winter!
Uh-oh. Can you get them removed first? Otherwise, they'll just use the insulation for nesting material.

I'd even suggest shooting some sort of poison into those areas, but then you'd just have them full of dead rats.

[Judy G. Russell]

All seems cool now, at least until the next crisis :)I had briefly entertained delusions of building my next -- and last -- house wherever I retire (assuming I ever can). Your experiences are not giving me warm fuzzy feelings about the idea...

[Judy G. Russell]

Uh-oh. Can you get them removed first? Otherwise, they'll just use the insulation for nesting material. I'd even suggest shooting some sort of poison into those areas, but then you'd just have them full of dead rats.It really isn't possible, I have discovered, to remove squirrels. You can get them out of the house and patch the holes they get in through, and the next thing you know, you have new holes. And it's illegal to kill the @$#^%$# things.

[ktinkel]

I had briefly entertained delusions of building my next -- and last -- house wherever I retire (assuming I ever can). Your experiences are not giving me warm fuzzy feelings about the idea...If we get the chance, we will do so. But I want to buy pre-fab construction. You create the foundation, electric, gas, etc. to their specs. They drop the modules (all sheet-rocked, floored, etc.) and connect them in a couple of days.

The current This Old House is using one of these. It is very high-end and customized. I want plain-jane, true and square, well insulated, rock-solid, and simple. But you do get to see a lot of stuff about the pre-fab business.

[Judy G. Russell]

I want plain-jane, true and square, well insulated, rock-solid, and simple.You are sooooooo unreasonable. You probably want everything to work too.

[ktinkel]

You are sooooooo unreasonable. You probably want everything to work too.Sure! Why not?

[ktinkel]

By the way — I got a nice solution for the cold: a fleece pullover in a sweater weight (from Lands’ End). Unlike a sweater, you just throw it in the washer and dryer. And it comes in gorgeous colors. It is a bit warmer than most of my sweaters, too.

They also have lots of cashmere, which is probably warmer still — but I don’t do hand-washing if I can help it.

[Judy G. Russell]

By the way — I got a nice solution for the cold: a fleece pullover in a sweater weight (from Lands’ End). Unlike a sweater, you just throw it in the washer and dryer. And it comes in gorgeous colors. It is a bit warmer than most of my sweaters, too. They also have lots of cashmere, which is probably warmer still — but I don’t do hand-washing if I can help it.Lands End has some nice stuff... but virtually nothing in their women's sizes fits me because of my long arms and legs. And their men's colors are really grim.

[Mike]

You can get them out of the house and patch the holes they get in through, and the next thing you know, you have new holes.
Geez... what kind of squirrels are you raising there? What tools are they using to get into the house?

And when you said tree rats, I thought you were speaking literally. Our neighbor had real tree rats in her attic (they're nocturnal, unlike those with the better fur coats). Fortunately, our house is pretty well protected against them.

[ktinkel]

Lands End has some nice stuff... but virtually nothing in their women's sizes fits me because of my long arms and legs. And their men's colors are really grim.And I have to roll up all my sleeves (and sometimes go so far as to shorten the bottom of their tops) because otherwise I look like a kid playing dress-up!

But they fit in the shoulder, which is crucial. And I like the quality.

I have seen catalogs with long women’s clothing; next time I run across one I’ll let you know.

[Lindsey]

I did and they did. But it turns off in the morning, and that was -- in their view -- just intolerable!

Oh, I see! Yeah, that would be intolerable in my view, too! :p

[Judy G. Russell]

Geez... what kind of squirrels are you raising there? What tools are they using to get into the house?Their teeth, the destructive little buggers...

And when you said tree rats, I thought you were speaking literally. Our neighbor had real tree rats in her attic (they're nocturnal, unlike those with the better fur coats). Fortunately, our house is pretty well protected against them.TNo, I do have mice in my porch, but no rats. I'd definitely call out the exterminator for rats.

[ndebord]

By the way — I got a nice solution for the cold: a fleece pullover in a sweater weight (from Lands’ End). Unlike a sweater, you just throw it in the washer and dryer. And it comes in gorgeous colors. It is a bit warmer than most of my sweaters, too.

They also have lots of cashmere, which is probably warmer still — but I don’t do hand-washing if I can help it.

Kathleen,

For the first time ever, I went for a fleece pullover this year. Don't know why I waited so long. It is a great undercoat for a lightweight jacket I like a lot and has extended its use into colder weather. And as you say, wash and dry and wear it again. When it gets really cold, it is wool sweaters and a silk vest for me (and silk underwear if it should get downright bitter!).

[Mike]

Their teeth, the destructive little buggers...
Oh! And what is your house made of? What are they getting through?

[ktinkel]

For the first time ever, I went for a fleece pullover this year. Don't know why I waited so long. It is a great undercoat for a lightweight jacket I like a lot and has extended its use into colder weather. And as you say, wash and dry and wear it again. Same for me.

I suspect it was because of my prejudice against polyester — it usually feels funny. This fleece is lovely. And as you say, it allows me to wear a lighter jacket when I go out.

I just saw a fleece vest in this same material — zips up the front and has two pockets. I have a feeling that one will be as useful as the pullover! (They show them worn together in the catalog, but I suspect that would be too warm indoors.)

[Judy G. Russell]

Oh! And what is your house made of? What are they getting through?I have aluminum siding, but there is always some exposed wood, and squirrels can get through anything including, I'm convinced, solid steel.

[sidney]

squirrels can get through anything including, I'm convinced, solid steel.

Especially the specially trained ones

http://www.worth1000.com/entries/235000/235342ChJG_w.jpg http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff87/nachosforever/Animals/squirrel-ninja.jpg

[Judy G. Russell]

Especially the specially trained ones

http://www.worth1000.com/entries/235000/235342ChJG_w.jpg http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff87/nachosforever/Animals/squirrel-ninja.jpg
THAT'S HIM! THAT'S HIM! Call the Marines!!!!!

[sidney]

THAT'S HIM! THAT'S HIM! Call the Marines!!!!!

http://www.worth1000.com/entries/328500/328817diKH_w.jpg

[sidney]

THAT'S HIM! THAT'S HIM! Call the Marines!!!!!

Hmm, you'll probably like this one better...

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u26/Masenkoe/Funny%20Pictures/GIJoeSquirrelHunting.jpg

[Mike]

I have aluminum siding, but there is always some exposed wood, and squirrels can get through anything including, I'm convinced, solid steel.
Very interesting! Your attic must be very appealing! Maybe you need to let the cats go up there for a while?

[earler]

Chimneys should be swept each and every years. Here in france it is enshrined in a law. If you disobey it and have a fire the insurance company won't reimburse you for any damages to the property.

[Judy G. Russell]

Hmm, you'll probably like this one better...
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u26/Masenkoe/Funny%20Pictures/GIJoeSquirrelHunting.jpgHeh heh heh. Any dead treerat is a good treerat in my book!

[Judy G. Russell]

Very interesting! Your attic must be very appealing! Maybe you need to let the cats go up there for a while?Too much risk of rabies from wild critters, I'm afraid. And the real appeal to the attic is warmth: it may be cold to me but it's warm to those furry beasts when the winter sets in. Sigh...

[ndebord]

Same for me.

I suspect it was because of my prejudice against polyester — it usually feels funny. This fleece is lovely. And as you say, it allows me to wear a lighter jacket when I go out.

I just saw a fleece vest in this same material — zips up the front and has two pockets. I have a feeling that one will be as useful as the pullover! (They show them worn together in the catalog, but I suspect that would be too warm indoors.)

Kathleen,

Depends upon how warm your house is. My apt is cool enough that I wear the equivalent of a warm sweater most of the time and I do have a fleece vest too, but I generally use it outdoors. I like to have my arms warm too inside the apt.

[Mike]

And the real appeal to the attic is warmth
Maybe that's the difference? To us, frigid, unseasonally code is 40 degrees. To you, that's a spring day!

[ndebord]

Maybe that's the difference? To us, frigid, unseasonally code is 40 degrees. To you, that's a spring day!

Mike,

Forty degrees is defnitely long sleeve weather. Fifty a good cotton tee. Sixty a tad too warm. Seventy, break out the paper towels, sweat city. Warmer than that? Catch the Polar Express asap! <g>

[ktinkel]

Depends upon how warm your house is. My apt is cool enough that I wear the equivalent of a warm sweater most of the time and I do have a fleece vest too, but I generally use it outdoors. I like to have my arms warm too inside the apt.The vest might not work every day. I will play it by ear.

We keep the thermostat at 66, but the house is pretty leaky, and the thermostat is in a sheltered corner, so I often feel cold during the winter. Until afternoon — we face west and have a wall of glass there, so it gets quite warm after 3 or 4 p.m.

So it is typically on and off with layers all day.

[Jeff]

Too much risk of rabies from wild critters, I'm afraid. And the real appeal to the attic is warmth: it may be cold to me but it's warm to those furry beasts when the winter sets in. Sigh...

Ask your insulation people to bring or locate a thermal imager, and from the ground look for hot spots under the eves. One or more could be the draw if not also the entrance.

- Jeff

[Mike]

frigid, unseasonally code
Make that "frigid, unseasonably cold."

Sheesh. I should have had a glass of wine or three before typing messages!

[Judy G. Russell]

Maybe that's the difference? To us, frigid, unseasonally code is 40 degrees. To you, that's a spring day!Errr... 40 to me is freezing. Anything under 70 is cold!

[Judy G. Russell]

Ask your insulation people to bring or locate a thermal imager, and from the ground look for hot spots under the eves. One or more could be the draw if not also the entrance.Thanks for the suggestion, Jeff!

[Mike]

Errr... 40 to me is freezing. Anything under 70 is cold!
But you're an exception! I meant "you" as in "all youse in New Joisey."

[Judy G. Russell]

But you're an exception! I meant "you" as in "all youse in New Joisey."I'm not so sure so many Jersey residents regard winter with such enthusiasm. Most folks, I think, regard it as nothing more than the price we pay to have such lovely springs and falls.

[Mike]

I'm not so sure so many Jersey residents regard winter with such enthusiasm.
Oh, I wasn't thinking of enthusiasm. I was thinking that it's less dread than how folks in CA would think of it.

Except the people who live in the Sierras. But they're weird.

Most folks, I think, regard it as nothing more than the price we pay to have such lovely springs and falls.
Kind of the way I think about summer. Our summers aren't particularly hot. But it's the price we pay for winters that don't go below 40 degrees! And no snow!

[Judy G. Russell]

Oh, I wasn't thinking of enthusiasm. I was thinking that it's less dread than how folks in CA would think of it. That's fair.

Kind of the way I think about summer. Our summers aren't particularly hot. But it's the price we pay for winters that don't go below 40 degrees! And no snow!I'm a total summer baby. I love summer. Even our hot and humid summers.

[Mike]

I'm a total summer baby. I love summer. Even our hot and humid summers.
I do too. But I hate winter even more! And I can be in the hot heat in ~15 minutes. (And when we retire, it'll be in Sac, where the summers get really hot, but it can get down to 30 degrees in the winter.)

[Judy G. Russell]

it can get down to 30 degrees in the winter.)We should hit that this weekend here. Brrrrrrrrrrr....

[Mike]

We should hit that this weekend here. Brrrrrrrrrrr....
And before the winter is over, I'm sure you'll hit it many times, and pass it pretty often, too.

Sac is civilized enough to stop at 30, and it's even rare to go that low.

[Judy G. Russell]

And before the winter is over, I'm sure you'll hit it many times, and pass it pretty often, too. Sac is civilized enough to stop at 30, and it's even rare to go that low.Yeah, well, there's still this minor little matter of the scarcity of jobs for experts in the arcana of New Jersey law out there in God's country...

[fhaber]

I don't suppose I should mention that the steam just came on and I had to don cotton gym shorts and zoris to get comfy?

[ndebord]

I don't suppose I should mention that the steam just came on and I had to don cotton gym shorts and zoris to get comfy?

Grrrrrrr: As I sit here in full regalia of wool socks, heavy duty cotton pants, flannel nightshirt and a long-sleeve denim shirt with a fleece lining.

<weak grin>

[Mike]

the scarcity of jobs...
Doesn't matter on the field of expertise... <sigh>

[Mike]

I would be in heaven. Since we have our own boiler in our single-family home, we can't get it that warm here.

[Judy G. Russell]

I don't suppose I should mention that the steam just came on and I had to don cotton gym shorts and zoris to get comfy?My house is not terribly well-insulated (though better now that I had blow-in insulation put into the attic) so I have to turn my thermostat up to get comfy in that outfit!

[Judy G. Russell]

Doesn't matter on the field of expertise... <sigh>The most recent unemployment reports are downright frightening. It's awful when everyone's conversations these days begin with: "So... how's your job security?" And that's for those who still have jobs!

[Judy G. Russell]

I would be in heaven. Since we have our own boiler in our single-family home, we can't get it that warm here.I can get it that warm. I just can't pay the gas bill if I do!

[sidney]

It's only 23 degrees here, though a nice sunny day. A bit warm, but it gets cooler at night and mornings have been a comfortable 19 to 20 degrees.

Oh, wait, you were talking Fahrenheit? :)

[Judy G. Russell]

Oh, wait, you were talking Fahrenheit? :)Brat. You're such a brat.

[Mike]

I can get it that warm. I just can't pay the gas bill if I do!
We can't pay the gas bill just trying to get it half that warm. But when it's really cold outside, the boiler simply cannot warm the entire house sufficiently to get to the t-shirt-and-shorts comfort level. It can warm the room where my computer is, but not the rest of the house.

We're in a 1920s house with little insulation, single-pane windows without weatherstripping, and so forth. We have tons of projects to do, but not enough time to complete them!

[Mike]

The most recent unemployment reports are downright frightening.
I really would like to spend a few minutes with a baseball bat in a room with each of the greedy SOBs who contributed to the current situation.

[ndebord]

We can't pay the gas bill just trying to get it half that warm. But when it's really cold outside, the boiler simply cannot warm the entire house sufficiently to get to the t-shirt-and-shorts comfort level. It can warm the room where my computer is, but not the rest of the house.

We're in a 1920s house with little insulation, single-pane windows without weatherstripping, and so forth. We have tons of projects to do, but not enough time to complete them!

Mike,

Probably not a solution, given the lack of insulation, but if your celings are high enough for ceiling fans, then:

http://www.bluerim.com/reiker-room-conditioners.html?gclid=CKeMlobQjJcCFRNOagodoCAeDw

[Judy G. Russell]

We're in a 1920s house with little insulation, single-pane windows without weatherstripping, and so forth. We have tons of projects to do, but not enough time to complete them!Sounds like your house is like mine -- and yes, there is a lot to do. My standard phrase is that a house is a bottomless pit into which you throw money!

[Judy G. Russell]

I really would like to spend a few minutes with a baseball bat in a room with each of the greedy SOBs who contributed to the current situation.I want the popcorn concession!

[ndebord]

I really would like to spend a few minutes with a baseball bat in a room with each of the greedy SOBs who contributed to the current situation.

Mike,

I'll make sure to make an appointment to see if your orthopedist can reattach your arm.

(1 baseball bat x 100,000 greedy bastards = arm falling off)

[Mike]

...if your celings are high enough for ceiling fans, then...
We'd considered that, Nick.

Only the living room would support a ceiling fan, but that would require removing the light fixture that matches the character of our little community, and Brent wouldn't let that happen!

There's a ceiling fixture in the attic, but we don't know whether it would support a fan, and we don't want to learn the hard way. If we hung something too heavy on the living room ceiling, then the most we have to fix is that ceiling. However, if we hang something too heavy on the attic ceiling, which shares its support joists with the roof, then we could lose a chunk of the roof!

[Mike]

...a house is a bottomless pit into which you throw money!
Indeed. And Brent loves to throw!

[Mike]

I want the popcorn concession!
Sure! But I'll need a commission to go toward medical expenses.

[Judy G. Russell]

Sure! But I'll need a commission to go toward medical expenses.Sore arm, I assume?

[Judy G. Russell]

Indeed. And Brent loves to throw!I understand that, to some degree (she says, with the electrician downstairs at the moment, replacing more of the 80+ year old wiring...). But there are so many other things I want to do with the little extra money I have (she says, eyeing a 100 macro lens...)

[Mike]

But there are so many other things I want to do with the little extra money I have
Agreed! I want to take a real vacation next year, since it has been way too long since I've done that.

[Mike]

Sore arm, I assume?
Yup.

[Judy G. Russell]

I want to take a real vacation next year, since it has been way too long since I've done that.It's certainly been far too long since you've been east!

[Mike]

It's certainly been far too long since you've been east!
Definitely it's been too long since I've been east enough! Though I did have three trips to oHIo this year, yet none of them would I classify as a "vacation."

[Judy G. Russell]

none of them would I classify as a "vacation."Sigh... too true on that one.

[ndebord]

Yeah, well, there's still this minor little matter of the scarcity of jobs for experts in the arcana of New Jersey law out there in God's country...

Judy,

You could always switch to the dark side (defense attorney for 'dem whose persuasion is of the Sopranos kind).

<g,d&r>

[Judy G. Russell]

You could always switch to the dark side (defense attorney for 'dem whose persuasion is of the Sopranos kind).I've been a defense attorney. And a prosecutor. And being a legal editor and part-time law professor means I get to go home -- safely -- at night.