Last
week one of DH’s buddies came by to tell us his business had a special deal going
and wondered if we were interested in replacing our old furnace. By the time they got done negotiating, a new furnace
was on the way at sale price with the added condition of a trade on the repair of the
buddie’s stereo system. DH would also
help install the furnace so the deal was even sweeter.
In a
couple of days the new furnace was in the basement and the old furnace was
removed.
Then
all kinds of weird and loud noises began to emanate from that part of the house
as Buddy and DH went to work.
By
the time they stopped work that evening the job was almost done. The
only minor inconvenience was the electricity going on and off a few times and
the gas water heater was temporary off line.
To
keep the house warm that night the guys hauled in a couple of loads of wood and
fired up our wood stove.
The
final details of pipes, wiring and venting were wrapped up before noon the next
day. The fireplace had kept the house so
warm they had to open windows to cool the house off enough to find out if the
thermostat would trip and kick on our new furnace.
The
worst of the debris was removed and the tools were put away by that
evening. DH told me if we’d hired a crew
to do the job the price would have been well over a thousand dollars more.
The room
was still full of soot and stray fiberglass, so before I did laundry I brought
in the vacuum cleaner to finish tidying up.
It had been years since the place had seen more than a hasty wipe-down. There were saggy gray spider webs hanging in all
the corners. I moved the folding table
by the washer and found over a dollar in change lurking under the dust bunnies. I worked for more than an hour and emptied
the vacuum cleaner out twice. Yet, when
it was all done there was little evidence of the labor and commotion of the
past few days.
By
the way, this followed the replacement of our water heater only a month or so
earlier. DH also purchased and, with
Beavis’ help, they installed it and carted the old one away. I can only guess how much we didn’t pay an appliance
repair and installation service for that one.
I
don’t remember anyone telling me I should look for a man who could fix things
when I chose a husband. Even if I was
told I know I didn’t listen. Still, it is so nice to have a spouse who can use
tools, understand mechanical and electronic devices and figure out how to
repair the broken and maintain the rest.
