P is for Pity Party

I have a waaaahbulance standing by just in case.  P is for PITY PARTY!  I am having one.  You all can join me if you want.  Misery loves company you know.  Really?  I guess so...I have "frownies" for comfort.  So why the Pity Party?  Well I am glad you asked.

A few weeks ago, we had to have our water heater replaced.  Not a big deal. We only had to pay for the service call.  Only a day and half without hot water.  Hot showers are awesome!  AnyPity....on with the Party.    The next thing to break was our furnace.  I discovered this when one cold morning I came downstairs to see my thermostat reading at 63*  Yeah 63 freaking degrees!  Where's my 70!?  I want warmth.  I am a cranky person when I am too cold.  I am also a cranky person when I am too hot.  Better keep me comfortable.  So, I call the home warranty people and they have a guy come out that same day.  He finds the problem.  The temperature gauge is not working.  It's this little tiny thingie jigger that looks like a plug with a small wire attached to it.  It tells the furnace to shut off when the temp is where it is supposed to be and/or if gets too hot.  He did some other poking around and he then ascertained that there must be a blockage somewhere in the ducting system.  Warranty people don't like the sound of this, as it will likely mean tearing into walls and costing money.  So they sent out a second opinion.

Opinion number two found a crack in the heat exchange of the furnace.  Bad.  Very bad.  This means it is leaking carbon monoxide.  Well, I like being here, so let's not have that.  He was shocked that the other guy missed it.  He then informed that he had to red flag it and he shut off the gas supply and unplugged the furnace.  Whoah!  Time out!  It's cold right now.  Not bone chilling cold, but cold none the less.  I guess that is what fireplaces are for.  He then told me something even more disturbing than carbon monoxide poisoning.  He told me that we would be paying for:  the vent pipe and electrical modifications, rack and filter, gas, flex and hard piping PLUS a state required duct test and permit to do perform said test.  The warranty covers up to $250 of the permit.  I likened it to you get a free car, but you have to pay for the motor and smog test.

I went two weeks without heat, which most of the time we had fare weather so it was okay.  We have two fireplaces and put them both to good use.  Now after all has been said and done, we are out $974.13.  Yeah.  A huge chunk of change.  This change was supposed to help pay for car maintenance and registration and smog testing.  Forget about going any place that costs money this summer.  Who cares if you need dental care.  And Christmas, well Christmas is a whole other animal I don't feel much like tackling!!!  I warned you it was a Pity Party!!!  Woes me!  Will someone please pass the BOOHOO?

Today's Post was brought to you by the letter P.  And by the number 974.13.  If you would like to play along, go visit Jenny Matlock for Alphabae-Thursday!