The other alternative is to escape to Florida for the winter and turn
the thermostat down to 45-50 degrees on the winter house. Well,
usually. Florida was bitter cold last winter. At the low point, 26F on
the south side of Tampa Bay. I'm hoping for warmer this winter. :-)
Chuck Norcutt
On 11/17/2010 8:09 PM, Moose wrote:
> On 11/17/2010 3:19 AM, Wayne Harridge wrote:
>> I heard the saying: "the cheapest car is the one you already have"
>
> I don't know if that is generally true. ;-)
>
> But it's true often enough, and beyond vehicles.
>
> The low mileage '96 Mazda Protege I inherited from Mom doesn't get
> the mileage of newer econoboxes, especially as it's mostly used for
> the kind of driving where hybrids shine in mileage. But even a
> slightly used Prius won't pay out as a replacement before it has
> turned to dust.
>
> My furnace is over 45 years old, probably 60-65% efficient, according
> to the guy who came out to look at it. Calif. and the Feds were
> offering rebates for replacing with new, super efficient furnaces, so
> I got a bid from the people who were cheapest and did a great job on
> the dead water heater.
>
> A 95% efficient furnace doesn't generate enough draft to use the
> existing flue. Fortunately, the furnace replaced a floor furnace,
> before my time, so its flue goes out sideways, then up the side of
> the house. So I wouldn't have to pay to run a new, almost horizontal
> flue, just cut short the existing one.
>
> Still, even after rebates, the new furnace wouldn't pay out within
> its expected life. Our mild weather here just doesn't use the heating
> or cooling energy of many other parts of the state and country.
>
> The new, high tech stuff is great in some ways, but doesn't last
> anywhere near as long as the old stuff. I would guess the existing
> furnace may go a few more decades. I already rewired it with a relay
> to accommodate newer, solid state thermostats. That cost nothing but
> a bit of my time. I can't buy and install the furnace myself, as the
> rebates require a licensed installer. Prolly need a permit with the
> same requirement, too.
>
> So until some ship comes in, and I can afford to be greener on
> principle, the old faithful will go on. In the meantime, we're
> putting film over the windows, patching other heat leaks and
> dressing warm.
>
> Winter's Coming Moose
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