Snowy Friday

[altivo]

The heating technician says we have no pressure in the external loop. In other words, there is probably a leak in the tube that goes down into the ground to exchange heat in our geothermal system. That doesn't surprise me. Hopefully the problem is at the surface, where the lines go in and out of the compressor and heat exchange system, which does in fact seem the most likely point for a failure. At least the heat conducting liquid is non-toxic and fairly harmless. It isn't freon or anything like that, but a solution of water with a non-poisonous antifreeze compound similar to salt. Of course he didn't have the right tools with him to test and repressurize the line, so he has to come back... on Tuesday. Meanwhile, we have to get by on the woodstove and the emergency backup heat (essentially an electric furnace that is costly to run.) So Gary ordered another cord of oak and it was actually delivered this afternoon. The weather is also supposed to moderate starting tomorrow and the temperature is to be above freezing by Monday. Tonight, however, we may be sleeping in the living room near the woodstove, as I did last night.

It's snowing, with up to another two inches of accumulation expected overnight. At least that probably means not as cold tonight, as snow normally falls here when the temperature is between about 20 and 30 degrees F.

Finished the Solomon's knot scarf, still needs blocking but it looks pretty good.

This room is darned cold. I think I'll go back nearer the fire.

Comments

[saythename.livejournal.com]

Go Gary for getting the wood but I have to admit, I've always
wanted one of those heat pump systems. Hopefully you get
it all worked out.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

It works great most of the time. We've had it for seven or eight years now. Only one previous repair, for a wire chewed by a mouse. Electric bills are less than half what they were with the previous system.

[chibiabos.livejournal.com]

Ebonlupus went with an industrial propane heater meant for warehouses, it works and sounds like a jet engine, but I'm not sure that's such a safe thing to have in a small house, heh.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I couldn't stand the noise. And I didn't want to deal with propane, either. We're all electric here, except for the woodstove.

[chibiabos.livejournal.com]

But ... propane is God's gas! XD

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I don't care whose gas it is, it's still gas. Nasty stuff, and makes you dependent on the energy cartel even more.

I can generate my own electricity up to a point, but I can't make propane.

[chibiabos.livejournal.com]

How about methane? You can make that!

And what are you doing up at such an un-Dogly hour? :P

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Electricity is much simpler. I can make that from sun and wind, no carbon cycle involved.

One of the dogs got on the bed and pushed me out, so I got up to feed the woodstove. It's only an hour earlier than usual.

[chibiabos.livejournal.com]

Why not snuggle up with the dog?

After all, aren't you having one of those #-dog nights? :P

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Because I'm claustrophobic and she's an aggressive consumer of space who will trap me under the blankets and push me into a corner. And once she woke me up I started thinking about the fire and how it surely needed tending, which it did.

Sarah is a good dog. Smart, obedient, affectionate, eager to cuddle. However, like all of us, she has faults too. She barks at cats, catches and eats songbirds (!), and suffers from unpleasant amounts of flatulence. I actually worry about her fondness for sleeping near the stove because she might set off an explosion some time.

[alaskawolf.livejournal.com]

yay for slightly warmer temps :)

your heating problem sure doesn't sound pleasant :( try to stay warm down there

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Going much better today. Outside temperatures in the 20s, indoors in the 70s from the woodstove alone. Apparently last night's snow was caused by warmer winds from the south, which are still blowing.

[drgnkiyo.livejournal.com]

Gah. :( Cold is good on the outside of the house, definitely not inside.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Depends on how cold is cold and how hot it is outside. ;p