Friday’s temp
(Reading from the thermometer sitting outside – in the shade)
Busy weekend. We spent much of it in the basement, the temperatures being just part of the reason. Actually, I guess you could say it was the entire reason. We were trying to get more AC to flow upstairs into the northern-facing rooms. Oddly, they’re the hottest in summer and the coldest in winter.
When they built this house, they did some very odd things. In one corner of the kitchen, the floor in summer is ice cold. I happened to be standing there over the weekend and decided to investigate. Floors just don’t get that cold normally, even ceramic.
So who puts together ductwork and leaves a 1/4-inch gap between ducts? Not even connected. Worse, we found several areas where the air was blowing right into the basement. Ducts put together backwards (seams reversed so the forced air was just being forced out into the basement), gaps, no tape….
Because of my addiction to home improvement shows, I came up with the solution (well, somoene else did and I passed it on). We spent six hours downstairs with tape and in some cases, insulation. When we finished and walked upstairs, the difference was noticeable. My daughter’s room is now 75 just like the thermostat says downstairs. Not 80.
When we started, I came out of the basement and had to go outside to warm up – I was frozen. Mind you, it was 96 outside. When we finished, we both felt a bit sweaty. Good sign – now the air is going where it should, not where it oughtn’t.
Today, not so much manual labor for me. I have a small project this morning, part of a larger one this afternoon, and perhaps a few side projects after my marketing. I’m about to head off on a camping trip in Maine, so you know the work is about to come streaming in. God, I hope. I’d love to have something to come home to.
How was your weekend? What’s on the desktop today?
So glad you are giving the light this morning, Lori. 🙂
I have suddenly developed a nasty habit of not sleeping well-of course, right when it's one of my busiest times. I am struggling to keep it going this morning.
I'm finishing up a marketing brochure, starting a client resource document and three client blog posts today – and zero energy-oh-oh. Caffeine!!
Caffeine indeed, Cathy! I have that same nasty habit. I dust a lot, do yoga postures, removed all electronic things from by the bed (heard they caused a bit of brain agitation), and I lay off caffeine after 12 pm. Sometimes it actually works. LOL
Sounds like a neat project or four. Nice!
I feel your pain about poor construction, Lori. I live in a six-unit brownstone in Chicago, and the developer who turned it condo did everything on the cheap. Glad you were able to find the problem!
My weekend was spent relaxing and cleaning out three closets–on Sunday, when my AC went on the fritz! Was sweat dripping off my face? Indeed! But I was glad I got that done. And the AC guy will be here in an hour. Let's hope it's a small repair.
As for work, I just finished a three-project spree, so this week will be at a more normal pace. I really need it!
As for your work, like you said. Just leave. Then it'll flood in!
No projects for me this week, Lori. i'll be moving to another state this week and I'm just trying not to freak out about it right now.
Glad you got your air ducts working because this heatwave is no joke! I had to have my mother's HVAC serviced this summer and was told I'd need to get the system replaced soon because it's on it's last leg. It's over 40 years old so no surprise there. My mother is also planning a kitchen renovation project that I will be managing. My husband and I renovated our historic (1930's) home's outdated kitchen when we bought the house. The fact that we're still together after that project speaks volumes of our commitment to one another. 🙂
Gabriella, that's awful! Hope the AC is a minor fix. We replaced ours two years ago – not cheap at ALL, but whole-house AC rarely is. Nice weekend to stay indoors, wasn't it?
Kim, that you're still together IS a testament to your commitment! LOL You're brave taking on your mom's kitchen project management. You must be one mighty strong woman – chasing contractors can be more draining than going without the kitchen.
Lori, my mother appointed me to take on her project. It's NOT by choice (oh the joys of being an only child!), but I am obligated. I still have nightmares about the shady contractors from our kitchen renovation 11 years ago. *shudders*
LOL! Obligations can kill you, Kim. 🙂
Look what you've learned from your own experience. I have no doubt you'll kick butt!
As soon as I started reading about your ductwork issues, I thought, "That's a job for Mike Holmes!" Given your addiction to home improvement shows, you may have picked up some of those tips from him.
I watch those shows and only see the chain reaction of additional problems one project can lead to – that's enough to make me not tackle much on my own. Painting, organizing, superficial things, sure – this very morning I nailed in an ancient oak trim piece that holds the bronze mesh in a window screen. But I won't touch plumbing (other than replacing a flapper or something small), electrical or structural projects. I don't do much requiring ladders. Vertigo can be a scary thing – even on the second rung of a ladder.
I hope it cools off for you soon. There's hope: Overnight a cool front ushered out the humidity and it's lovely here. I opened windows and propped fans up to pull the air into the middle of the house.
Gabriella, I hope you didn't get caught in the flash flooding in Chicago this weekend. We only got about 2" out here on Saturday morning – a tiny fraction of what Chicago and the 'burbs got.
Work today consists of setting interviews for two articles, a couple of queries and whatever else I can fit in.
Glad your improvements fixed the problem.
I have a brutal work week this week, and lost the morning because I had to take my mom to the doctor. Will have to work into the evening to make up for it. That's the way it goes sometimes.
Paula, that flooding was crazy, wasn't it? We had no water damage, and I'm grateful! Hope that 2" wasn't in your basement!
It WAS Mike Holmes, Paula! You must have seen the same episode. 🙂
It's already cooler. Today is a "cool" 89 degrees (it's only noon, but I think it's as hot as we'll see). Glad you weren't flooded! I saw on The Weather Channel that it seemed centralized over Chicago proper.
Devon, I hope Mom's ear is feeling better. Glad you have work – sorry it's of the brutal workload variety.
changing hosts… and a couple of coaching clients… the host thing will be a relief… site went down again this morning.
Love your fix it story.
Lori, has Mike Holmes ever done an episode that didn't involve something to do with air ducts? I keep watching, wondering when he's going to encounter a radiator.
I'm glad to hear you escaped water damage, Gabriella. Miraculously my basement is pretty dry, too, despite a 91-year old foundation that thinks it's part sieve. (Having the gutters cleaned REALLY helped!) My sister lives near the northern branch of the Chicago river, in the Albany Park area of Chicago which flooded with a similar deluge back in 2008. I guess Public Works did some dredging, grading or diverting so this time the water ran into a park/nature preserve instead of into the residential area. (And yes, folks, there are nature preserves in Chicago proper.)
Didn't you love the footage of O'Hare crews trying to use snowplows to remove water? Um, dudes, it's liquid. It just rushes right back once the plows have passed.
Yay, a dry basement! You're a lucky devil!
I remember Albany Park, Paula. So glad to hear whatever they did worked. And for those not familiar with Chicago, Paula's right! Lotsa nature here in Chicago.
O'Hare crews were funny!
Wow- and I thought our place is odd! After about 2 excruciatingly cold winters in our kitchen, we checked out the inside of the cabinets in the coldest part- no insulation at all. Just the OUTSIDE BRICK. Then we found out that the linoleum in the laundry room was laid directly on top of packed dirt. No, this isn't a basement, it's the first floor.
My weekend was great Lori. Got spoilt quite a bit by friends and family because Monday was my birthday and we celebrated early. Today I'm finishing a translation job, then doing some major edits on a client manuscript.
Anne, the fix-it stuff makes me feel like I've actually accomplished something. Isn't that weird?
Paula, I remember one radiator show. The radiator was clogged or not working because it was piped wrong. Older show – may have been one of the half-hour ones.
Gabriella, Chicago is famous for its weather even here in the east! I've been there three times – all in December – and the weather ran the gamut.
Pushing rain with a plow? Wow. That's just stupid.
Lori, that's insane! No interior walls? And DIRT under the linoleum? Someone cut way too many corners!
Belated happy birthday, Damaria! I hope you had a lovely celebration. 🙂