Maybe he is right

Maybe Paul, our belfastcowboy, is right. He said women can't do plumbing. I have plans to replace the faucet in my bathtub. At least the spigot is now loose enough that I can use the shower in there.

However, my more immediate problem was an unseasonal heat wave. I had written before that my air conditioning didn't work this year. I took the dogs for a walk a week ago yesterday, in 90+ degree heat. I figured I would finally turn on the a/c when we got home, as we would be very hot.

We came home, I hit the thermostat, and nothing happened. The dogs scowled at me, I scowled at the thermostat, and first tried the Magic Words. You know them, they all have four letters.

Next, I fiddled with the thermostat. I recalled that in January I was literally half out the door to go on vacation when I realized that the furnace wasn't doing anything. I checked the thermostat, and found a little tiny word that said "battery." I replaced the batteries, pleased that they were batteries that I had in the house, and went on my trip.

So this time, I looked for the word "battery" first, even though I knew they were likely to last a year. I intended to develop a habit of replacing them in the fall when the time change comes. The thermostat did not show the word, so I reset the thermostat. Nothing happened.

I went in the basement and flicked the circuit breaker for the furnace. None was listed for the a/c. Nothing. I flicked the circuit breakers for the whole house and each one individually, also. I am a bracer and belt sort of girl. No luck.

I went outside, found the fuse box by the a/c unit, and took the fuses to the hardware. They tested the fuses, and told me that they were just fine, and to call service because I have a Serious Problem.

I called my broker first to send me money. I figured I would be needing to replace the 25 year old a/c unit and also the 30 year old furnace. In the meantime, a week had gone by, and it was unseasonally hot in the house. It was close to 90 every night - indoors. It was very humid. After a shower, I had no need for moisturizers as I was soakedin sweat in 5 minutes. The dogs were troopers, but limp after a few days. So was I, which is why a week went by. I bought ice cream sundaes in little containers to give the dogs in the afternoons.

So finally today, expecting a check from George, I called for service. They told me Saturday was the soonest they could be out. I asked to be put on a waiting list for any cancellations, since I am home most of the time. I was shocked to get a call within the hour that they had a guy in the area who could be here in less than an hour.

He came out, went outside, fiddled with it, and it went on. I was pleased, but he said it was only working manually and that it needed to work automatically. Sigh.

So he came in the house, went in the basement, and fiddled down there. He came up the stairs, shaking his head, and telling me that my furnace is a "pile." Well, most appliances are after 30 years, right?

He went to the thermostat and fiddled with that. He asked me for two AA batteries. I handed them to him, after asking him if the word "battery" was showing. He said it was not.

I am embarrassed to admit it, but the thermostat needed batteries. All is well, except I paid the guy $94 to install two AA batteries that I provided. It is extra embarrassing, since that is the first thing I checked.

On the bright side, it works.

By fall, I will be replacing both the furnace and the air conditioning units.