Finances

Despite my best efforts, looks like I won’t be able to escape purchasing a new furnace.  I had some hope for awhile, but looks like it’s going to be more money and trouble than it’ll be worth to do repairs.

At first, the problem seemed pretty simple, the pilot wasn’t lighting.  I was afraid to touch for fear of blowing myself up, so I called up a friend Zai’s that works in heating and air conditioning.  We snapped some pictures for him and he walked us through a few things, but we did not have much luck there.  He suggested perhaps purchasing a new one, and quoted us a very good price on installation.  I told him I’d think about it, then went about cursing at the walls of my basement.

My stepfather came over that week to take a look at it, and discovered a broken spring near the pilot light.  The spring would click a switch when the heat initiates, which would open the gas valve and ignite the pilot.  If this switch is depressed manually, it works.

So, fast forward a week, and my stepdad has the part ($10) and puts it in place, and the furnace works.  At this point, however, we discover another issue.  The blower (which circulated the heat) is supposed to shut off when the house reaches the desired temperature.  Even though the heat shuts off properly, the blower will continue indefinitely, ultimately circulating cold air.  This of course would make the heat trip on more often, and the constant running of the blower cannot be good for my electricity bill.

My stepdad researched the issue with several friends in the heating and air business, and determined the problem to likely be a circuit board, a ~$200 part.  While I was checking the part number, I learned that the heating mechanism (a door that should open automatically and trip the pilot light with that spring) stopped working.  In short, the damn thing is falling apart.

I called my stepdad’s friend, who had installed furnaces for my stepdad before, and asked him what he thought about my furnace.  He said what I was thinking, that at this point it would be better just to replace it, being as it’s nearly twenty years old.  He gave me a comparable quote that Zai’s friend gave me, with the added bonus of the new furnace being a high-efficiency model that would qualify for a 30% tax credit.  Essentially meaning it would actually be CHEAPER to buy the more expensive and efficient model.  Score.

While I’m not thrilled about this additional expense I can barely afford, I realize I could have it far worse.

My outlook on finances has changed quite a bit since my teenage years.  I used to drive around in cars that seemed to know when I’d be getting a little bit of extra money.  I would put in some overtime at the mall, and then my radiator started leaking.  I would get $100 for Christmas, and then I needed a new tire.  I used to gripe about how every time I seemed to get a little ahead with finances, a problem would spring up to eat that money.

Now, my outlook is quite different.  The last time my vehicle needed some new tires, I was lucky enough to have put in some overtime the previous week.  And now that I need to spend quite a bit on a furnace, I have a paycheck with thirty hours of overtime floating my way.  Now, when life hands me a financial issue, I find a convenient windfall.

The same situation… but a vastly different outlook.

That being said, some people aren’t as lucky as I am.  Sometime when life kicks you in the stomach, what follows is not a helping hand but a swift kick in the groin.

I have a friend here on the internet that exemplifies everything I wanted to be as a younger man.  A successful writer, a respected intellectual, and even on his way to writing another novel.  I am a fan of his surreal writings, and a fan of the man himself.  Talking to him I am reminded of my English teacher in high school, a man with a permanent look of thoughtfulness on his face, and who’s immense love of literature was contagious.  At least to me, who prior too I had never even looked at a book if a class did not demand I do so.

Rodger Jacobs has been dealt nearly every sour hand I can think of lately, and could use a little help.  He set up a little site where one can follow and support him, should they choose to do so.  Maybe with a gift card, or with some advice, or maybe that old two-slice toaster you have sitting in the garage.

When I originally discussesd the concept with Rodger, I called it ‘Essentials for the Starving Artist.’  And that’s what it is, really, helping a man keeping his artistry flowing.  Check it out, who knows… maybe your trash can be his treasure.

Good luck, Rodg.

Zel-kun out.