So I built my house precisely 13 years ago. At the time I was a bright eyed, young ingenue with nothing but hope and pride for my new project. I had a great general contractor and a great architect and I was able to incorporate some fabulous design elements into the home. We sub-contracted everything out, so I was mulling over every bid for every job daily. It was a wonderful experience.
Did I mention that I was young and bright eyed?
Ya, cuz they saw me coming a mile away...I'm talking about my Viessman heating system. Now don't get me wrong, I didn't say I wasn't smart, I just said I was young and hopeful. At the time I chose the Viessmann European system, I had done my research. It was the newest, brightest, most energy efficient system money could buy and I drank the Viesmann Kool Aid heartily. When my shiny new system was installed into my fabulous new home I practically patted myself on the back!
If I remember correctly, it wasn't until the second or third year I began to run into some serious problems with my Golden Boy system.
- Problem: When the temps outside reach epic numbers, ie: -Minus Zero or above 100 degrees, the system struggles to keep up with the demand. And I mean struggles.
- Problem: The original guy that installed it quickly went away...he closed up shop and moved to God knows where, leaving me to find a new repair service. Easy enough right? Wrong. I cant tell you how UN-funny it is to have service company after service company tell me, "Golly gee lady, that boiler sure is pur-tee, but I reckon I ain't knowin how 'ter fix it."
Long story short, about 9 years ago I found a company that works with the system. They have only one guy that works with Viessman, and he comes to my home twice a year to maintain my unit. 95 percent of the time I am in good shape, but the other 5 percent is a bitch and only happens when the temps get extreme. Like this past week in frigid cold temps.
Efficient my ass...
Tell that to the pockets of cold areas in my house.
PT Barnum would have LOVED me......
7 comments:
Natural gas heat for Heff (insert own joke here).
Haha. Is that title an Eddie Murphy reference?
We don't even have heat in our house...
yeartsch 63
Since the fan on my unit died back in AC temps and the repair man came out and jiggled some wires and got it running, I except to wake up some day to it being about 35 F some morning, and ponying up for a new system in an emergency.
It's so cold in Chicago. Nuts. My crappy heaters don't keep up in my crappy apartment and the little guys make so much noise. This joint was probably built in like 1909, I'm thinking. Stay warm!
I was moaning I was cold last night - then talked to my son... he'd had to walk home in -26°C with a biting wind chill. Warmed me up considerably!
Candace...uhhh...your tag "We Are All Stupid"
You're the only I ever heard of who did all of her homework, bought a efficient monstrously good looking boiler system BEFORE you checked how many mechanics actually had experience with repairing it.
My furnace is gas, 60 years old and until the heat exchanger cracks there is not one part on it I can't repair or replace myself. Not because I am that smart but because it is that simple.
never buy a Ferrari when a Chevrolet will get you there.
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