Ahhhhh...Heat

Waking up to a brisk 69 degrees yesterday, I knew something was amiss. Our thermostat was set to 73, and nothing was happening. I called American Home Shield (a home warranty we got with the house for a year) for them to send out a service company. They sent out Tony from Always Heating and Cooling (who, after three weeks of phone calls, finally gave up their task of replacing our AC in the summer). Tony went to check if there was power running to the furnace with the black and red thingy that electricians use. He registered no electricity. He noticed there was no fuse. "That's the problem," he diagnosed. I told him we never had one. He was insistent, and I told him not to come to my house and tell me its not working because of no fuse, when the heat worked all last winter and until yesterday. He then asked me how to get out of the basement. I guess its possible to forget WHERE YOU CAME FROM in ten minutes. He comes back, all packed up, telling me that since the fuse is bypassed, there is improper installation, and the home warranty doesn't cover it. Please give me 60 bucks. I begrudgingly paid, and called Uri Brill of U & E Service (his wife does the makeup). He came as the other guy left, whipped out his electric meter dohickey, and lo and behold! There WAS electricity running through the unit. Tony must have forgotten to turn his thing on! And that doesn't surprise me from a guy who gets lost in other houses.
Sof kol sof, our board which was replaced in August got "zapped", and since this furnace is nearing the end of it already extended life, and good 'ole Uncle Sam is giving tax credits for 1/3 of the cost of upgrading to an energy efficient system, we are having our furnace replaced. (Ironically, when we have no heat, a chimney sweep is coming today to check our fireplaces.) Thanks again to Zaidie and Savta for their hospitality at Chalet Isenberg Chicago.

-Dovi