Thevictorians are the poor proud owners of a new air conditioner/heating system. I thought this day would never come. Or end. I've been dreading it. I hate people in my house. I hate an appointment hanging over me, making my time less enjoyable at the thought. I pretty much just hate everything that affects my routine.
The AC Team got here at 8:00, as promised. I had asked Hick if his buddy was coming, or just the flunkies. Because I would be reluctant to hand over an envelope of $8500 cash to some flunkies. I'm reluctant enough to hand it over to the boss of the company himself, Hick's buddy. Hick knows that. He didn't even let me touch that money! He counted it out from the one safe the night last night, and put it in an easier-to-get-to safe to dole out to his buddy after the installation. Saved him prying it from my cold, not-yet-murdered fingers.
Hick had given me many estimates of how long they'd be here. Kind of like Jerry telling Elaine how long she would be sleeping on the fold-out couch with the bar in her back, during their visit with Jerry's parents Helen and Morty at Del Boca Vista. Every time Hick told me, the time got shorter.
"I imagine they'll be here about four hours."
"They'll probably be done in three hours."
"It should just take a couple hours."
Sure... imagine my increasing disgruntledness as each checkpoint passed. They were STILL HERE! At least they stayed mainly in the basement, only coming up to replace the thermostat. I had a bit of panic when the kid installing it was missing a yellow wire. Hick was watching him like a hawk ready to swoop in on a field mouse. Turns out he had just missed the yellow wire, which was shoved back in the wall too far.
Anyhoo... the deed is done now, after FOUR AND A HALF HOURS! I don't like the new thermostat, because it looks cheap. I guess that's how Hick saved his $200 barter-money...
Hick left for town to get lunch and spy on Old Buddy, who had been assigned to do some painting in Bargain House. He left the new thermostat set on 72! See? I told you he's trying to kill me! I caught him on his way out the door and told him to put it on 74, like regular, because I would freeze to death. I'll have to learn how it works later.
Did I mention that I hate learning new technology?
Well if he had left you with the money on 72, he would've pried it from your cold hands! $8500 seems so steep to me. But hopefully you never have to worry about it again, ever. The Pony can come teach you bit by bit about the new thermostat!
ReplyDeleteSo true! It got down to 68 degrees the other night, and stayed below 74 all day. That evening, I told Hick I was freezing, and put my hand on the side of his neck. He said it felt good! He must be a reptile, taking on the temperature of his surroundings.
DeleteThat seemed like a lot of money to me, too. But considering we spent $1256 on coolant three months ago, I guess a whole unit is worth that much. What I want to know it... why couldn't they drain out that coolant so we could sell it back to them, heh, heh! Since supposedly the new unit uses a new kind of coolant.
Glad to hear that things are taken care of. In a normal year you wouldn't need the air conditioner now, but in the next week it will get a real test.
ReplyDeleteYes! My new AC just kicked on. It's 88 degrees outside right now! Supposed to be hotter tomorrow.
DeleteWhen they put the new Air Conditioning unit in my house a few years ago, the new thermostat was so much nicer looking than my much, much older thermostat:)
ReplyDeleteSame with our old one when we got. The thermostat was thick, with rounded edges and smooth-push buttons. I just knew the basics of how to set the temp to hold, but Hick would program it when we were working, to come on at different times.
DeleteThis one is thin, with sharp corners. The selector for OFF COOL HEAT is a lever on the side! If this is "progress" over the last 25 years, then I fear the thermostat industry is devolving!
I never fall for that timing thing, always mentally ad a couple of hours so I get a nice surprise when they finish "early". Lots of newer things are thin these days, makes me wonder how they can be so expensive when only half the materials have been used, just rolled out flatter like pastry.
ReplyDeleteHick's estimates are particularly problematic. After all, he was spouting to Realtor at our closing in June that Bargain House would be ready at the end of the month...
DeleteThat's true about the thin things needing fewer materials!