Homeowner trifecta

[ripvanwinkle]

Well it looks like I've pissed of the universe somehow. I hit the homeowner Tri-Fecta. I went out to the garage and opened the garage door and it fell apart. It''s a wood door. Probably 50yrs old. The glued finger joints came apart. I manage to get it closed but won't be able to open it again. So I got a new one for $1700 installed.

Two weeks ago my 15yr old Lennox gas furnace died. I don't know if the power outage we had caused the damage. I'll check with the power company and see if the surge might have caused it. Worth a shot. The blower motor and module need replacing. $1200. You can't buy the parts directly from Lennox. You have to buy from a Lennox dealer. I can put it in myself but just buying the parts is painful. I've been using space heaters for now. My electric bill is going to be painful. And as they say on those TV commercials ""But wait there''s more"

Friday my fridge decided to die. Now I have to go buy a new fridge I looked around and aghast at the prices. $1200-$2200. Going to look at some used appliance stores tomorrow.

Yes, the pleasures of being a home owner.

 

[NoNamePerson]

It seems to happen that way sometimes. Have you asked about “scratch and dent” appliances at appliance store. Don’t know if they still have those since been forever since I’ve bought appliances. But I did get a good deal on fridge and dryer from Home Depot.  Just a thought.

[azucena]

It's probably all Biden's fault.

[countrygirl2]

LOL, yeah Bidens fault.



 

[saveinla]

I found smaller refrigerators at home depot if you are not very particular. They are cheaper and much smaller.

[Opti]

Nov 26, 2023 21:46:39 GMT -5 azucena said:

It's probably all Biden's fault.

Cancel cancel cancel cancel cancel cancel cancel cancel cancel

[Opti]

Stop leading the poster. Here I was going to say that is going to count as a trifecta?

Garage door shit sucks, but unless you live in the tight expensive places. You can park right outside the garage until money for fixing the garage appears. Furnace stuff sucks, but can be endured for a bit with heaters and crap. Obviously if you live in the great white north right now where snow is on the ground.

[happyhoix]

Historically things around my house always seems to fall apart in 3s. I’m not sure why.

It does suck. Sorry.

[Opti]

Nov 27, 2023 13:30:56 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

Historically things around my house always seems to fall apart in 3s. I’m not sure why.

It does suck. Sorry.

Sorry for being grouchy and not gracious. 

[Tiny]

Might be time to consider if you should replace your furnace and AC - 15 years is starting to get "old". Not saying you should replace - but it's good to think about the whole system and the future (as in is it better to replace now or repair and then have to replace it in 5 years.)

My tips for buying a new fridge:

Measure the space you have available for the new fridge. Check the measurements on all refrigerators you are considering. Check the freezer drawer when it's pulled out measurements if you are thinking of getting one with the freezer on the bottom (it might suck if you can't pull the drawer out fully because of the way your kitchen space is configured). Give some strong consideration to an Energy Star refrigerator especially if the cost of your electricity is high or varies. If you have super cheap electricity - think about the environment (and how it's better to use less electricity than more.)


Out of the dozens of refrigerators available - I only had a choice of 3 that would fit in my kitchen.     
A friend with a 15 year old remodeled kitchen  had a choice of 2 fridges that would fit. 

[Tiny]

FWIW: 5 years ago middle of the road "fancy" fridges (side by side with water and ice in the door) were in the 1200 to 2200 price point. Freezer on the bottom where also in that price point.
Old fashion single door with freezer up top were anywhere from $500 (smallest with fixed shelves) to $1000 (bigger, moveable shelves, maybe an ice maker, maybe in stainless steel)

[jerseygirl]

Bought a new fridge 2 months ago.
Nor much selection for immediate install. I measured but didn’t take into account the door hinges on top that are another 2 inches. So couldn’t push frig in all the way. That was okay till we noticed the dishwasher door couldn’t open completely. Couldn’t remove hinge covers cause wiring ran through
Had to remove doors on the cabinet above the fridge. So now we have open cabinet over the fridge. Putting cookbooks and some decorative pots in the open cabinet.

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

We bought a fridge last fall. It is getting harder and harder to find a good sized fridge WITHOUT ice & water in the door. We wanted a side by side. Lowes only had two options and one was waaaay too expensive and had no handles. I smashed my fingers in the doors while I was looking at it on the showroom floor. So, we were left with one option. 

The 4th replacement of the same model was a charm.

The first fridge delivered that Sept was not sealing properly at the gaskets. The second fridge had such a loud motor, it sounded like something that was 30 years old, not brand new and it drowned out music and TV. I forget what the 3rd problem was but the 4th one delivered shortly before Christmas is the one that stayed. Last week, on the freezer side, the little button that gets pushed when the door gets closed to turn the light out popped off. DH searched online to no avail to figure out how to get it back in. He is going to try to get some kind of replacement piece.

[Tennesseer]

Nov 28, 2023 15:26:47 GMT -5 Cheesy FL-Vol said:

We bought a fridge last fall. It is getting harder and harder to find a good sized fridge WITHOUT ice & water in the door. We wanted a side by side. Lowes only had two options and one was waaaay too expensive and had no handles. I smashed my fingers in the doors while I was looking at it on the showroom floor. So, we were left with one option. 

The 4th replacement of the same model was a charm.

The first fridge delivered that Sept was not sealing properly at the gaskets. The second fridge had such a loud motor, it sounded like something that was 30 years old, not brand new and it drowned out music and TV. I forget what the 3rd problem was but the 4th one delivered shortly before Christmas is the one that stayed. Last week, on the freezer side, the little button that gets pushed when the door gets closed to turn the light out popped off. DH searched online to no avail to figure out how to get it back in. He is going to try to get some kind of replacement piece.

Reminds me when I moved into my current home in 1996.

After the movers moved all my stuff in and after I unpacked what needed to immediately be unpacked, I was exhausted and too tired to take a shower. Following morning, I got into the tub to take a shower, but I could not find the trigger to turn on the shower. I had to go to Home Depot and look at all the tub faucets to see if any were like mine.

Finally saw one like mine and the trigger to turn on the shower head was underneath the faucet water exit and had to be pulled down for the shower head to work. Shower felt great.

[ripvanwinkle]

Update  - I bought a 10yr old used side by side Whirlpool for $500. Works great. And they hauled my old one away free. Sadly though, my furnace has to be replaced $7500. Replacing it with a 90% efficiency Ruud 60,000btu furnace. Power surge. My insurance will cover some of it. My deductible is $1000. I also might get some energy credit $$$ rebate.

I hope this is the is the last of the universes pranks.

[Opti]

Dec 6, 2023 22:50:43 GMT -5 ripvanwinkle said:

Update  - I bought a 10yr old used side by side Whirlpool for $500. Works great. And they hauled my old one away free. Sadly though, my furnace has to be replaced $7500. Replacing it with a 90% efficiency Ruud 60,000btu furnace. Power surge. My insurance will cover some of it. My deductible is $1000. I also might get some energy credit $$$ rebate.

I hope this is the is the last of the universes pranks.

My dad had to replace his furnace and did a payment plan. The kicker was his house was going to be sold in under a year. Hopefully in your case you will have years to enjoy the newer furnace and its better efficiency.

[ripvanwinkle]

Dec 7, 2023 1:05:08 GMT -5 Opti said:

Dec 6, 2023 22:50:43 GMT -5 ripvanwinkle said:

Update  - I bought a 10yr old used side by side Whirlpool for $500. Works great. And they hauled my old one away free. Sadly though, my furnace has to be replaced $7500. Replacing it with a 90% efficiency Ruud 60,000btu furnace. Power surge. My insurance will cover some of it. My deductible is $1000. I also might get some energy credit $$$ rebate.

I hope this is the is the last of the universes pranks.

My dad had to replace his furnace and did a payment plan. The kicker was his house was going to be sold in under a year. Hopefully in your case you will have years to enjoy the newer furnace and its better efficiency.

New furnace gets installed tomorrow $7500. Its a Ruud 60,000btu. My Visa card is going too squeal like pig caught under a fence. But I do get double miles.

[ripvanwinkle]

Final update I hope - I finally have heat. New Ruud furnace installed. $7500. That loud squealing you heard about 1 hour ago like a pig caught under a fence was my Visa card getting processed.  I'm going get a cold coke from my new used fridge and sit on my couch in my boxers and watch TV.

Since I've been using my stove and oven as a space heater my electric bill is going to be awful. The electric company will probably think I'm doing a pot grow operation.

[Opti]

Heat is good. Working refrigerator is good. 

[ripvanwinkle]

OMG..I just got my electric bill. Prior bill usual was $98.00 This bill is $182.00. Double. But I am basking in the glorious warm feeling you get after long tender love making.

[Tiny]

Yes. It is amazing and wonderful when our financial situation lets us overcome the adversity that life throws us.

[Tennesseer]

Dec 9, 2023 17:39:50 GMT -5 ripvanwinkle said:

OMG..I just got my electric bill. Prior bill usual was $98.00 This bill is $182.00. Double. But I am basking in the glorious warm feeling you get after long tender love making.

Was her name Mona Five Fingers?

[Opti]

Dec 9, 2023 17:39:50 GMT -5 ripvanwinkle said:

OMG..I just got my electric bill. Prior bill usual was $98.00 This bill is $182.00. Double. But I am basking in the glorious warm feeling you get after long tender love making.

Is your utility bill mostly electric for your place or do you have gas and electric for your home? I believe that is for your home and I forget where you live. Please remind me if you are willing.

Mine is bundled, so I have to look at my notes to see where I am with electric and gas. Dollarwise I am in the worst position ever for my combined gas and electric bill. My end of October bill in total was just under $800.00 . The worst amount in arrears ever and it is because of the car, the merger at work, etc. I don't have that kind of money to make my utility supplier happy.

In fact your post reminded me I need to post up my bills, I have just Dec in 2021 to record I think, but I'd like to have 2022 sliced and diced and on a 8x11 sheet of paper so I can see what happened at least for the year prior. To get any assistance for my bill through PSE&G I will need that info or to make them copies of a years' worth of bills. 

[ripvanwinkle]

Dec 9, 2023 21:28:42 GMT -5 Opti said:

Dec 9, 2023 17:39:50 GMT -5 ripvanwinkle said:

OMG..I just got my electric bill. Prior bill usual was $98.00 This bill is $182.00. Double. But I am basking in the glorious warm feeling you get after long tender love making.

Is your utility bill mostly electric for your place or do you have gas and electric for your home? I believe that is for your home and I forget where you live. Please remind me if you are willing.

Mine is bundled, so I have to look at my notes to see where I am with electric and gas. Dollarwise I am in the worst position ever for my combined gas and electric bill. My end of October bill in total was just under $800.00 . The worst amount in arrears ever and it is because of the car, the merger at work, etc. I don't have that kind of money to make my utility supplier happy.

In fact your post reminded me I need to post up my bills, I have just Dec in 2021 to record I think, but I'd like to have 2022 sliced and diced and on a 8x11 sheet of paper so I can see what happened at least for the year prior. To get any assistance for my bill through PSE&G I will need that info or to make them copies of a years' worth of bills. 

My bills are separate for my home. Gas is just for the furnace.

[Artemis Windsong]

We always have something that needs fixing.  My H. is very handy.

New purchase of 1990s manufactured house 920 sq ft.  Replace water heater. Plumber to fix one outside water turn on. Plumber to get shower to turn on as it was shut off so hard.  We asked for a different shower turn on and didn't get it.  We got the same thing.  Termite extermination.  Replace nasty old stove with a better used one.  The heat went out 3 weeks after we moved in.  (Realtor told us to get a home warranty.  H. didn't want it.)

In the following years, replace shingles, replace refrigerator, stucco the outside of the house and have it painted.  Repiped because the original piping was leaking. We are in 5th season in this cottage! Villa, tiny house, whatever.

Replace last stove with one from a friend - free. She was redecorating.  She also gave us a small love seat to replace a long couch. We almost bought her side by side refrigerator freezer but it wouldn't fit.  The guys that were helping replace things on her redecorate bought it.  Not long and it was on Market Place.  They hadn't measured their fridge spot. 

A new used recliner.  She also gave us a set of nice white  dishes.  And her old Ninja crock pot, stove, oven all in one so our 2nd cook stove wouldn't try to kill us since we couldn't get things to cook in what should have been the right amount of time.  LOL

Two different neighbors gave us night stands for the bedrooms.  Another gave us two patio tables and 4 chairs.  The chairs were pretty much on their last leg.  We still have the tables.

In this neighborhood a lot of things are put on the street and marked free.  Someone took that nasty stove for a rental.  The 2nd stove also was picked up.  Someone took one of those old consoles that had 8 track, turntable and tv.  IDK where the old fridge went. 

The golf cart was batteries replaced every other year.  This year H. put a lithium battery in.  It took some work but it's running. 

[Opti]

Dec 10, 2023 21:21:56 GMT -5 ripvanwinkle said:

Dec 9, 2023 21:28:42 GMT -5 Opti said:

Is your utility bill mostly electric for your place or do you have gas and electric for your home? I believe that is for your home and I forget where you live. Please remind me if you are willing.

Mine is bundled, so I have to look at my notes to see where I am with electric and gas. Dollarwise I am in the worst position ever for my combined gas and electric bill. My end of October bill in total was just under $800.00 . The worst amount in arrears ever and it is because of the car, the merger at work, etc. I don't have that kind of money to make my utility supplier happy.

In fact your post reminded me I need to post up my bills, I have just Dec in 2021 to record I think, but I'd like to have 2022 sliced and diced and on a 8x11 sheet of paper so I can see what happened at least for the year prior. To get any assistance for my bill through PSE&G I will need that info or to make them copies of a years' worth of bills. 

My bills are separate for my home. Gas is just for the furnace.

Thanks for the clarification. I think utilities are so different from place to place even in NJ. There are homes to buy here that are on oil heat. Some old places that prefer woodstoves and some areas are almost totally electric. Especially believe it or not, "cheaper" apartments. 

I am glad your furnace is new and better. It always sucks when a utility bill doubles or more for something you did not cause.

[TheOtherMe]

I get three separate utility bills.  One each for electricity, gas and water.  Water also includes trash.  

[Opti]

Dec 11, 2023 11:14:03 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I get three separate utility bills.  One each for electricity, gas and water.  Water also includes trash.  

Water and sewer is included in my rent but was part of the utilities I had to split when I rented a room.
Trash is yet another interesting thing in NJ along with recycling.     Some towns bundle it into their taxes and others do not.

[TheOtherMe]

Recycling is included in my trash bill that is added on to the water bill.