Service Call--No Charge

Today's high temperature was: 10 degrees

Sunny and Windy

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The new furnace is so noisy--when the flame comes on.  It makes me and the cats jump.  Something I have to get used to?  Perhaps, but I called this morning with a question--which they would not answer over the phone--had to have Lance come back out.  A simple question and they have to send out Lance?  So--I had to wait around all day until he could get me on his schedule.  

So, Dar comes over.  She knows I am trying to get the cross stitch crib covers cheap.  She has a friend that works at the Salvation Army.  I found one there, once.  I told Dar that whenever I go there to check, they never have the covers and yet, she, Dar got a couple there.

Come to find out, Dar's friend sees them the minute they come in, never puts them out on the floor, but instead saves them for Dar.  So Dar now has three covers that she paid $3.00 apiece for--that she is going to stitch--someday.  But, she isn't in the mood right now.  

"No wonder I never get any!"

"Nyuck. Nyuck", she laughs, "I got 'em.  My friend, Bernice would lose her job if they knew what she was doing."

"Well ya..she is basically stealing from the charity."  <just like Dar did when she worked there.>

Sometimes...I just want to slap her!

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Lance arrived around 3:00 and I told him this could have settled over the phone.

"Oh..really?  The dispatcher made it sound like a big deal."

We walked back to the furnace and I told him, "When the flame comes on, and roars into life, it sounds like a jet engine and startles the cats and me.  Plus--sleeping a mere twelve feet away, wakes me up off and on during the night.  Is it possible to put a piece of Styrofoam on the bottom of the closet door, where the burner is--to kind of dampen down the noise?"

"Sure it is.  You will still have plenty of louvers open on the top part of the door for air flow.  Hm-mm, or you could get some insulation or a pad and put in there."

So off he goes.

I immediately got in the car and headed up to Home Depot.  I had no idea where the Styrofoam or insulation might be, but I figured "building supplies" was a good place to start.  I walked all the way down to that aisle and snagged a guy in an orange vest and told him what I wanted to do.  He said, "The Styrofoam would work even better than insulation."

I had a choice of , 4' x 8' sheets or 24" x 24".  Of course, no sizes in between and since I knew--or was pretty sure I wasn't going to insulate my shed, I chose the smaller ones and got two.  

Even though I knew my plan would work, you notice I still consulted two "men".  I just had to make sure on this one, but I still smiled when I realized neither one of them had ever been asked the question or thought out how to fix the problem.  HAH!!

Stopped at Meijer's because I was totally out of cat food and milk, then came on home.

Measure twice, cut once--right?.

measuring stick, pencil and sharp utility knife

Mark it off and then score it with the knife.

I always lay the measuring stick on the line when I

cut--just in case I might slip and the measuring stick

might save me from losing a finger.

I scored it a couple of times and then...

put the cut part on the edge of your work place and hit

the part hanging over with your hand or fist.

Look at that, a fairly clean edge.  Good enough anyway.

Now to figure out how to adhere it to the door.

I have grey, red and white duct tape.

White will look nicer.

Duct tape solves many problems

Fits in there nicely, cut the next piece of the bottom

part and VOILA  we have a noise blocking solution,

right in front of where the fire box is,

with enough vents for air circulation.

Does it work?  Of course it works.  Now, when the flame comes on, it is much quieter and nobody is startled.

Yes--I am overly sensitive to noise--especially sudden noises.  Yes--I have a BIG startle reflex issue.

Yes--I am a nervous person.  

Instead of waiting to become used to the noise and waking up every time the furnace comes on, I chose to settle the problem this way.  When A/C season comes, I will only hear the blower and that is very quiet to begin with.  

I have another noise that is new since they installed the furnace.  I am going to check that out tomorrow, but I am going to have to move the couch and that is near impossible for one person.

I will let you know how it goes.

-10 tonight--I guess I better let the faucets trickle all night.