They know when you have money...

[ksmith]

I need to get the garage repaired this year. Had the money set aside. It's not a vital repair, as were the leaky roof and disintegrating soffits/eaves. It's a simple frame structure that sits on a low part of the yard, and over time the lowest part of the frame has started to crumble due to water damage. It's a cosmetic issue in part, but given that the winter's mouse invasion gained access by chewing through the rotted wood, it's also a little more than just looks.

Cue today, when the A/C guy came out to perform the annual PM. The A/C unit is 17 years old, and for the last few years has needed to be charged with freon. Turns out that the freon is the less environmentally friendly/more costly variety, so that cost would go up. But this year there's also an oil leak, and you balance the cost of repair vs the cost of a new, more economical unit and...

...so, Friday I will be getting the new A/C installed. Price-wise, it's only a couple hundred more than what I paid for the old unit, which I find rather amusing. You take your grins where you can find them at times like these.

I still need to get the garage fixed, but I fear that will be put off until fall.

Comments

[barbarienne.livejournal.com]

17 years on one A/C unit is impressive! My mother has to replace hers roughly once a decade.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

You know, thanks for telling me this. I thought I had gotten my money's worth, but I recall asking last year's tech whether I needed to replace the A/C, and he said 1) not if it's still running, and 2) that his unit was well over 20 years old. I want to say 30 years, but I may be misremembering. Plus, the guy was a repairman. He could keep fixing it himself for free.

But deep down, I wondered whether I was being snowed even though 1) 17 years and 2) the total cost wasn't bad at all. One more selling point if/when I ever put this place on the market. Newer A/C.

[barbarienne.livejournal.com]

I'm sure a lot of it is related to how often it's used and how large a space it has to cool. My mother installed the central air in 1968 when they bought the place. I think the original unit lasted between 15 and 18 years--I vaguely recall flopping around teenage-dramatically while we waited for the replacement. She's replaced it twice since then, most recently last year, so it's more like 12-13 years between each.

In any event, a 17-year run means you got your money's worth.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Now that you mention usage, I realize that I did get my money's worth. Mom liked it cold in the house, as in high 60s. That system used to run all the time.

[thebluerose.livejournal.com]

I know how you feel - I had a tyre that needed replacing on my car. The final bill clocked up for the car this month is around $800

for TWO new tyres and alignment
for new CV boots and warrant
for relicencing

It was supposed to be half of the above, plus I have another bill for fixing the shower for about $600 coming. And I dont really have much to spare at the moment :(

Still the good thing is that they are all necessary and mostly permanent fixes that should give us both good value in the long term :)

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

That's what I keep telling myself. Kuro, my Forester, is 9 years old and ::cross fingers:: still running well and looking good even with the occasional repair bill. As for the house, it needs to be maintained, and new, more efficient A/C is good. It's not an ultra unit, but I have a small house. I don't need top of the line.

[thebluerose.livejournal.com]

LOL 9 years! I finally had to part with my beloved Astina last year due to rust problems and it was 19 years old and I was the second owner and had it for 18 years :)

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

::looks up Astina::

Cute car. I think we had our two Datsun 1200 sedans the longest. My dad got them in the mid-70s, when they were only a couple of years old, and we finally junked them in the mid-80s. 55-HP rollerskates, but good cars.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

It's always something, isn't it? Seventeen years seems like a good run on an A/C unit to me.

Which reminds me-- I need to get those quotes on replacement windows. My house still has the original windows from when it was built... 50+ years ago.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Oy, don't mention windows. Mine are the originals as well, and I think this house was built in '69. They need replacing, but, add them to the list...