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

[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.