The Price of Comfort

Today's Outside Temperature

A few week's back, Sear's was offering a free estimate on the cost of air conditioning our home. We took them up on the free offer to discover that to do the job right with a heat pump, the bill would be in the neighborhood of $6,000.00. That, in itself, made me sweat. I checked them out with Salem Electric, to find that the job could be done for probably no more that $4,500 with either a rebate of $750 or low cost financing. I checked with M & C and learned they have a unit that attaches to a window for somewhere in the ball park of $400.00. That's manageable, but would probably not reach my office, so something for the office would be necessary.

Home Depot's $97.00 Goldstar

We decided to shop around. The first day we shopped, The Home Depot had lots of units. But we weren't ready to buy. Then a week ago yesterday, I went back to find out how window units are actually installed. I discovered of course that they were out of the lower priced models. The salesman said that was about it for this year because they don't resupply. I happened to spot one that had been returned and bought it.

Today's Temperature in My Office

Having never installed a window unit, figuring out how to do it was a puzzle. I didn't want to lose the ability to open the window. The small units, however, use the window to hold the unit in. After fussing with it for a few days, it is up and operating today, and a nice cool temperature. There are still a few details, like window screen, to go, but the office is now in the comfort zone. Then, of course, there is the rest of the house...