We have an HVAC system that has a small problem--the Condensate Pump. The unit is in the basement and all water it produces in both the winter and summer drain to a little pump on the floor. Any condensation or the runoff from the humidifier component in the winter drops into this little red box. When the box gets full, the pump kicks on and pumps the water ten feet upwards and out the side of the house to drain. That is, it does when it's working properly.
Last year we discovered water in the mechanical room. The condensate pump wasn't pumping and it overflowed. A water shutoff sensor was relocated, a pool noodle was mutilated to create a new bobber and we hoped the problem was solved. We "hoped" because the machine itself wasn't acting consistently. It wasn't electrical inconsistency, it was mechanical, and it was a gravity-based issue that worked 100% of the time unless we weren't watching it. It made no sense.
At any rate, we got it working again. Some time later it stopped working for no apparent reason. I futzed with it and it resumed normal function for a second time. This Saturday it stopped for a third time. We discover it wasn't working because the air conditioning had stopped working and the house was getting hot. Swearing ensued. We didn't know what was wrong and it was going to be a hot day. We go check the circuit breaker, look to see if a large limb is blocking the fan outdoors and then remember the condensate pump. Then more swearing ensued.
That's when I got fed up with the condensate pump. Luckily, our builder was coming over to do something dangerous on our roof and I got to talking with him about the pump (which he didn't install personally but has been ever so kind to help us with multiple times). I was telling him I didn't understand why the one in the crawl space worked flawlessly, but the one in the mechanical room was so irritable. And then I thought, "how much can these little red plastic boxes be?"
So off to Amazon we go and for the low low price of $45, I could have a new pump that won't leave us with a basement full of water or a house that creeps up to "near 'bout sweltering" before we figure out the problem.
Tonight the new pump came in. It was a fifteen minute job to change the new pump out. I was so happy I nearly hugged the new pump when it did it's first successful pump.
The Big Boy Update: My son didn't go to school today. He told me his stomach hurt when we were on the drive there. Two blocks before we arrived, he threw up all over himself. I dropped his sister off at school and brought him home. He had a bath and the car seat got pulled out of the car and into to the driveway to be hosed down. After the bath my son was hungry. He ate and ate and ate and then had a completely normal day. This morning he ate the same cereal, milk and juice as his sister did for breakfast. We have no idea what bothered his stomach so.
The Tiny Girl Chronicles: We had pizza for lunch today. My daughter was busy playing super hero with her brother. She stood up on her chair, held her hands up high and said, "I got my pizza powers!"
No comments:
Post a Comment