Heat!

Our oil tank has been condemned. We have a third of a tank of oil left and now we have to buy a furnace, pronto, because we live in Canada and it is cold here. 

There is no natural gas in our neighbourhood, Hydro One takes weeks to disconnect your power so we can't upgrade our 100Amp panel to a 200Amp to support a new electric furnace before winter comes, geothermal is an option but can't get it installed quickly enough (and it is expensive!) and while we could replace our oil tank (we have discussed this quite a lot because it is the cheapest option) why would we? Our furnace, while in still good working order, is 20 years old. 

We've decided to put in propane with an arctic heat pump. $24000. We do get a rebate for the heat pump from the government! Plus because our home is so energy inefficient we qualify for the 0% loan for retrofitting our house. Propane is actually considered greener than natural gas which I found out today. It is a by product of oil and gas industry and that does give me pause. But I need heat and I need it soon.

This is not the option I was hoping for. I really had hoped for solar energy, a heat pump and an electric furnace but I am learning the reality of renovations. You may have grandiose dreams of getting everything done quickly but the reality is waiting is as much a part of the process as the actual doing.

My new furnace is due to be installed November 27 and 28 so I am very thankful!

P.S. The company installing my furnace has asked if I can wait a few days for my installation as a family in the local area with no heat at all!

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