Heat! Real Heat!

We have a new propane furnace and heat pump! 

It was a bit of a struggle and honestly, we had no heat one night but it has been a week and it has been great.

When we bought the house on October 3, 2023 we knew that we would need a new oil tank or a new furnace. The home inspector said that because the tank was so old it would need to replaced. We had people come in and give us estimates for a new oil tank, new propane furnace with heat pump or an electric furnace with heat pump. Explored geothermal, (VERY expensive), I wanted to go for an outdoor wood furnace but my husband would not support (I expect it reminding him of growing up and having to chop wood for his parent's place when he was growing up and once was enough.) 

My first thought was an electric furnace with heat pump and we would install solar on the property to help offset the cost of hydro. So I looked it up. Two month before we could get Hydro One into the area to disconnect us from the grid so we could install a new 200 amp panel. So electric was out right off the bat since I wasn't going to wait until December to get a new furnace. Ha, ha!

Managed to track down (with the help of my realtor) the company who supplied  the house with oil for the previous owner. I called and they were lovely people. Told me who installed and took care of the furnace. They recommended we get the tank filled before it got inspected. "It's okay," I said, "We have 3/4 of a tank left from last year. We will be fine." Ha, ha!" 

The company that maintained the furnace and tank came out and inspected everything. Furnace was fine, tank was condemned as the pipe leading to the tank was bad. We were left with the oil we had to last us until we got a new furnace. Waited for the company to give us a quote for a new tank. Crickets. I gave up waiting by the end of the week.

Called another company. Oil tank, new $4000 + tax. Issues with the new tank was that it would need a poured concrete base for it in the basement. And could we get a heat pump with the old furnace we had? Try finding the answer to that question in a hurry. 

Instead we went for the most expedient solution. Propane furnace and heat pump. I could use the 100 amp panel I had without needing to upgrade and propane is considered a "clean" fuel. We choose the furnace and booked the install for the end of November. We would have enough oil to last until the new furnace! Ha, ha!

Called the propane company. Propane is very competitive in Ontario so I was looking for a deal. I got a lovely little song about how much money I would save with the install and the concrete pad required (they would pay half and I would start with a credit , equal billing , etc. etc. Bill and cooing commences. Please be our customer.) "Okay," I say. "When can you install?" "December 5." "I am going to run out of heat by December 5th!" "The earliest we can install is December 5th." "Let me call my installer." 

Ugh! So I call my installer. After a morning of back and forth, my furnace will be installed on December 5th and my heat pump on December 8th. They ask me to ensure the propane guys come late in the afternoon because the propane supplier will not allow the furnace people to hook up the propane to the furnace? What???!!!  I call the propane company - we are a go. Ha, ha!

That evening my husband says, "We are almost out of oil. We can't let the tank go down to empty as the tank is probably sludgy at the bottom and will gum up the furnace." It had been quite cold for November and the furnace was 20 years old and bit of a guzzler as far as fuel consumption. Did you know diesel fuel is almost identical to home heating oil? 4 gas cans of diesel were required to last the weekend. 

Monday, the day before the furnace is to be installed, I call the propane people to make sure they are there at the right time to deliver fuel for the new furnace. "We will be there between 1000 and 1400." 

"Um, no. No. That is not what was agreed upon. You are supposed to be there at the end of the day because I am having a brand new furnace installed." "We are?" "Yes." "Well delivery is scheduled for the morning." "No, I called multiple times to confirm that you will be delivering at the end of the day." 

"I am sorry ma'am, the route is already set." "I see. Thank you for your time."

I call the person who set up my account and to whom I have given my credit card information.  "Hello, Dan, let me explain to you why I am not happy right now...." He does call a supervisor and a coordinator and 'lo and behold' the problem magically disappears. Ha, ha!

We add a little more diesel to the oil tank on December the 4th as it was another cold night. 

Our new furnace!

December the 5th! I am at work but I am being sent pictures by my husband of all of the action at my place. Oil tank is out. Old furnace is out. They've chewed up my lawn. New furnace coming in! In the afternoon propane tanks are installed-oops too close to the house! Blocking my dryer vent and the access to underneath the extension. Move the tanks. Fill the tanks. Leave.

New propane tanks

Old oil stuff leaving

Tanks in the right place!

Oil tank removal! Oh no! That's going to take some work to clean up.

Wrong spot!

Right spot but only 5% fill!

Our new thermostat! Look heat!

When I come home the technician is still in the basement installing the last of the furnace. "Make sure you get the propane people in to deliver fuel tomorrow. It's important. They didn't give you much," he says.  

"Oh, okay." I call the propane people. 'Hi, my installer says you need to come and top up my fuel." The representative on the other end of the line says, "You will be receiving fuel on Friday." "But my installer said to make sure you filled the tank immediately." 

"We always fill the tank at least 20%." 

"But I live in an old, drafty house..." 

"You won't go through 20% by Friday." 

"But I need it tomorrow." 

" I cannot help you." Click.

I phone again and now have arranged for fuel to come sometime Thursday.

I have a new furnace. There is a new thermostat. It says 20C. I am warm for the first time in this house. It is lovely. Ha, ha!

The next day we have a new sump pump installed so the basement door is open a fair amount but the main floor is lovely and warm. Bliss. 

December 7th- it has been -8C overnight and when I wake up because a) it is time to go to work and b) I am cold. It is a little after 5:00 am. 

For some reason, instead of walking to the bathroom the usual way I walk past my new thermostat. My new thermostat that has a safety warning blinking on it. And it is 12.5C in the house.

So instead of getting ready for work, I am on the phone with my installer. What does this mean? What do I need to do? It means I need to turn off my brand new furnace before it breaks. And that I am out of propane.

I call my propane company. I call the emergency line. I need propane now. I am polite but firm.

"You are scheduled to get propane today, probably this afternoon." 

"I have had to turn my furnace off and it is -8C. This afternoon is too late." Eventually, I negotiate a  morning delivery.

I shower and get ready for work. I am thankful that I have hot water still. 

My husband comes down to wait for the propane delivery. They do deliver the propane, and express shock when they found out we only had 5% of a tank delivered initially. 

My husband was not amused while the propane people were there trying to fix the mistake. As he said, "Couch and comforter and mask for visitors and hat for the bald man...."

Seriously! I can't make this stuff up!