Where is Ross?
My last post about any work at the Cross House was 17 days ago.
17 days since I worked on the house or blogged about new work. This is unprecedented since my buying the properties in 2014 and starting this blog.
A few days ago I managed to clean the stairs in the Carriage House. A while back I did a lot of wall repair in the stair hall and got globs of joint compound all over the wood bits. So, I scraped all this up, and scoured the stair treads. Better. Ross happy.
I think the extreme weather did me in. I would drive all the way to the Cross properties, check that the heating was still working, and then all I wanted to do next was go back home where it was warm.
A few days ago I discovered that boiler #3 in the Cross House was not working. There are four boilers. #4 has not ever worked and I gave up on it in 2014 after being informed that it would cost $6500 to replace it. Yes, yikes. I was informed at the time that I did not really need a fourth boiler. But, as I now know, I absolutely need a third boiler. Without it, the house can only get up to about 55-degrees inside. To get to 70, I need a third boiler.
And I have no desire to work in 55-degree temperatures.
Thus, I await the terrifying verdict from Modern Air: What price warmth?
14 Comments
Leave a Comment
Your email address will NEVER be made public or shared, and you may use a screen name if you wish.
I know absolutely nothing about boilers. I had my hot water heater taken out about 20 years ago and replaced with a tankless on demand system. For my size house it works perfectly for me.
The only thing I have ever done to fix that old hot water heater or my gas furnace was to replace the thermocoupler. For them it was cheap and easy and I did it for the furnace several times before I had to disconnected due to a gas leak. Yeah, I could have blown up my house and possibly taken out the neighbors as well. Now I have an electric mica panel in my bedroom, which is the only room that really needs heat. The pilot is always on in the stove so that keeps the kitchen tolerable. Of course, I live in coastal SoCal so it’s not like we get a lot of freezing weather here. In fact, the nightly lows haven’t been that low so I expect I will have a poor fruit crop this season as not enough chill hours.
I do hope it is an easy fix for you. Easy and affordable. Depending on how old the boilers are, if they work like giant hot water heaters have you considered just buying a new thermocoupler and putting it in?
Ross, you’re spread too thin. You have too many irons in the fire. Given your current health will you ever finish the Cross House. I don’t say this in criticism but you need to decide what your priorities are. There are too many obstacles in you path. Redo the house where you live, finish the carriage house to rent, get the cat fence built at the Cross House. You can’t do this before you do that. Given the circumstances, you’ve set yourself impossible goals. One way out of this, would be more income. Open a YouTube channel. Many people use their smart phones to start. Say 5 to 10 min. You’re smart, talented, funny, you have charisma and any number of topics to film. You would earn money for things that you already do. You already have a following and more would follow you on YouTube. Or Instagram. You could just sit and talk about whatever topic. We would watch and listen and some of us would become your Patreons. You would have a wider following. We all want you to succeed – Mark
Even if Ross doesn’t feel he has the time for Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube, I whole heartedly second the Patreon idea. Post extra snippets, even if it’s just bonus photos or a blog post /without/ photos, put in three or four levels of Patronage, and see what happens! I so would subscribe.
Ross, stay with us!!!!
This winter has been a harsh one for North America. We’ve gotten more snow in my part of Canada than is usual, and in quick succession. That, along with several longer cold spells, has left me feeling very over it (and I say that as someone who loves winter).
I hope the cost for boiler repair/replacement isn’t too painful!
Ross, I totally agree with Mark. So many people love hearing from you. Before I check out the news (headlines only, gotta save myself), I click on your blog to see if there is something new. I have been doing this for years. I also watch endles Youtube videos on such mundane things like power washing, building stone walls, clearing spiders from a stone ruin, cleaning up a junky garden. Videos from you would be so fun. Try to rethink your Baby Steps. Before the whole list of things you need to get done, narrow it down to the house you live in, unload that, and then think about the carriage house and the Cross House. You have taught a lot of people so much about Baby Steps.
I don’t have as much energy as I used to as I get close to 80 years old but I have been putting your Baby Steps to use. Yesterday I vacuumed my apartment, that was my sole goal. Then I realized it looked dusty around the edges so I swiffered. Then I thought: the floor would look better if I mopped it, so I did, all 3 rooms. Then I thought: I had better clean the bathroom floor, and I did that. In spite of myself I did a whole spring cleaning. Done.
Plz don’t be so hard on yourself. I think the above commenters have great points. Hang in there! 😘🫂
Winter is always a difficult time to get things done. The shorter daylight hours affect our mental health. The good news is that the days are getting longer……and warmer. Hang in there, my friend! Next week is a new week and an opportunity to take a few baby steps, as you put it.
I know as I age, there are parts that don’t work as well or just stopped working. All this to ask, how old are the boilers anyway?
Tomorrow is a new day and a new opportunity to take more steps!
Yikes, it was cold last week. I don’t have any advice for you — I’m just sending you all the warm thoughts I can muster. I’m so very, very happy it will be warmer next week — a bit of a break for you and the Cross House. Hang in there, friend.
Good luck with the heat situation!
Hi Ross! It’s really funny that the house has 4 boilers- whenever I’ve heard them referenced in your posts, I feel like I’m hearing you discuss the boiler rooms of the titanic or something.
I concur with the above commenters- you have so much going on in your life now. I’m not an arbiter of anything in your life, so I can’t tell you what needs to change or what doesn’t, but at the end of the day we all just hope you’re doing okay. For years now, since 2017 maybe, I’ve read back this blog whenever something in my life or the wider world has been crazy, and it warms my heart to see the level of care and attention to detail you’ve given this house. Please take care of yourself too, though, Ross! We’ll all be here whenever you have the time to post.
I agree with Mike, a YouTube show/program whatever you want to call it would be so interesting. Like Mike said you are smart, entertaining, funny. It is interesting reading about your repairs and adventures, and would be more so if people could see the Cross House and what you are doing whether it be repairs, decorating or when things don’t go right. It’s all in a days work, why not make some money doing what you do best. Take care Ross.
P.S. hope the repair on Furnace #3 is affordable and is done quickly.
Ross, you are very loved.
And a hero and a source of peace to us all. But even a hero needs a break. You were definitely missed though.
Hoping the boiler repair is easy and not costly.
Big hugs!