Winter Rolls On

   It's still a little chilly inside today with the wood stove down.  Jeff found that the stove pipe had more than one rust hole in it and had to replace 2 pieces of stove pipe.   (We decided when we bought the stove for less than $300 not to use insulated stove pipe that would cost $2000.  We're very    

Stovepipe waiting for repair

Replacement sections

careful and clean the pipes often... and the section that goes through the wall is triple insulated.) Jeff also found that the fire resistance board that tops the firebox has a hole in it...from overzealous pipe cleaning from above he surmises.  It took stops at 5 stores before Jeff found someone who knew what he was talking about...even though he was carrying the fireboard in his hand!  He was told it would take 2 days for the fireboard to come in
but today George... from Mohawk Valley Hearth and Heating(stop #5) called to make sure he knew what Jeff had been looking for.  Seems the hard insulated board wasn't necessary...and it would have been very difficult to get in in one piece, anyway! George suggested a fire-resistant 'ceramic blanket' that was pliable and would work just as well so Jeff got that. He put the old insulated board back in...in 2 pieces... with the soft blanket over it. George and Jeff agreed it would probably work even better.  We'll see.  Any way... come to find out, George had worked for Herkimer Home and Leisure and installed our old propane heater years ago.  Jeff told him we still had it on the porch and wanted to get rid of it.  Now they're working on a swap...the stove for split hard wood...details to follow.
   With the wood stove out of commission for a few days and temperatures near zero most of that time we've gone through fuel oil like crazy.  This house is not very well insulate!  (No wonder mice keep getting in!) Jeff checked and the oil gauge said 1/4 of a tank so I called HEAP to see if I could get an emergency allotment.  It took a day but they finally said yes...but the oil won't be delivered until Monday or Tuesday.  The wood stove will be back burning tomorrow and my fingers and toes are crossed hoping the oil will last until then.  If not, Fanny and I will be going to go to Jeff's for a couple of days but the water pipes won't be so lucky.

updated Friday, 2/6/2015, 4:45 pm