Bloody Hell

[bjarvis]

Let's play a little game of How Much Worse Can My Day Get?...

1. Our furnace died this morning. But it gets worse...
   
2. The technician was here for mere minutes before deciding the controller board is fried with signs of water damage. Cost to replace: about $1,000. But it gets worse...
   
3. Because of the damned holiday, the earliest that a replacement controller can be ordered is next Tuesday. But it gets worse...
   
4. It'll probably take at least a day more to get the part and install it, possibly 2-3 days if the part can't be located in the greater mid-Atlantic area. But it gets worse...
   
5. The board damage is probably related to issues we had back in the summer when the chiller exchange for the air conditioning was icing up. Because the AC killed our furnace, there's no warranty coverage. But it gets worse...
   
6. The entire AC exchange will have to be replaced before summer or we'll likely go through this entire process all over again next fall. That will take another $2-3k.

As you can imagine, I'm not an especially happy camper right now. Thank god we didn't spend a lot on xmas presents because if we weren't flat broke before, we definitely are now.

Comments

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

And this is better than an old-fashioned boiler how?! I always think these efficient new gizmos are really cool, but everyone I know who has one runs into problems like this.

Ugh. Not fun, and *certainly* not what you're looking for during christmas.

I'm sending loving and calming vibes to you, as that's all I can do, I suppose.

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

Did I mention we're having family over for xmas? That plan is under reconsideration at the moment.

Mmmm... theoctothorpe vibes. *pause* Is it just me or it getting warm in here suddenly? :-)

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

If it gets too warm, you may feel more comfortable if you remove some or all of your clothing… just tryin' to help.

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

Yup, the clothing definitely has to go. Still feeling pretty damn warm though...

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

Sorry I can't do anything to cool you down… I can only make things hotter ;-)

It is true!

[redbearmark.livejournal.com]

you do have that effect!

[danthered.livejournal.com]

My experience matches yours: computerised control of things like furnaces and dishwashers may have made them cost less to run, but it's also made them more costly to repair. Subjectively, it also feels as though it's made them more likely to need repair. Had the A/C evaporator dripped down into the works of a pre-computer furnace, perhaps some corroded contacts might have needed cleaning, or maybe a relay might have needed replacement -- that kind of thing. An easy, quick, on-the-spot repair. This is no longer possible; instead we get "Can't do a thing for it. Control board's dead. Hafta order a new one."

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I wonder if you factor in the cost for the fix, if it saves you money at all?

I mean:

* The initial cost is higher
* The cost to fix is HUGE in money and time (this part has to be remade from unicorn tears in outer mongolia. It'll take a week, meanwhile, you'll freeze to death)
* The efficiency may be higher but in the case of something like a tankless water heater, when the power's out you have *NO* hot water, as you have no tank.

There is this new hotness that everyone's talking about. I'm sure you've heard it… "The Nest"… it's a pretty thermostat that can communicate with other 'stats in the house, coordinating efforts. A basic thermostat is one of the most uncomplicated things in the house… why should it need firmware updates?!

[danthered.livejournal.com]

Well, it's a gamble, isn't it? If you're lucky enough not to need repairs, you'll likely win once you've factored in the fuel savings and the rebates that are usually available for buying a high-efficiency unit of whatever type. But if you need repairs, you're often hosed. Leaving aside the merit of reduced energy and water use in its own right, why does a dishwasher need to have an onboard computer? Why does a stove need to have an onboard computer? Why is this better? In my experience it is not. My house has a Bosch computer-controlled dishwasher with electronically-selectable modes and options. My apartment has a General Electric dishwasher with mechanically-selectable modes and options and a mechanical rotary timer with knob and synchronous motor. The Bosch might use less water, but it takes the same amount of detergent and takes much more time, and the stars have to line up correctly and the gods have to smile upon you or the dishes won't get all the way clean or all the way rinsed. The GE is a little louder and might(!) use more water, but it gets the dishes all the way clean each and every time, and it does it relatively quickly. The mechanical timer and pushbuttons will most likely outlast whatever sends the dishwasher to its grave. The Bosch has already had the control boards replaced and still doesn't work as it should. Why is this better?

As for tankless water heaters: Been there. Utter nightmare, and totally false economy. Not again. But while I was still trying to keep those pieces of junk running, they absolutely ate control boards. Even when I stopped buying new ones and took my pile of dead ones to an electronics repair business to be reworked with uprated components (5w resistors rather than 2w, for example), they just wouldn't live long. Why does a water heater need an onboard computer?!!

BTW, CMH, please send me an e-mail; I've got something you've gotta see/try.