Big Decision on the A/C

by Michael McDowell
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Weekend Update- We didn’t make it up to the Shanty this week. We had some family business to tend to and you guys should know by now that family business trumps all. The fun and games can wait. Take that as a bit of life advice for the unenlightened. Or Not, up to you.
 
Now onto the fun stuff.
We might not have gotten any work done up in East Texas but we did make a big decision with how we are going to move forward with one very important step. The one thing near and dear to all Southerners, Air Conditioning. The house has never had a central A/C so the install will be completely from scratch. We are planning to extend the square footage of the house so the equipment we install has to be sized for our final footprint. Not only will this cost a lot of money but it will also take a lot of time. I have the money set aside but you all know the deal with time. It’s way more precious than money (life advice #2). So that being said, I am sure you have figured out where this is going- No A/C this year. Window units it is until probably next spring. By then I hope to have all the construction work done and still have time to complete the install before the heat of ’23 sets in. This should work just fine for part time living.
 
We completed another step in the right direction- I upgraded my home generator for the Alvin house. I am cutting the size close but hopefully, fingers crossed, it should be big enough to run the central A/C. The worst thing about sleeping at night without power is the heat. I can’t do it. I am just too old for that kind of thing. Anyway, the generator should be delivered this week and I can’t wait to get it all set up. My old gen was in a bit of disrepair but has plenty of life left in it. As with most of my older stuff, this piece of equipment is destined for the Shanty. The power up there is horrible. The carburetor was the biggest issue so on Saturday I installed a brand spanking new carb. It fit like a glove. After I had everything in place I turned on the fuel valve, pulled the handle and SNAP! Well crap!! No problemo. I have dealt with this on mowers etc. Just take off the cover and restring it. Well Mr Briggs or Mr Stratton, I am not sure which one, decided it best to rivet this thing together. For the uninitiated, rivets are not designed to be removed and once you get them out they can not be reassembled with the original parts. Not being a man who is easily discouraged, I grabbed a drill and went to work drilling out the rivets. Then off to tractor supply to pick up a new rivet gun and a box of rivets. Five minutes later it was all back together and you will be pleased to know that it started on the first pull. Life advice #3- always use the proper tool for the job!
 
I also did some work on my Jeep’s A/C but I am to frustrated to talk about it. Maybe later.
 
And that’s a wrap folks. See you again next week when I hope to have exciting tales from deep within the woods of East Texas, where just about anything can happen and the opportunity for such things is only limited by your imagination!

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