I’m such a creature of habit. My whole day was planned but those plans were disrupted when this morning, not long after Vince left for work, the carbon monoxide detector went off in the bedroom on the end of the house near the gas water heater. I didn’t have a clue what to do. I took the detector outside so it would clear out and stop screaming at me. I took Speck to the sewing room so he’d be safe. I opened all the windows in that end of the house. Nothing looked amiss in the water heater room. The pilot was lit but it did smell funny in there, even though I know CO doesn’t have a smell. I didn’t have a clue if I should turn off the gas to the water heater or to the whole house or if I should just grab my yarn stash and run! Vince came home and turned off the pilot to the water heater and went back to work.
Then I started my plans for the day . . a trip to the bank, the grocery store, CVS to pick up a few things on sale there, a trip to our True Value Hardware to pick up cases of quart jars we had ordered and had shipped there, and then home to get lunch ready . . without the benefit of hot water. Seriously, I didn’t even notice because the water in the tank was still plenty hot.
Vince came home for lunch and brought the carbon monoxide detector back in and it didn’t seem to recognize any danger. He lit the pilot back and called the repairman to come see if they could figure out what was wrong. They just left and said (I think this is what they said) that the cap on the vent on the roof is too close to the end of the pipe and when the wind blows just right, it could cause air to get sucked down the pipe and bring the fumes back into the house so they’ve gone to town to get what they need to give us a new pipe or a new cap on our pipe . . or whatever!
While they were here, I had them look at the air conditioner unit which I think is noisy. They said . . that’s what a 6 year old unit sounds like. The new units are much quieter. We had replaced the unit in MO and I remember Vince complaining that the old one, which also was about 6 years old, was noisy. Nothing is more quiet than the mini-split units. That’s what I want in the house . . but that’s not what I’m going to get in the house I’m sure.
Guys are back to fix the pipe on the roof but they’re doing part of it from the attic which they have to get to through the inside of the house so I’ll go appear to be cleaning house or doing something useful so they don’t think I play on the computer all day! 🙂
vickie van dyken says
play on the computer all day?? No one would believe you spend a minute with all the things you do!! It’s always something simple when those odd things happen! Glad you are all safe, carbon monoxide can be a very bad thing!! My husband wishes I would act like I am cleaning the house. Been kinda tired all the time lately, effects of the cold no doubt. Got a job interview tomorrow. I pray if God sees fit to give it to me he will see fit to give me the energy to fulfill it!! Freight Manager for a seafood company. A lot of customs paperwork, I’m good with that 🙂 The age thing usually comes into play, we will see.
SarahB says
HA, my kids think I spend all day on the computer! They have clean clothes and food but can’t figure out where it comes from… 🙂
landscapelady says
I hear you, I am such a creature of habit – work days I do the same thing at the same time, days off even I get up at the same time, do some sewing, go out at 10:00 to do shopping ect. Any disruption to my routine throws me off totally. I think it’s an age thing:-(
Vivian oaks says
Who cares if they think you play on the computer all day???!! Enjoy your down time! 🙂
pdudgeon says
Judy, you are so fortunate to have a husband on call who can handle those things, and repair guys who will come and fix the problems when they happen. yes it is a disruption, and it is scary when the alarms go off, but i’m glad for you that it was no worse than it was.
((huggs)))
Liz says
I had to laugh when I saw the post title since I read it a “routine” disruption as if disruptions are getting to be routine around your place. I know you meant a “disruption of your everyday routine”.
But it was funny since your previous post described the expansion of your chicken “family”.
Linda in NE says
Sounds like a pretty typical day to me. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to work with a plan in mind and when I get there all kinds of things have come up that need my attention before I can put my plan into action.
It’s good, though, that you thought of rescuing your yarn stash so it would be carbon monoxided to death. 🙂
Janet says
We had a family of four and their boarder die from CO poisoning this winter in Whitehorse. It was a similar situation – the chimney opening was not big enough to start and then some ice buildup contributed to the problem. Good for you for having a CO detector and for taking its warning seriously.