The parade of shit keeps on marching. The latest turd rolling in in the form of my latest utility bill – to the tune of $500 (or more than twice last month’s, which I thought was way too high, given that we keep the temperature in this place about two degrees above a morgue cooler). The big culprit – I’m guessing – is that the domestic water heater (why is it I have to struggle to refrain from saying “hot water heater?”) is heated by the the freakin’ heating hot water boiler (technically, a hot water generator since it doesn’t make steam). This is something I’d planned on addressing anyway (my plan was to build a solar water heater this summer, using some of the cash that keeps falling out of my ass). I really didn’t want to have to run the heat when it gets to be 90 out, just so I can take a shower.

This new bill, however, has forced me to act more quickly than I’d anticipated. My first choice would be a whole house tankless gas heater. In fact, I was planning on getting one back when I could get a 30% tax credit. Unfortunately, due to the configuration of the house, running the gas line where I need it would have been more hassle than it was worth. Next choice would be an electric one. But, holy crap, you need, like, a 120 amp circuit for that, and my panel just doesn’t have the room. I do, however, have a 220V well pump I’m not using, which means I can use that for a conventional water heater.

So, I bought one of those yesterday (fun fact: a 40 gallon one is $50 cheaper than a 30 gallon one), along with a setback timer for it. I figure the payback on this will be just a few months. I hope. But at least I won’t need to run the heat this summer. Speaking of which, time to set everything down to two degrees below a morgue cooler.

Anyhow, today is water heater installation day. And POD unloading day. And generator setup day. And then maybe plywood fetching so I can build a platform bed and some wall cabinets for my office. But then maybe I’ll save that for tomorrow.

Oh well, time for another shot of coffee, and then I have to get to work.