Fun Evening - long & not so fun

[Philagoofy]

Today my dh went in the hospital for a short procedure but stayed overnight to make sure everything's ok. So I'm there with him all day, getting home around 7:00 tonight. Walked in & felt like a window was open. Went to the thermostat & it says the room temp is 58. We keep it at about 68 when we aren't home.

I don't know anything about heaters, etc, so I call my dh at the hospital & add to his worries. He says call gas co as we have parts & labor plan. Well unless it's an emergency, I have to call back tomorrow between 7:00 am & 6:00 pm. The guy suggests calling before noon. I say, yeah, it's freezing now, I'm going to call at 7:00 am.

Oh, btw, it's about the coldest day of the year so far here, bitter 14 degrees. Anyway, after talking to my parents & dh again, they say to call back & say it's an emergency, my dh will be getting out of hospital tomorrow & it's freezing here. He says again you have to call back tomorrow. I said I thought this was an emergency line, he says emergencies are gas leaks, explosions, etc. & to you this is an emergency but not to us.

So with the help of my dad on the phone & the directions on the heater, I relit the pilot. It stays on & I turn the heat on & start to feel warm air. I'm so excited, I fixed it & don't have to worry about picking up dh & being here for repair guy tomorrow.

But then, warm air is turning to cool. Pilot light looks like it's off again. I turn off heat & pilot & am writing this while I wait the 5 minutes. Temp is 59 & has been for 3-1/2 hours now so maybe it won't go down anymore tonight if it doesnt work. I'll just have to bundle up but actually I don't feel all that bad & usually I'm cold when it's 70 in here.

Well, 5 minutes are up, going to try it again. Wish me luck.

No, I'm not going to say I smell gas because what if I'm taking away a service person from someone who really needs it tonight. Some elderly person or someone with children. I'd feel so guilty.

 

[snowy76]

Look on the bright side -- today someone said it was MINUS 33 where she lived, and her DD was parking her car on a frozen lake!

Seriously though, I know just how you feel - a while back I was home with my newborn and DH was out working - there was a tornado warning and the power went out. I couldn't reach DH because he'd taken our cell phone, and since we have cable phone I had no phone service. Meanwhile, DH was in the area where the funnel was spotted. I felt totally panicked.

Hope things go all right for you!

 

[DISUNC]

Today my dh went in the hospital for a short procedure but stayed overnight to make sure everything's ok. So I'm there with him all day, getting home around 7:00 tonight. Walked in & felt like a window was open. Went to the thermostat & it says the room temp is 58. We keep it at about 68 when we aren't home.

I don't know anything about heaters, etc, so I call my dh at the hospital & add to his worries. He says call gas co as we have parts & labor plan. Well unless it's an emergency, I have to call back tomorrow between 7:00 am & 6:00 pm. The guy suggests calling before noon. I say, yeah, it's freezing now, I'm going to call at 7:00 am.

Oh, btw, it's about the coldest day of the year so far here, bitter 14 degrees. Anyway, after talking to my parents & dh again, they say to call back & say it's an emergency, my dh will be getting out of hospital tomorrow & it's freezing here. He says again you have to call back tomorrow. I said I thought this was an emergency line, he says emergencies are gas leaks, explosions, etc. & to you this is an emergency but not to us.

So with the help of my dad on the phone & the directions on the heater, I relit the pilot. It stays on & I turn the heat on & start to feel warm air. I'm so excited, I fixed it & don't have to worry about picking up dh & being here for repair guy tomorrow.

But then, warm air is turning to cool. Pilot light looks like it's off again. I turn off heat & pilot & am writing this while I wait the 5 minutes. Temp is 59 & has been for 3-1/2 hours now so maybe it won't go down anymore tonight if it doesnt work. I'll just have to bundle up but actually I don't feel all that bad & usually I'm cold when it's 70 in here.

Well, 5 minutes are up, going to try it again. Wish me luck.

No, I'm not going to say I smell gas because what if I'm taking away a service person from someone who really needs it tonight. Some elderly person or someone with children. I'd feel so guilty.

NO HEAT IN THIS WEATHER IS A EMERGANCY!!!!!! CALL

dONT FOOL AROUND WTH THE GAS!

 

[4nana]

OMG, could it have happened on a worse night !? I agree, sounds like an ER in 14*, I don't care what the age!?!?! Please take care and bundle up good. Do you have a little space heater to use for ER? Are you in a house or apt? If a house, some would suggest you leave your faucets dripping a little to protect your water pipes from freezing.

Our DD's furnace went out last week on a very cold night. They kept resetting it, but unfortunately didn't last. Thankfully their bed is heated and the 2 little ones slept cozy with them. Next morn the repair came and it turned out to be a shorted wire that blew the furnace thermostat.

I feel sorry for a anyone who is in the cold on this 14* night . We live in the country but thankfully have a gas range and fireplace in case of ER.

Good luck sweetie and I wish DH a speedy recovery.

 

[Philagoofy]

They said an emergency is if there is a gas smell or explosion. I don't smell gas. Just tried lighting it again & it went out. I'll give it another try in a few minutes.

The temp still hasn't gone down, so maybe it'll be alright tonight. Just a problem tomorrow having to be 2 places at once but my parents said they'd come to help. Just hope the problem is covered. Don't need anymore big expenses now. But who does? Things could be worse, like snowy76 had a while ago.

 

[Philagoofy]

Thanks for the kind words 4Nana. No space heater, was thinking running out to get one but figured I'd be okay. Thanks for the faucet suggestion.

 

[babytrees]

Stay warm!!

4nana gave you great advice.

Is it the same guy you get when calling the emergency line?? Maybe calling back and talking to somebody else. If nothing else maybe you can get yourself first on the work list in the morning.

I would go get a space heater...for yourself and the pipes. It might also come in handy later on!!

I hope your husband gets better soon!!!

Hope your worries diminish soon also!!

 

[momrek06]

OP, this happened last week to my son at his house. But he does not have gas at all. He was gone all day like 9-9pm and came in and could tell instantly something was up. Went to the sink, no hot water, went to the thermostat and turned the heat up high and did not hear the furnace kick in!!

For him there was a RE-SET button on his furnace, it must have tripped when he was gone to work and school. He re-set the button and the furnace kicked in, thankfully.

He was worried about the pipes freezing overnight. He has an old farm house in CT.

 

[ZPT1022]

Good luck with staying warm. We had this problem back in November. Got the same *B* lady on the phone every time- apparently they only have one person answering the phones after a certain time. She was awful, told me no heat is not an emergency and I said "Well, with three kids five and under and two asthmatics in the house, actually IT IS!" She could really have given a crap less. I almost packed it in and went and stayed at my mom's but I felt guilty leaving the cats to freeze alone so I piled all the kids in my bed with me (DH works third shift) and we all put on layers and grabbed every blanket in the house. The repair guy came the next day and our pilot is an automatic one but it kept grounding itself out. He "rigged something" so it would work for us for the weekend while he ordered a part, and he said that if it went out again, that yes, indeed, it is an emergency. I did file a complaint against the rude lady, and at the same time a commendation for our super excellent helpful repair guy. I hope yours is an easier fix than ours was! I was kind of paranoid about "rigging something" and was completely worried that it was going to burst into flames or something. LOL. It all worked out and I hope yours does too. Oh, and best wishes for a speedy recovery for DH!

 

[Philagoofy]

Thanks to all for your good wishes. The blower works but it just blows cool air. I tried for the 4th time & it stayed light for about 5 minutes, then as soon as I turned the heat back on the pilot light went out again. Still 58 so it's not too bad. After reading what other people have had to go through & with children, I don't feel too bad. Actually, I don't mind so much for myself, but I know it will be an annoyance & uncomfortable to my dh.

I'll have to learn to be more forceful tomorrow morning when calling this in. And yes, it sounded like the same guy the 2 time I called. He didn't seem to care but then there probably are more serious emergencies than this.

I don't feel tired, even after 2 hot teas & it's 1 am & I'll have to get up at 7:00 to call. But sometimes I get very little sleep, doesn't seem to bother me.

So here I sit, rambling on & on. Well let me go see what else there is to read here.

 

[miss missy]

Oh you could use my heated mattress pad!! I got it for xmas and it's the BEST! Wish I could get you one right now, its darn cold at 58!!

 

[goofygirl]

Thanks to all for your good wishes. The blower works but it just blows cool air. I tried for the 4th time & it stayed light for about 5 minutes, then as soon as I turned the heat back on the pilot light went out again. Still 58 so it's not too bad. After reading what other people have had to go through & with children, I don't feel too bad. Actually, I don't mind so much for myself, but I know it will be an annoyance & uncomfortable to my dh.

I'll have to learn to be more forceful tomorrow morning when calling this in. And yes, it sounded like the same guy the 2 time I called. He didn't seem to care but then there probably are more serious emergencies than this.

I don't feel tired, even after 2 hot teas & it's 1 am & I'll have to get up at 7:00 to call. But sometimes I get very little sleep, doesn't seem to bother me.

So here I sit, rambling on & on. Well let me go see what else there is to read here.

Philagoofy, I hate PGW with a passion! Getting them to do something is like pulling teeth, plus they charge and arm and a leg.

I use my gas heater but I also have electric space heaters as a backup.

 

[Philagoofy]

Philagoofy, I hate PGW with a passion! Getting them to do something is like pulling teeth, plus they charge and arm and a leg.

I use my gas heater but I also have electric space heaters as a backup.

Well, here's the latest & I'll try to make it short. After getting it lit 3 times last night & going out 3 times I gave up. Hardly slept but not cause I was cold, my mind wouldn't stop working. Anyway, I get up at 7:00 to call PGW, they say we don't have parts & labor plan. Call a local guy but they don't open till 8:00. Call dh at hospital, he says he paid it, look up in checkbook. I find it & call PGW back.

Three times I call them, no we don't have plan, they show payment but it doesn't specify it's for the plan. They show 3 payments in one day & we are on a payment plan so 2 were for that & the 3rd they don't know.

They tell me I have to get copy of check, try online, can't get through. So I go to bank, of course it's not open yet. While waiting I call back to ask what I'm supposed to do when I get copy of check.

Thank you thank you thank you Fernando. (I hope) He says oh, that $213 was credited to your account but we can switch to the P&L plan & he scheduled someone to come out today between noon & 5. Why couldn't someone do that before? Anyway, it's just after 12:00 now so I still may have a few hours to go. DH will get a ride home from hospital.

And he's mad at me, blaming me for ??

Well, that wasn't too short, sorry. It's 54 in here now, I think I'm getting used to it.

 

[CathrynRose]

They said an emergency is if there is a gas smell or explosion. I don't smell gas. Just tried lighting it again & it went out. I'll give it another try in a few minutes.

The temp still hasn't gone down, so maybe it'll be alright tonight. Just a problem tomorrow having to be 2 places at once but my parents said they'd come to help. Just hope the problem is covered. Don't need anymore big expenses now. But who does? Things could be worse, like snowy76 had a while ago.

Buy a space heater for the time being. Just be careful with it.

 

[pumba]

you probably need a new igniter........HAHAHA.......we have a gas furnace and that is the one item that is always broke......our furnace is 17 years old but it is so darn efficient for three apartments and also continuous hot water.....24/7

 

[goofygirl]

I have not signed up for PGW's P&L Plan, I hope it is worth it for you and they fix it!

 

[Philagoofy]

Here's a dilemma. The local guy just showed up. I had called & left a message with them this morning after calling & getting nowhere with PGW. I thought they'd call me back but I was either on the phone or not home this morning. So, do I let them fix it or wait for the covered plan?

Hope I made the right decision. I was on the phone with dh, he wasn't sure what to do either. Went by what I suggested. Guess I'll get the blame later if things don't turn out right. Probably made the wrong decision. oh well

What would you have done, let the local guy (big local company actually) fix it & pay or wait for gas company under covered plan?

 

[diznygirl]

Since it's 50 degrees - I'd go ahead and let the guy who was there fix it.

Good luck!

 

[goofygirl]

I'd go with the local guy and eat the cost.

 

[Philagoofy]

Meanwhile, my dh is in the hospital waiting to be discharged & complaining about how hot it is in the room.