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This morning, I had a nightmare about the election results. That T* won in all states but 2. Or purportedly won. Realizing it was a dream was only partly relieving, because the nightmare still feels like a real possibility. But at least the opposite is quite possible too. It has to be.
..
Qiao's house has had an on-again off-again mildew-smell problem since he moved in. It doesn't bother him, but does me. By now, I'm pretty sure it's related to the HVAC system. This last week, the mildew smell has been worse than ever. It started a few days after we turned the heater on for the first time this season. We ran the heater for a long time with the windows open to air it out. We haven't had the A/C on since then. (I think that means it shouldn't be a problem with condensation dripping from the cooling coils.) It hasn't rained much since then either, only lightly a few times. But 2 days after having the heater on, the bad smell started.
This morning I began searching online for an inexpensive duct camera that I could use to inspect the ducts.
This afternoon, I had an sudden epiphany. Or rather a hypothesis which might not be true at all, about where the smell could be coming from, and why it's sporadic. A metal shroud covers the ductwork between the outside HVAC unit and the house; pine needles accumulate on the joint between it and the unit. Every once in a while, I clear it off. MAYBE clearing it off makes rain leak into that joint, rather than preventing it. I had just brushed away debris there not long ago. Maybe that's why the smell comes and goes.
So I took a closer look at it, and yes water could definitely be getting in there. (Qiao is having an HVAC inspection in a few days anyway, so I plan to ask the technician if they can check it when they come.)
But as it's forecast to rain tomorrow, I ended up caulking that seam today, and felt good about it. Like maybe I've finally found the problem/solution! (Old houses should come with manuals!) Or maybe not. But for the moment, it's a possibility at least.
Now tonight Qiao has turned on the attic fan. Even with windows open, it still also pulls nasty-smelling air up from the ducts. Blech.
But I guess if it's wet in there somewhere, that's the only way it's going to dry out, and at least the windows are open. Though I think it would dry out better with the heater on. But that's what seemed to start all this mess. So ::throws hands in air:: :: like I just don't care :: but I do, but I do :: do the hokey pokey and turn ourselves around, that's what it's all about ::
..
Qiao's house has had an on-again off-again mildew-smell problem since he moved in. It doesn't bother him, but does me. By now, I'm pretty sure it's related to the HVAC system. This last week, the mildew smell has been worse than ever. It started a few days after we turned the heater on for the first time this season. We ran the heater for a long time with the windows open to air it out. We haven't had the A/C on since then. (I think that means it shouldn't be a problem with condensation dripping from the cooling coils.) It hasn't rained much since then either, only lightly a few times. But 2 days after having the heater on, the bad smell started.
This morning I began searching online for an inexpensive duct camera that I could use to inspect the ducts.
This afternoon, I had an sudden epiphany. Or rather a hypothesis which might not be true at all, about where the smell could be coming from, and why it's sporadic. A metal shroud covers the ductwork between the outside HVAC unit and the house; pine needles accumulate on the joint between it and the unit. Every once in a while, I clear it off. MAYBE clearing it off makes rain leak into that joint, rather than preventing it. I had just brushed away debris there not long ago. Maybe that's why the smell comes and goes.
So I took a closer look at it, and yes water could definitely be getting in there. (Qiao is having an HVAC inspection in a few days anyway, so I plan to ask the technician if they can check it when they come.)
But as it's forecast to rain tomorrow, I ended up caulking that seam today, and felt good about it. Like maybe I've finally found the problem/solution! (Old houses should come with manuals!) Or maybe not. But for the moment, it's a possibility at least.
Now tonight Qiao has turned on the attic fan. Even with windows open, it still also pulls nasty-smelling air up from the ducts. Blech.
But I guess if it's wet in there somewhere, that's the only way it's going to dry out, and at least the windows are open. Though I think it would dry out better with the heater on. But that's what seemed to start all this mess. So ::throws hands in air:: :: like I just don't care :: but I do, but I do :: do the hokey pokey and turn ourselves around, that's what it's all about ::