Frigid Night, Furnace Died, We Froze
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
United States
February 14, 2016 9:16am CST
Our furnace decided to breakdown during this wonderful polar vortex. Windchills were below zero.
The landlord sent someone out twice to fix the damn thing and the last time he stated that he believed we were out of fuel. My husband told him that we put 40 gallons in the tank and the furnace only ran for 2 hours at the most so how did we run out of fuel?
He left the house at 11:45 and I immediately called the landlord. We stayed up until 1:30 waiting for someone to come check the furnace again. Nobody showed up.
So we slept in layers of clothing and put on an extra blanket. Brought one of the space heaters into the bedroom for warmth. Left one space heater running in the kitchen and I put water in the crockpot and ran it on high for added warmth.
I woke at 9 and it was freezing in here. Grabbed my winter coat and went to see what the temperature was. Well as you can see it was 45 degrees in here. Thankfully the pipes didn't freeze, this because I leave the water running in the sink.
Called the landlord again. He wasn't happy to hear that we were still without heat. He apologized over and over again. Said he only had the guy who came out last night. Told him what the man's assessment of the situation was and that we indeed had fuel. Perhaps it was the pump that was faulty? I told him I could call one of the fuel companies to send out one of their technicians, but that would cost him a pretty penny. He stated that someone would be out between 12-1 today.
So, until then, I have my oven going, a pan of water on the stove to add moisture and warmth to the air, and the space heaters going too. I can see my breath still, even though I have my winter coat on and a blanket over my legs to keep me warm. It is now 55 according to the gauge we have on our wall. Hoping to get it to at least 60.
15 people like this
17 responses
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
14 Feb 16
I am so sorry this is happening to you friend.
It is a shoddy treatment you are getting from this slumlord.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
14 Feb 16
They are quickly becoming just that OT. I am so sick of living here. Told hubby that I am bringing boxes home next week and going to start packing.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
15 Feb 16
@TiarasOceanView We now have heat. The landlord is bringing us a new fuel tank tomorrow. Hoping that this doesn't happen again. I am still going to start bringing boxes in and resorting my treasures, just in case we do find a suitable place.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
14 Feb 16
@ElusiveButterfly Yes best to do just that Elusive..you cannot possibly go on in those conditions..not fit for human habitation. I hope you may find somewhere and find some relief from that hell. As you know, I was in much the same boat until I moved.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
14 Feb 16
if it was out of fuel, then where is the fuel going? is there a leak? or is it burning fuel too fast. crazy stuff.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
14 Feb 16
The so called people in the know said the fuel was gelled. Hubby put additives in the containers before he added new fuel to the tank.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
17 Feb 16
@Jessicalynnt the additive keeps it from gelling up.
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
15 Feb 16
@ElusiveButterfly to keep it from going all weird?
2 people like this
@patgalca (18370)
• Orangeville, Ontario
15 Feb 16
I would have gone to stay somewhere else. I can't handle living in the cold like that. When I was out all day yesterday running errands the cold made my tennis elbow arm hurt really badly. We had the furnace go out on Christmas Day a couple of years ago. Fortunately my daughter's boyfriend works in heating and air conditioning. He came right over, fixed a burnt out wire and we were back in business. It's great having him in the family.
I hope you get it fixed soon. It is way too cold for you to be going through this. And if the landlord isn't acting, there must be someone you can report him to. I'm pretty sure that's against the law.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
17 Feb 16
@patgalca I hope this doesn't happen again. I can't seem to catch a break lately.
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
17 Feb 16
I did contemplate going somewhere, but needed to tend to keeping this place as warm as possible.
My brother was without heat due to his furnace having problems too. I know that many people in our area had furnace problems. Thankfully we didn't have broken water pipes.
1 person likes this
@patgalca (18370)
• Orangeville, Ontario
17 Feb 16
@ElusiveButterfly Yes, I suppose if you left you may have some broken pipes to deal with when you got back. Glad you're up and running again.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
17 Feb 16
I think he was more concerned about getting his rest. The man isn't in good health either.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
17 Feb 16
@Marcyaz Sadly for every family that leaves you'll get 10 that are wanting to rent the place.
1 person likes this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
17 Feb 16
@ElusiveButterfly
Rest or health wise he still should be concerned for his tenants health and whether they will stay or not.
1 person likes this
@MandaLee (3764)
• United States
14 Feb 16
Dear @ElusiveButterfly
Wow. What a terrible time for your furnace to break. I certainly hope your furnace is repaired soon. Please keep us posted.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
14 Feb 16
I was told that the fuel gelled. Was also told that kerosene doesn't gel. Who is kidding who here.
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
14 Feb 16
I don't even know what to say, I'm cold just thinking how cold you are. I would take a little deduction when I pay the rent the next time. A landlord is to supply heat legally.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
14 Feb 16
We have to supply the fuel, however, they need to make sure that there is a way to heat the dwelling.
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
14 Feb 16
@ElusiveButterfly right and they aren't doing it.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
14 Feb 16
@AbbyGreenhill The landlord just came down and went out back where the fuel tank is. I heard him and one other person talking. They tapped the tank I can only assume to see if we indeed had fuel in it. I gritted my teeth and wanted to yell out to them that "yes we did have fuel and weren't lying about it!!!"
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
15 Feb 16
Fortunately, the heat is back on.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
17 Feb 16
@kamel622 the things we take for granted!
1 person likes this
@kamel622 (310)
• United States
15 Feb 16
@ElusiveButterfly Oh I am happy to hear that and I'm sure you are too!!!
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
19 Feb 16
sounds unbearable - hope it is all sorted out soon and the weather improves too
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
19 Feb 16
It is supposed to be nearly 50 degrees tomorrow. Strange winter we are having.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
15 Feb 16
Thankfully, my husband found the problem and fixed it!
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
17 Feb 16
Sharon, he looked like he was a bit fatigued. You get what you pay for they say. The landlord pays people low wages to get the work he needs done. Yup, they are cheap.
Thankfully the only cost to us was what will incur from running the electric space heaters.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54187)
• Louisville, Kentucky
16 Feb 16
@ElusiveButterfly That is great! I know you are so relieved and hopefully it didn't cost a lot. Makes you wonder about the repair man who was there and didn't know what the problem was.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
15 Feb 16
My uncle's boiler went last night too, and it burst the pipes in his wall because of it.
At my old place my bedroom was always 45 in the winter. So I know that's cold, but it's a lot warmer than what it could have been if you lost power or more. During Sandy I lost all my heating ability. While it never approached freezing conditions, it was 45 inside and my only heat source was a collection of candles.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
17 Feb 16
I have seen posts on the internet that people use candles and clay pots to heat a room.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
17 Feb 16
@OneOfMany We were considering the purchase of a generator, but the cost kept us from doing so.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
17 Feb 16
@ElusiveButterfly I'm sure I could have heated the place if there wasn't such a lack of insulation. In the end, rather than freeze I traveled 4 hours west and visited my parents for a few days. They were actually thrilled to have me, so it worked out. Of course, if I lose power these days I drive 5 minutes north to visit my parents. They have a generator.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
17 Feb 16
The cold weather is behind us for now that is. LOL. Yesterday was 50 degrees.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340482)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Feb 16
@ElusiveButterfly I'm pleased. It sounded pretty awful.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
17 Feb 16
Hubby had it running by Sunday evening.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
14 Feb 16
Yikes I would be very upset., I sure hope that gets fixed today
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
14 Feb 16
I am upset, but you should see my husband. Not a happy camper.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
15 Feb 16
@ElusiveButterfly Oh I bet. It always seems to happen on the coldest night of the year.
1 person likes this
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
15 Feb 16
I was like that for two weeks in January but only the living-dining-kitchen was affected. That's the good thing about not having central heating.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
17 Feb 16
We have closed off two of the bedrooms that are used for storage. Even so it was quite cold in here. Had they been open it would have taken quite a bit to keep it as warm as we had it.
@zebra2222 (5268)
• United States
14 Feb 16
So sorry to hear that. It is terrible when you don't have heat.
1 person likes this
@GreatMartin (23672)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
15 Feb 16
And that's why I live in South Florida and don't miss the 4 seasons!! Sunny, in the 70s here!
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
17 Feb 16
Yes, but tornadoes and hurricanes are not my cup of tea either. Plus the humid summers would make me melt and keep me inside to keep cool with AC. LOL. Damned if you do and damned if you don't.
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
14 Feb 16
I have enough space between the heater and any other item. They are oil filled radiators. I have used them in the past without problems. I pray that we don't encounter any.
