Heating Season Prep, Year Three, With Two Winters of Numbers
New furnace, a new filter routine and insulation in its second winter. What we did in early October and the gas numbers we'll measure against.
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14 articles
Furnace Replacement in August: Three Quotes, a Chimney Liner and a Rebate
Our 1998 furnace went out on our schedule, not in January. Three quotes, a $650 chimney liner surprise and a $250 Consumers Energy rebate.
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Without Power for 31 Hours: What Worked and What We Lost
A July storm knocked our power out for 31 hours. The sump battery, the fridge, the cooler and the generator question we finally answered.
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No Heat Pump for Us Yet, and the Numbers Behind That
A cold-climate heat pump quote came in at $15,800, plus a panel upgrade. Why we're replacing the furnace instead and keeping the idea for later.
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Paperwork for the Insulation Rebate and Tax Credit, Start to Finish
A $750 rebate check in January and a $690 federal credit at tax time. The receipts, forms and statements we needed, and the one we almost lost.
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January Gas Bills Before and After the Insulation
January 2025: 178 therms and $214. January 2026: 139 therms and $171. What changed, what didn't, and why comparing two winters is tricky.
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Smart Thermostat, Old Furnace: Six Weeks of Data
An ecobee on a 1998 furnace, a C-wire hiding in the basement and a $50 rebate. What six weeks of runtime data showed us about our heating.
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Chasing Drafts With an Incense Stick, Weatherstripping and Door Sweeps
An incense stick, a cold evening and $86 of weatherstripping, door sweeps and outlet gaskets. Where the smoke went sideways in our 1952 Cape.
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Insulating the Attic and Knee Walls: Quotes, Rebates and What We Paid
Three insulation quotes, a $3,850 job, a $750 Consumers Energy rebate and a federal tax credit. What the crew did in two days and our net cost.
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Foam Board on the Rim Joists, One Weekend and $310
The rim joists in our basement were bare wood against cold block. Fire-rated foam board, canned foam and a weekend later, the cold corner is gone.
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