15 thoughts on “February 29, 2024: Comes But Once A Year Four Years”

  1. We are in Day Three of Big House Project: Side Quest.

    After one of the breakers in our panel basically fell out, we decide it was also time to upgrade our downstairs electrical, much of which was still on knob-and-tube. This entails cutting many holes through plaster and lathe to add or relocate receptacles (to meet the 6ft rule for code) and rewire everything, including overhead lights; a new, 100-amp subpanel in our basement and a replacement, 200-amp main panel.

    Our cat has been banished to our studio outbuilding (converted one-car garage).


    It's Only Money™

    1. Heh. I'm currently planning a remodel of the office since my desk chair has worn a hole in the tragically old indoor/outdoor carpet. This will involve replacing a wood burning fireplace with gas, adding recessed can lights in the ceiling, and getting some extra electrical outlets installed. I'll finally have a switch for my overhead light instead of a pull chain on the ceiling fan. Also going to install a door and rework the storage area under the stairs into a proper closet. I may do a built in entertainment center and bookcase on one end of the room, budget and time will determine that, though.

  2. So, doing something I never do. Twice today I have had to restart the pilot light on our water heater.

    It's 12 years old, so....

    1. Looking at heat pump water heater options. California has a rebate program where I can get $900 off a qualifying heat pump water heater that has a larger capacity than my existing, 50-gallon, gas-fired one. Plus 30 pct federal tax credit up to $2k on the cost of the project.

      Given that qualifying heat pump water heaters look to be in the $1,800-$2,000 range retail and I am already wiring to accommodate a heat pump water heater in the basement as part of the aforementioned electrical work, this probably makes sense. A replacement gas unit is probably in the $600-$800 range....

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