A while back, I wrote about an unfriendly Hydro (utility) problem I faced at our cottage. A bit of investigation by a friendly "handy" man who was able to access the cottage by sled, turned up the theory that we were receiving Ontario Hydro hate mail because the floor was uninsulated, and the baseboard heater in the basement was heating the entire cottage. All winter. By itself. In order to get a sense of the scope of the problem, consider just a few of the factors we knew about: remote electricity delivery, an inefficient baseboard heater, a record-cold winter in northern Ontario.
Last week, we added a fresh factor: When we arrived at the cottage and went down to the basement, we found that the baseboard thermostat, which was supposed to be registering 40 degrees, was piping hot. By which I mean, sauna hot. When I confronted the aforementioned handy man, he acknowledged that he'd sensed that the thermostat didn't seem to work so well. When I demonstrated the problem, he nodded. He'd noticed that the thermostat spun around like a roulette wheel, too - but without the resistance and the clicking sound. But ... well, he knew we needed heat down there on account of the threat of the cement foundation freezing and cracking, so he had disregarded my instruction to turn it off. What's more, it didn't seem that hot to him at the time. (I'm guessing his hands were cold, from the ride).
I have one of those faces that says a lot. I have a mouth that says a lot, too. The handy man didn't wait for the mouth part. He left abruptly after I demonstrated the whirring thermostat. It's really my fault, I'm sure it is, but he did the safe thing by leaving.
I called the builder to check in on the need for the basement heat that has been bleeding our bank account all winter long, for several winters. He scoffed at the idea that his building would crack and fall into the lake when the outside temperature dropped below freezing. He indicated that he was well aware of his location when he built the cottage. This was a significant relief, I assure you. But he said he thought the heat was a good idea... on account of mold. Just low heat. Like 35 degree heat. Just there, in the (big, sprawling, largely uninsulated) basement... that is connected by all but a few floorboards to the large, unprotected freezing cold cottage above. Heat? Really? All winter?
"I think it's a good idea," the builder said.
I don't. I think mold is great. Take blue cheese for example. Nothing beats blue cheese. Not that I can afford to buy it any more, on account of a baseboard heater in a remote location burning the midnight coal to prevent mold. Not to mention ... and this is going to hurt a little bit... this basement isn't a big candidate for mold. Nice theory, but frozen granite does not a mold breeding ground make.
As for this money we've been sending to Hydro... we'd have been better off using hundred dollar bills to light kindling in our fireplace. (And at least we'd have been nearer the heat).
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