Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Who You Gonna Call???

It's too bad there aren't any ghostbusters around because I sure could use one.   My electric bill has been extraordinarily high the last two months when it usually runs around $90.  Sometimes it's just not worth the effort or the stress to figure it all out, so I just pay the bill and go on about my way.

Yesterday when I checked on-line for my last months bill, I discovered it was THREE times the normal. I got angry because I do so MUCH to keep my bill low.   I have not been using lights, and I haven't used my ovens, my air conditioning or my heating AT ALL.  It was time to become a PG&E-buster and find out what's going on.

There's absolutely no use calling them ... their answer is so sorry charlie ... your meter says you used it, you pay for it.     Good 'ole PG&E ... who now advertises about how they killed people in the San Bruno gas pipe explosion because of their negligence ... "but we're fixing it".  Yup ... that's their local advertisement.
Anyway, I checked out everything I could think of when I finally got to the sprinklers.  They run more than anything around here.   Although the gardeners are supposed to keep an eye on them, as in check them at least once a month to make sure they are working, they have a 90 year old's memory.  I suppose that has something to do with me throwing a fit about the Roundup-dead plants.

I know you're as tired of hearing me complain about my gardeners as I am.  Originally DAD took care of the yard and kept everything up ... a real conscientious guy.  When his son took over,  the quality went downhill.  Mow and blow as they say, and gone with the wind.

At any rate, I noticed a sprinkler head that was broken off about three months ago.  I asked him to replace it.  Of course he didn't have any extras, but promised he would get it fixed.
With my ghostbuster hat on, I decided to check the sprinkler timer.  Maybe something was up with that.  Nope ... it all looked fine.  Seeing the grass getting dry, I decided to run all the stations and double check their output.  Wasn't I surprised when I discovered a fountain in the front yard running water like a river down the driveway.

Buried deep in the grass was the broken sprinkler head I asked him to replace three months ago.  THREE MONTHS this thing has been pouring water down the drain and running my pump motor hour after hour while I was in Arizona.  Ghost BUSTED!!  Now of course, I'm turning red around the ears as steam pours off the top of my head!!   Nancy is NOT a happy camper!!

I called the DAD really early yesterday ... I have him on speed dial ... but nothing has been repaired as of yet.  There are also two leaking main valves that require repair, which he promised to fix two weeks ago.    I suppose part of it is on me ... I should be checking them constantly and not rely on anyone else.

The trouble is, who am I gonna call?  I've gone through just about every yard service in town that I can afford.  I've come to the conclusion it's time to cut back on grass and plant concrete.  I've turned the sprinklers OFF and deposited my ghostbuster hat in the closet.  Case closed ..... for now.  I'm willing to bet my PG&E bill will be MUCH lower next month.  Thank you for letting me rant!!!

On a happier note, I signed a contract on the house in Arizona and sent my deposit check.  Assuming all the inspections are good, it should close on or about May 17th.  YAY!!!!!

Now where did I leave the phone number for my concrete guy???






12 comments:

  1. Yeaah for the AZ. house, hope all the inspections go well.

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  2. As beautiful as it is, if I were you I'd sell the California house that gives you so much aggravation and move to Arizona.

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    1. Yup ... you are right Nick. This may be the step before the big one!!!

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  3. Giving up on grass sounds like a good decision to me. Giving up on California would be even more appealing to me.

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    1. Linda, you read my mind!! I'm thinking it kind of depends on how many rattlesnakes I find in my yard in Arizona!! LOL

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  4. I agree with Nick...but it is not just the house, it is the taxes, the high PG&E, the rules and regulations, oh, the list can go on and on. But Nancy, YOU will know when it is time...

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    1. I'd love to get out of town, but I'm still hanging on to the people here. This may just be the first step towards the big move. I think I'll know more after living there part time for awhile.

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  5. I could give you a whole list of places to look as to why your electric bill might be high but one of them you've already mentioned
    There the every day overlooked ghosts
    Battery chargers DVD CD TVs the clock on the microwave the clock on the stove Electric clocks in the house charger for the computer ceiling fans night light the sewing machine The lawn sprinkler control The list is almost endless
    You're biggest user will be your Air conditioning water heater and refrigerator
    Are you running power to the RV barn or shed
    if you get your bill online you should have a graft on it it tells you the average usage and your usage over the 30 day. It may be a help to know which days are the highest also are you on a residential plan an or restrictions
    It may be worth your while to hire a licensed electrician to do a test on the electrical draw of your house
    Congratulations on the new house do you get to keep the poker table

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    1. I've checked out all those things Ed. It's come down to the irrigation system running too many hours (yes hours) a week, especially when it was free flowing down the drain!! If it doesn't get better in the next two weeks usage wise, I'll call an electrician to check it out. And yes, I get to keep the poker table!!! Game on!!!! LOL

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  6. Have you considered changing the Sprinkler heads yourself. It is not that difficult and would cost less then having someone else do it. With everything else you do it should be easy.
    Be Safe and Enjoy!

    It's about time.

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    1. I have changed them several times, Rick, but this one is broken off right at the base, requiring the line be cut and a new T installed. That's a little above my pay grade, but I've found someone from the Elks lodge to fix it for me! YAY!!

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