An Air Conditioning Story

Let me tell you another true story. At some point during this tale, you may think I am once again pulling your leg. Those of you that know Ricardo and I will consider the source. Thereby, concurring that it is indeed true.



This is a story about a married couple who have central air. The air conditioning works hard every summer. Running practically nonstop. Poor little a/c unit. Poor married couple with the astronomical utility bill... But I digress.



The a/c unit has a "control center" in the attic. The "control center has venting that runs air throughout the house, as well as pvc pipes that capture water and drain it into a drain pan and outside in case of a backup. Since the a/c unit works so hard, it gets sludge build-up from time to time. This sludge buildup backs up the drain and interferes with the unit itself working correctly. Are you with me so far? Getting bored with this story? (Please hang on a little longer.)



Two summers ago, the a/c unit backed up and needed a repairman. It cost the couple several hundred dollars. The repairman suggested running bleach down the pvc pipe on a monthly basis to keep the sludge buildup from returning. The couple TRY to remember to do this monthly maintenance. However, sometimes they forget and the problem returns. Also, the bleach smells terrible and vents throughout the entire house after using it. It burns the delicate little lungs of those who reside in the house. So......



The wife came up with an alternative idea. A greener idea. One that would remove sludge and not damage lung tissue. Why not use baking soda and vinegar instead? You pour baking soda in the pipe, add vinegar and wait for the chemical reaction to dissolve away the sludge. Works on sinks and tubs like a charm. Husband thought this was worth a try.



Wife said to Ricardo...I mean husband, here is a box of baking soda and here is a gallon of vinegar. I imagine it will take the whole box of soda to clear out all the sludge. ( Now THIS is where communication is VERY important. English is a tricky language. Sometimes you may be thinking one thing and not express it EXACTLY as you intended.) Stacy...um wife, MEANT to add a little baking soda at a time in the pipe, followed by some vinegar, repeat process as necessary until all soda and sludge was gone. Husband HEARD-use entire box AT ONCE in pipe. How many of you are laughing at this point in the story?



Needless to say, entire box of baking soda used at once was not a good idea. The pipe has a "u" shaped neck in it. Baking soda filled entire pipe and got clogged up around and past the "u" portion of pipe. Vinegar just fizzled and overflowed all over the place. Pipe was truly clogged at this point.



Husband and wife both climbed up in the attic taking turns trying to unclog the friggin' pipe. Why take turns you ask? Well first of all this is a partnership. Secondly, it was my bright idea. Thirdly, the attic was hotter than hades on a cloudy day!!! AT LEAST 130* I am sure. Sweat POURING (not dripping) off of body. Neither one of us could take the heat for too long without feeling dizzy. I tried to convince Ricardo it was almost like spending time at an expensive spa. We were getting the toxins out of our body with our own private sauna steam room....He wasn't buying that analogy...at all. Then I suggested perhaps we were getting an early viewing of the afterlife. Whew! It's gonna be hot down there!!! :)



It took a long ass time to clean out all the soda from that pipe. Hours. It took time, patience, a coat hanger jammed into the pipe, and many attempts to add vinegar before the problem was resolved. In the end, the pipe was unsludged. The married couple lost a couple of unneeded "lbs." and resolved to live the good life so they wouldn't have to worry about the afterlife. They had a glimpse of it, and it wasn't pretty...or comfortable.



I guess the moral(s) of this story are, Alternative ideas are worth a try. Green IS good. Partnership is commendable. But perhaps most importantly- you should say EXACTLY what you mean. LEAVE NOTHING to interpretation. Because while English can be tricky.... miscommunication, well.....it's priceless!!!