Homes… Your Thoughts… Old or New?

[ultrarunner]

Until it was updated mid 70s my parents house had 60A service.
You didn't cook, use the hot water, and do laundry at the same time.

Unless appliances are gas…

My original unmolested 1922 doesn’t have wiring as shown in some of the pictures… it had not been altered and was neat and simple.

I have the original hard copy 1922 electrical permit signed off by the city…

City inspection of electrical was rigorous even in 1922 in Oakland California.

 

[check]

Come to think of it, I have had 4 new homes built by developers over the years, starting with the first one in Calgary in 1976 (which my brother still lives in). And my parents bought a new build back in the 1060’s (which our family of 6 lived in until I left the nest). All were well-built and still standing today.

Then I served as my own contractor to build a 4-season waterfront cottage up in cottage country in 2002 (since I knew what I was doing). Boy did I ever have to keep an eye on that one! Otherwise, it could have been a disaster! Builders who do this kind of thing regularly have their trades all lined up, but I had to scrounge around and find my own.

Fortunately, the cottage build worked out very well, and we have been going there for over 20 years now with no major issues. (Replaced the furnace and AC and HWT, but that is about it.) Also upgraded to 200-Amp service for about $8k Cdn , and the electrician was just great.

Time to refinish the Cedar siding, however, which will NOT be fun!

 

[MossRoad]

Avocado and Coffee and Harvest Gold were the colors of the late 1960’s early 70’s.

There were others like Turquoise that never hit mainstream…

Almond was the pushback for a very long time and then Black and Stainless followed by Bisque..

At least in my little corner of California.

Some old fashioned new appliances like Speed Queen much sought after but Green regs have forced much of the changes trading efficiency sacrificing longevity in many cases…

When we got married, our first set of used appliances were avocado green... washer, dryer and fridge for $300. They lasted a good long while. Dryer malfunctioned and the wheel burned a hole through the drum, so that was toast after 10 years. But the washer and fridge lived on. We left the washer (and newer dryer) at the house when we sold it, but we took the green monster fridge with us and gave it to my father in-law to use for beer and bait in his garage. It went another 20.

 

[ultrarunner]

Kenmore Electric dryer bought new in 1967 still going strong… must the avocado green enamel?

Maybe 6 years ago the dryer died and I was told maybe time to replace…

The belt which was under $5 is all it took.

I’ve learned a lot of things are replaced because people want new.

Yesterday’s family gathering one of the in laws said her oven is broken… I said it’s probably an easy fix and happy to look.

She said please don’t as she already convinced her husband to buy a new one…

 

[BackRoad]

My Uncle had an older log cabin on a small lake in the Adirondacks where we used to spend our annual 2 week summer vacations.

Around my 8th year, it was time to rechink the logs. At 8, too young to stuff oakum or apply chink, I was the dedicated water boy, which was needed for mixing the chinking plaster.

My grandfather carved out a section of an Oak log to create an 8 year old boy sized shoulder yoke, with a rope, hook and water bucket suspended from each end, custom fitted at just the right height to steady with my hands.

72 winding rock steps from the cabin down to the lake for water...and those same 72 winding rock steps back up to the cabin with two loaded buckets.

"...More water, we need more water...!!!"

At the age of 8, I was smart enough to decide I would never live in a log home...

 

[WinterDeere]

When we got married, our first set of used appliances were avocado green... washer, dryer and fridge for $300. They lasted a good long while. Dryer malfunctioned and the wheel burned a hole through the drum, so that was toast after 10 years. But the washer and fridge lived on. We left the washer (and newer dryer) at the house when we sold it, but we took the green monster fridge with us and gave it to my father in-law to use for beer and bait in his garage. It went another 20.

I was at my mother's house over the weekend, helping her clean out the basement to sell the place. In the garage, I found the almond top-freezer Frigidaire refrigerator my parents bought ca.1982, still happily running in her unheated garage. Opened the door, hoping to find a beer, but just found some expired ginger ale and diet coke. But it was still cold!

 

[grsthegreat]

The only problem with really old refers…..they SUCK electricity. And suck it bad. I’ve placed a demand meter on many old units to show their owners why their electrical bills are so high. A new refer takes a fraction of the power to operate.

 

[MossRoad]

I have two digital converter boxes that were about $20 each after government voucher from Radio Shack.

We're still using one on our basement TV.

 

[MossRoad]

The only problem with really old refers…..they SUCK electricity. And suck it bad. I’ve placed a demand meter on many old units to show their owners why their electrical bills are so high. A new refer takes a fraction of the power to operate.

Gotta figure out the energy savings payback to see if it's worth it.

 

[Jstpssng]

What really sucks down the power is the auto defrost feature.