Hump Day

Wednesday morning was still cold, but the sun at least gave the illusion of warmth. I left for work early and stopped at both the bank and then Home Depot. At Home Depot, I bought a 2-foot by 4-foot sheet of half inch plywood (I would have gotten a smaller piece, if they sold it that way), some spray foam and saber saw blades. Then I drove to work.

My morning walk was cool, but sunny and lifted my spirits.

I went home again at lunch, but this time did NOT go to Home Depot! I bet they missed me. Instead, I stopped at CVS and bought a white poster board (I need to make a template). I ate the rest of the chicken fried rice.

When I pulled into my special parking lot, I noticed more antifreeze was on the pavement. Damn! I popped the hood and, sure enough, antifreeze was leaking from the same spot. I pushed up on the (hot) hose and it sprayed!

I went inside and, after washing my hands, looked for Carl, the mechanic. But, I found out he was at another building.

My afternoon walk was a refreshing as the morning one.

Late in the afternoon, Carl happened to come into the office to inquire about a laptop they use for testing. Without thinking, after he was done and leaving, I said, “Carl, I’m leaking again.” He said, “Well, buy some diapers!” and the entire office cracked up. [Note to self: I deserved that one.]

He said he was busy tonight, and working offsite tomorrow, but if I bought a clamp, he would work on it at lunchtime Friday. He and I both think the hose had been cut by the old clamp but the hose is long enough hose to pull it off, cut off the bad section and reinstall it, using a new clamp.

Since it’s a slow leak and the car is not overheating, I wasn’t worried about the wait and readily agreed.

At home after work, I started the Wednesday night wash and had a cup of coffee, watching the evening news.

When that finished, I cut a square of poster board out that was a little bigger than the opening. I cut that in half and taped one half onto the wall. Then using a black Sharpie, I reached behind it and roughly drew the outline of the hole and the round duct. I took that down and repeated it on the other side.

I cut out the outline with a pair of scissors and took it into the garage. I transferred the outline to the plywood. Then I centered the register I had bought a few days ago onto it as well.

I drilled a hole into the square opening I drew for the round duct (I don’t want any heat blocked) and cut it out. Then I cut the outside tracing. I test fitted it and cut a little more off where needed. See photo number 1.

Next, I used the can of spray foam to fill in as much of the old duct as I could. I don’t want to waste the heat inside the wall, I want it to go out the vent!

It looked pretty good and, once I glue the board in with construction adhesive, I’ll use another can (spray foam is a one-time use only kind of stuff – what you don’t use, you have to throw away) and fill in the rest. See photo number two. I shut the bathroom door to keep the cats out and the smell in.

I hung and folded the clothes and then cleaned up the mess I’d made in the garage. So far so good. Or, so I thought.

Until later, when I opened the bathroom door and went in to use the facilities. I had apparently forgotten about gravity, as the foam had sagged down and out (see photo number three). Damn!

But, the nice thing about spray foam is that you can cut it when it dries, So, I’ll get another can, cut the dried stuff off, install the board with adhesive and, when its dried in place, fill the remaining cavity with foam, spraying upward through the duct opening. At least that’s my plan for tonight.

I warmed up two brats and ate them for a late night dinner. I watched a little TV and went to bed.