“I need help” was what I said when my friend answered his phone on Christmas Eve. Without skipping a beat, he replied, “OK. What can I do?“
I had spent the night tossing and turning in my sleep. We were at the start of a three day record cold snap that was blasting across the country. Here in Raleigh, we had torrential rains followed by a drop in temps from the 40s to under 10 degrees. We had howling, gale force winds. I assume the noise had disturbed my sleep. It was kind of cold inside too and my furnace seemed to be cycling on and off a lot.
I woke up and noticed the temperature inside was a few degrees below what had my thermostat was set for. I wasn’t worried because I figured that must be due to the extreme cold weather outside.
Four hours later, my furnace stopped blowing warm air and the temps inside plummeted.
Across the country and my state, there were reports of extended power outages, people without heat and emergency shelters being opened due to the cold.
This wasn’t good.
I did the usual troubleshooting. I checked the circuits and the thermostat. I googled to diagnose the problem and see if there were any DIY fixes I could do. I tried several of the “fixes” – resetting the furnace, changing the air filters, checking the air flow, and even opening the furnace unit to clean the flame sensor.
By this time, 6 hours into plummeting temperatures, the furnace wouldn’t even cycle on. I checked the manual for troubleshooting. Everything listed was far beyond my skill set – it was a manual written for HVAC professionals, not DIY homeowners.
So I knew I needed to find a repairman and fast. It was after noon on Christmas Eve. I had seen HVAC repairmen all over my neighborhood during the past month as heating season kicked in and people needed service. I hadn’t had any issues – until now, on Christmas Eve, on the coldest day of the past 5 years.
I called three companies recommended on Nextdoor whose websites said 24/7 emergency service. I only spoke to one person who said the soonest they could come would be two days later.
With that, I thought I should start calling to find a hotel where I could go with my two dogs and hope my pipes didn’t burst in my house.
I wasn’t panicked yet. Worse things have happened.
This was when I called my friend Craig. He’s a skilled DIYer and a level-headed guy. I figured I should run my plan by him. He asked me a few questions and complimented me on my actions and my plan. He told me I should call back and get on the schedule for the repair appointment in 2 days just in case. Then he told me to run out to Lowes or Home Depot before they close and buy 3 space heaters. He said I could manage to keep myself, the dogs and the house warm enough with them. The last thing he told me was, “You called the the wrong guy. I don’t know anything about furnace repair. You should call Bruce. If there is any kind of DIY fix, Bruce will know what to do.”
I saw that Home Depot was open for a few more hours, so I called Bruce. He and I had just spoken that morning before I realized I had a problem. We had caught up on our usual once-a-month call and wishing each other Merry Christmas so he probably thought I was only calling to mention something I had forgotten. My call went to voicemail. I knew Bruce was preparing for a big family Christmas dinner and had his hands full.
I sent this text: “I need your help. I have a furnace problem.”
Immediately he called back.
I’ll spare you the details of how Bruce coached me over the next hour troubleshooting my furnace and trying to fix the problem. Let’s just say it involved him walking me through a methodical, step by step procedure that included climbing in and out of my attic half a dozen times, checking drain lines, dissembling the furnace to try to read diagnostic lights, me reading the manual to him, etc.
Picture a kindergartener getting a remote diagnosis and repair guidance from an advanced engineer over the phone and you’ll get an idea of what Bruce went through with me for an hour.
At the end of the hour, we had found the problem and fixed it. The furnace roared to life and hot air began blowing through my ducts.
That is friendship.
Bruce, Craig and I are all friends with each other. We’ve been friends for 20 years. Although I moved away 18 years ago, we stay in touch by phone. Occasionally I saw them when I traveled back to Pittsburgh for work.
Sometimes we grow weary of each other. I’m kind of an asshole. They can sometimes be whiny and self-absorbed. Sometimes we blather on about ourselves while the victim on the other end of the phone listens without getting a chance to interject. Sometimes we annoy each other.
But when one of truly needs something, the others drop everything and help. Period.
Even on Christmas Eve- on the coldest day of the year – when we all have better things to do.
I’m ecstatic that my furnace is running. It stopped again the next day, but I knew what to do to get it back running within a few hours. Once Home Depot reopens tomorrow, I’ll pickup some supplies needed to make a more permeant repair.
My friends saved me from panicking. They saved me hundreds or thousands of dollars in repairs. They saved me from having to desperately look for a hotel room on Christmas Eve. They got my house warm. Those are all wonderful Christmas gifts.
But what I am truly grateful for is that I have friends like this.
Merry Christmas.