When the scheduler called yesterday to say the delivery guys would be here this morning, I mentioned that the old stove was vented through the floor. “Oh, that won’t be a problem; I’m sure they can handle it,” she said. I didn’t believe she was right. Those fellows bring things in and take things out; there is another group that does things more complicated than putting a plug in the wall. I figured I had better take preemptive measures.
Understanding the idea of looking from one floor to another through a gaping hole, uou might not think it but when I finally saw it, I breathed a sigh of relief. I had been working for close to three hours to free the big, strong, black steel exhaust pipe from the kitchen range to the conventional round vent pipe on the other side of the floor.
That baby would have come out without a bit of trouble had I: 1( been the person who installed it and 2) if it hadn’t been covered with grime so that you couldn’t see the little-headed but very strong screws that held it firmly INTO THE OLD THICK WOODEN FLOOR. Then there was the screw on the other side of the floor that secured the exhaust pipe to the vent pipe, and it was covered with that kind of silver tape that sort of melts into the surface when it gets hot. Scraping that gunk off was a lot of fun, really . . . over my head, at an angle to the ladder, up by a joist and amid cobwebs.
I am salvaging the old range because I think it has possibilities and in a few hours two men are going to come and but a black, shiny LG range in it’s place. I DO NOT WANT ANYONE TO TOUCH THIS APPLIANCE.
I have a sign in my kitchen that says, “Keep the Kitchen Clean … Eat Out”
There are days I wish I could just point to the sign and consider dinner done. Works with the husband, doesn’t work with grandkids. Silly things. You’d think by age 4 they’d know how to cook. 😉