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Warpy

(114,445 posts)

47. There is a lot of online help

Sun May 27, 2012, 09:38 PM

May 2012

It's something I discovered during my latest several year poverty period. As long as I could keep the Antichrist (a cheap computer that liked to eat its hard drives) running, I could find out how to fix most things. I literally have WD 40 in every room of my house now, I call it "holy oil."

Anyhow, for central air, http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/heating-and-cooling/how-to-repair-central-air-conditioners1.htm is a good troubleshooting guide that will tell you if it's a problem you can fix or if you have to sell your first born to get somebody else to fix it. Do SHUT THE POWER OFF before you open the cover.

A deeper explanation and guide is at http://inspectapedia.com/aircond/aircond1123.htm

There are more sites than just those two, they're just the first I found. I was lucky, I have a swamp cooler instead of refrigerated AC and it mostly works OK because it's so arid here.

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I'm so sick of being poor [View all] nobodyspecial May 2012 OP

This is so wrong. And this is so common. rug May 2012 #1

And what really bugs me is how so many people nobodyspecial May 2012 #4

No, every problem is serious. rug May 2012 #6

We tried with Occupy Mosaic May 2012 #73

Geez, it's not like the Battle of Brooklyn was lost again. rug May 2012 #74

That is so true....I have been unemployed 4+ years and I sunwyn May 2012 #29

I overheard a conversation of 20-somethings, MsPithy May 2012 #34

I hope they weren't serious. Courtesy Flush May 2012 #37

How about in the military? raccoon May 2012 #66

Don't count on it Coyote_Bandit May 2012 #78

Moot point. Clames May 2012 #86

It wasn't a moot point to the guy it happened to Coyote_Bandit May 2012 #87

Sorry about your buddy... Clames May 2012 #93

I suspect Coyote_Bandit May 2012 #97

In jail all they will do is pull teeth, nothing more. xtraxritical May 2012 #40

You are changing careers to a higher paying, more secure one? Honeycombe8 May 2012 #68

It's sometimes possible to find a small a/c unit at Goodwill LiberalEsto May 2012 #88

What a good tip. Now that I think of it, if I get a larger window a/c, I probably would give my old Honeycombe8 May 2012 #90

Spent $1300 for one crown recently ProfessionalLeftist May 2012 #70

The fact that this goes on Worried senior May 2012 #2

I'm so sorry, my dear nobodyspecial... CaliforniaPeggy May 2012 #3

me too. although just got a little windfall. i started getting my social security. trueblue2007 May 2012 #5

i am really sorry for you, and just because people may have it worse, doesn't mean La Lioness Priyanka May 2012 #7

I understand dana_b May 2012 #8

I have no insurance at all right now nobodyspecial May 2012 #16

yes, I thought of that dana_b May 2012 #33

Some ideas about the A/C Kaleva May 2012 #9

Thank you for your hands-on suggestions nobodyspecial May 2012 #17

Feel free to PM me. OffWithTheirHeads will be very helpful too. Kaleva May 2012 #26

There is a lot of online help Warpy May 2012 #47

low tech help Pat Riot May 2012 #79

Better yet FloridaJudy May 2012 #99

The same problem femrap May 2012 #85

You might want to post in the DIY forum too. LiberalEsto May 2012 #89

Lets see if we can fix your AC. It could be something simple. OffWithTheirHeads May 2012 #10

I'll take you up on your offer nobodyspecial May 2012 #18

I dont have air-conditioning silentwarrior May 2012 #24

I live in the desert and often find I can cope Warpy May 2012 #48

Of course. If you live anywhere near Tucson, let me know and I'll just come over and fix it. OffWithTheirHeads May 2012 #51

I wonder if you would be interested in volunteering your skills? Kali May 2012 #53

Actually, I tried to voleunteer for Habitat For Humanity. OffWithTheirHeads May 2012 #54

it does seem like the non-profit universe in Tucson is pretty cliquey Kali May 2012 #55

Yeah, it's just kind of wierd. OffWithTheirHeads May 2012 #56

trust me I know how you feel Kali May 2012 #57

I had a similar experience with literacy tutoring in Madison, WI a couple decades ago. I have an coalition_unwilling May 2012 #61

Kali here is a link to a national Freecycle Organization. Most states have one crunch60 May 2012 #63

yep - they actually started in Tucson! Kali May 2012 #77

I buy a lot of things from Habitat, they have crunch60 May 2012 #62

They may just be disorganized. wildeyed May 2012 #71

I can't speak for your union rules but if you are receiving SSDI mysuzuki2 May 2012 #83

was going to ask if you Like Cherlston backwoodsbob May 2012 #94

That is so kind cally May 2012 #96

I had one woman call me up one night saying she had no heat. Furance hadn't come on in awhile. Kaleva May 2012 #23

You are a good man Sherman A1 May 2012 #35

Thank you for your kindness and truedelphi May 2012 #42

I would have felt I was ripping them off if I had charged them. Kaleva May 2012 #44

"nobodyspecial" I don't like your user name, you are somebody special. and you are loved. 1620rock May 2012 #11

Rec'd a thousand times. You ARE special, you are a DUer, and you are loved. secondwind May 2012 #12

Right on 1620rock wendylaroux May 2012 #14

Thanks nobodyspecial May 2012 #28

Same to you from me. And can you get the dog into some water during the day? freshwest May 2012 #58

I thought the same thing n/t dana_b May 2012 #30

Glad you posted that. I was about to say the same... BlueJazz May 2012 #46

I like the user name JustABozoOnThisBus May 2012 #76

Roughing it when you're young is an adventure. Doing so middle aged is depressing. Think young..... SleeplessinSoCal May 2012 #13

Yep, I was poor before when I was younger nobodyspecial May 2012 #22

You have a perfect right to your feelings XanaDUer May 2012 #15

I have no answers. Just a hug and a hope for better days ahead when you graduate riderinthestorm May 2012 #19

It's incredible that Jamaal510 May 2012 #20

I know the feeling well. I dream about seeing a dentist. Walk away May 2012 #21

Not even close nobodyspecial May 2012 #25

I really hope your luck changes soon - and an idea for your dog spooky3 May 2012 #27

that is a good idea, and I hope eople in her area truedelphi May 2012 #43

.... maria2 May 2012 #31

So many of us are in dire straits... chervilant May 2012 #32

I swear to God, if Kevorkian was running for President, he'd truedelphi May 2012 #45

According to another DU post, chervilant May 2012 #49

That sounds about right. truedelphi May 2012 #59

I don't know a thing about air conditioners, MsPithy May 2012 #36

You might want to google AC repairs Courtesy Flush May 2012 #38

I know how you feel. GoCubsGo May 2012 #39

Boy, do I feel your pain. crim son May 2012 #41

If there is a Costco near you, get your prescriptions filled there LiberalEsto May 2012 #91

Three words: "You're not alone." Amerigo Vespucci May 2012 #50

wet towels and a fan will help get you through Kali May 2012 #52

Great ideas CrawlingChaos May 2012 #65

You are not alone. Joe Shlabotnik May 2012 #60

Me too. The only peace I have is sleep... & that's only when I can. snappyturtle May 2012 #72

I'm bookmarking this thread because there's a lot of good information, links, advice. lamp_shade May 2012 #64

big hugs backwoodsbob May 2012 #67

Dental care. In my city we have a dental school (Baylor). Honeycombe8 May 2012 #69

air conditioner efilon May 2012 #75

. Coyote_Bandit May 2012 #80

I feel the same exact way Proud Liberal Dem May 2012 #81

you are not alone magical thyme May 2012 #82

Honey, I'm right there with you. KatyaR May 2012 #84

I hear you. onestepforward May 2012 #92

It's like a chess game KT2000 May 2012 #95

You are not alone Digit May 2012 #98

Plain white cotton towels, run under cold water. Wring it out a bit then jtuck004 May 2012 #100

Ditto that... opiate69 May 2012 #101