Some Plans Actually Work!
I enjoy simple home improvement or repair projects. I get satisfaction from identifying a problem, formulating a plan, executing the plan, and seeing good results. I also enjoy using my hands to do something besides typing on this keyboard.
The key word in the above paragraph is “simple”. If the project is too complex, or requires a high level of skill, then the satisfaction turns to frustration. I must admit that many times, what appears to be an easy fix does not turn out that way. Often several trips to the hardware store or lumber yard are needed. This may be because I bought the wrong part, or broke the part, or forgot to get one or more items needed for completion.
Every once in a while, however, everything goes smoothly with no complications and a good result. When that happens, I am moderately surprised, and immensely pleased. This happened over the weekend at our shore home.
Our shore home was built ninety-two years ago by Alenda’s great grandfather. Roughly fifteen years ago, we had it retrofitted with central air conditioning. Unfortunately, the system has never worked well. The first floor and one bedroom do not get adequate cool air, and whoever is sleeping in those areas is quite uncomfortable during hot humid nights.
The first-floor issue was solved by installing a window air conditioner, but the bedroom windows are too small to accommodate conventional units. We knew alternative units are made with a hose that can be vented through small openings, but we had trouble envisioning how we could install the vent hose in both an effective and aesthetically pleasing way.
Some recent brainstorming produced the idea of replacing a screen with plexiglass, and then cutting a hole in the plexiglass which would accommodate the vent hose. The plan sounded simple, but past experience raised doubts. Could we get the plexiglass cut to exactly the same size as the screen? What would hold it in place? How would we cut the required five-inch hole accurately enough for the vent hose to fit neatly?
We decided to purchase a unit and give it a try. When we unpacked it, we found that it came with an adjustable piece of metal that had the required hole pre-cut. The vent hose had a fitting and small clips on one end designed to attach is to this piece of metal. Unfortunately, the metal piece was too small to work in our window.
Alenda arranged to have a local hardware store cut the plexiglass to the right size to fit the window, and she outlined the needed hole by tracing the fitting at the end of the vent hose. I cut the hole with a saber saw. Lo and behold, the clips fit the plexiglass perfectly, and the plexiglass fit into the window frame snugly enough that it needs nothing more to hold it in place. The picture shows the finished project, and the room cools down wonderfully. I find it wonderfully satisfying when plans actually work!
