Common Ground

There has been, on a major street within the city, a home-made sign proclaiming one’s opinion of war. After a time, a smaller sign stating agreement was anchored alongside of it and soon after several more have sprouted.  I only glance at them as I drive by but the general tone of them makes me think that the authors share a general belief in pacifism.

If interested, I found an essay written by no less than George Orwell.  I hope that you recognize the name. While in high school and of my own curiosity, I read two of his novels, Animal Farm and 1984.  Interestingly, the essay that I reference was written in 1942.  When I saw that, my mind thought 42 X 2 = 84. Might that be the reason for selecting the year for the book?

The essay drops some names. Some you will recognize. Most you will not.  The names are not important.  The points of the essay are. I recommend that everyone read this. I strongly recommend those that are politically left of center read this as it is from another country and another time yet is so pertinent to today.  The link is:

                        http://www.orwell.ru/library/articles/pacifism/english/e_patw

Most of us have probably fired up the furnace or boiler by now. Some of yours may not have worked and you called in a servicer. They may have suggested that it is time for a new furnace.  I’ll give you my professional suggestions and opinions a little later. For those of you with a unit still working, here are some tips that you can use to save money and increase reliability.

Safety first! Turn off the power to the unit before opening any panel or inspecting an air filter.

Depending on the type of air filter you have, it will probably need service. Many people have either electronic air cleaners or high efficiency pleated filters. Popular brands in the area are the Aprilaire SpaceGuard, Trion Air Bear and Honeywell cartridge filters. Some last a full year, but I like to keep my air going through fresh filters so consider changing them twice a year. Avoid replacing the factory brand with an aftermarket type.  Seldom are they equal to the quality of filtering of the original.

If you have the one-inch thick filters, unless a technician has adjusted the airflow for them, avoid using the pleated filter or washable electrostatic filters. They greatly restrict the airflow and can damage the heat exchanger! Use the loosely woven fiberglass type.

If you have an electronic type air cleaner, follow their instructions for cleaning and if washed, let stand outside of the furnace until they are DRY. Don’t forget to clean any thin prefilters that it may have. This is often overlooked.

Start the season with a new water panel or media for your humidifier. Make sure the water is turned on to it and any damper is set from summer to winter.  Winter humidity is usually set around 35% but you may desire more or less.

When inspecting or changing any air filter, have your vacuum cleaner handy to suck up dust that has fallen off or built up in the area. You don’t want this to get sucked into the furnace. This is a good time to look for any water leaks from your air conditioner, humidifier or from the furnace if you have a 90% efficient type of furnace.

Water leaks can quickly damage electrical components and. If you see water, call a technician to investigate and repair. Make sure that vent piping is secure and appears in good condition. If you have a 90% furnace vented with white plastic pipe, see that the pipes are not obstructed where they exit the house. These furnaces will have a drain hose for the condensate. See that it is in position and not bumped aside of the drain. If it once was clear vinyl but is now discolored, consider having a technician replace it and clean out the trap inside the furnace. They will gunk up and clog.

Furnaces made since the early 1980’s are mostly power vented to attain higher efficiency. With this efficiency comes complexity. For that reason I recommend that your have a dealer for that particular brand of furnace (or boiler) check it out each fall. Other brand technicians often are not aware of service issues or procedures that may be in place for your brand and model. However, to be fair to all technicians, they can call the distributor for that brand and ask about issues and bulletins.

If you are considering a new furnace, I recommend that you buy a furnace that comes with what is known as a “variable” blower. This is even more important if you are considering a high efficiency air filter, heat recovery ventilator or ultraviolet sanitizer. They cost less to operate, are quieter than standard motors and are more precise in their air delivery amount. Buy a 90% or higher efficient model. Your new furnace will be around for 15 years or much more and the price of gas can only rise.

If you are going to replace the air conditioner along with it, consider making it a “Heat Pump”. If the cost of gas rises faster than electricity, a heat pump can save you money. It requires a crystal ball to be sure, but the trend is for the price of gas to rise faster than electricity. Also, the trend may be for warmer winters. The more the temperature is in the 30’s or more, the more a heat pump can effectively heat your house.

These are general tips for the majority of heating units found in Waukesha. There are however, many homes with specialized systems using hot water heat and unique heating units. Special systems require special attention. Have them checked by the company that installed them.

If you do have a breakdown of your heating unit, please turn on the lights around the house and let the technician know if you don’t have good identification near the street.  Most have cell phones and can call you if they can’t find your home, but not all. And please be patient. I was a technician for many years. The days get long and the toolbox heavy. But getting your furnace or boiler functioning again makes both of us happy.

Something was nagging me after I left my blog about the Minooka Dog Exercise Area opening.  I need to apoligize to KATHLEEN Cummings for calling her Susan in my blog.  I had met with her at one of the public hearings about dog parks in the city and she spoke in favor of the cooperation with the county in creating Minooka's. 

Sorry Kathleen and thanks for the support in the effort to improve the quality of life for the citizens of the city.

The deity of your choosing must be a dog lover. On a morning between spells of rain and fog, the sun came out and the grass dried up for the grand opening of the new Minooka County Park Dog Exercise Area!

Wednesday Morning at 10AM the politicians and dog lovers assembled in the parking lot of the new dog park in front of the secure gated entrance to the large dog area. A podium was set complete with a sound system. Flags guarded the sides and folding chairs were placed in the assembly though many with dogs stood in the rear.  Off to the side was a table with refreshments. The parking lot was full.

Dale Shaver, director of parks and land use was the host to speakers County Executive Dan Vrakas, Board Chairman Jim Dwyer, Mayors Jack Chiovatero and Larry Nelson of New Berlin and Waukesha and my favorite, Bill Graham who is President of the Waukesha Kennel Club and Vice-President of the Waukesha Dog Parks Organization.  Other officials and dignitaries were in the audience.  I’ll make special mention of Alderwoman and County Supervisor Susan Cummings. She serves her constituents well.

Speeches about how great it is to finally have this dog park and how everybody wanted it were made. Celebration of the municipal and county cooperation made it possible.  It almost made me forget the behind the scenes activity to push all of this through! Several civic organizations were given recognition for helping with projects and special mention was made to a young man named Rudy Lange.

When Pat, Kanook and I drove in, I commented on the many nice benches in the dog areas. Dale Shaver announced that Rudy Lange made all of them as part of his Eagle Scout work. As a former Scout myself, I was most favorably impressed.  Well done Rudy and thank you!

After the speeches, the ribbon was cut and the gates were opened. It was enough to almost make me shout, “Release the Hounds!”  As excited as the dogs were, everyone behaved well.  I think Kanook has the dubious honor of making the first donation to the trash bin.  I came armed with a few baggies, but there is a good supply of them at the entrance.

I will likely split my visits between Minooka and Mitchell park still. Kanook and I have been going there for five years now.  The distance from my home on the NW side of town is about the same for both. I suspect the crowd will be a little smaller there now.

Remember, pick up after your dog!

This Wednesday, October 17th at 10AM is the opening of the long awaited Minooka County Park Dog Exercise Area.  Kanook and I will be one of many gathering around and waiting for the ribbons to be cut and the gates to open.

Better known as dog parks, these areas that allow off-leash dog activity have been created around the country at an increasing pace.  Finally being recognized as good for the dog’s owners as well as the dog, municipalities are setting aside land for them. Often people will be seen hiking the trails for their exercise while the dogs are free to trot around and sniff out things freely. Many people are like me. Where I go, my dog goes.  If my dog isn’t welcomed, I don’t go. Well, there are exceptions.

The creation of the dog park happened due to donations from The Waukesha Kennel Club and from the citizens of the cities of Waukesha and New Berlin. The Waukesha Dog Parks Organization, Inc. provided some nudging and cheerleading.

Minooka County Park falls in the boundaries of Waukesha and New Berlin. Citizens of both cities have been asking for dog park creation.  While Waukesha does have a small trail and area for off-leash dog walking, it is not fenced in and is adjacent to somewhat busy McArthur Drive. It is technically part of the city dump and doesn’t fall under the jurisdiction of the Parks and Forestry Department.  However, Ron Grall and his workers see that the grass is cut and the trash removed. It is still a nice area if your dog isn’t prone to run off.

Ron and his department investigated several city parklands for possible dog park development. While there are several great areas with potential, funding the creation of one is nearly out of possibility as his department is the popular area to look for cutting spending by the alderpeople.

Retired County Parks Manager, Jim Kavemeier proposed to the city sharing in the cost of the Minooka development. It was decided that contributing some money from an obscure park development fund would provide the citizens with a dog park at a fraction of the cost that the city could do it. The same was decided in New Berlin for their residents.

Totally private money came from the Waukesha Kennel Club.  It’s president, Bill Graham, is also vice-president of the Waukesha Dog Parks Organization.  The Waukesha Kennel Club has a history of funding dog activity that benefits the general public. An example is donating a trained police dog for the sheriff department.

While it is late in the season, dog parks are enjoyed throughout the winter too.  Enjoy it and be sure to pick up after your dog!