No heat..good grief
 

We moved into a new house this fall. We were told the roof is brand new and it is completely remodeled. Well we got home yesterday from taking care of dh's grandpa like we do every weekend, and we had NO HEAT. Now we are in MI here, and the temp dropped from 40 to 20 in an hour overnight, we had freezing rain, school was cancelled, the wind is gusting to 45 mph right now. We used a space heater in our bedroom and had all of our kids sleep in there with us. I called the propane company today, and since we have only been with them since we moved here, they want cash up front. I explained that we went through 20-some percent in one week and this was unexpected. In our other house we could last a month or more on that. They didnt care. They gave me the number to dhs and other place that might help. Dhs says it would take at least a week for an answer, the other places said they have either no money for propane right now, or that I would need a decline letter from dhs before they could help, I wouldnt get that for at least a week! My parents have no money, my grandparents have no money, and I don't know what to do. I asked my mother in law for a pay advance because I get paid for taking care of her dad on weekends, and she said that she can't because she wants to pay herself extra this week because she had to take a day off of work last week. I cannot believe that she wont. Her daughter owes her over $20,000, and we have paid her back everytime we have borrowed from her!! I am so upset right now. I still have a lot of Christmas shopping to do, and I dont have heat. My propane company has a minimum of 250 gallons they will deliver, so I cannot even get them to deliver just a little. I even told them I could give them $200, and they won't take that.
I am just so upset right now!! I have called everywhere. I planned on getting propane after the New Year. I had no idea we would go through so much this soon! I have all 6 of the kids watching a movie on my bed in my room with the space heater. Ugh I hate this. :(

Isn't it against the law for them to keep kids in a place with no heat? I thought it was? Maybe you can call your town hall and find out if that is true. You should not be forced to pay for 250 gallons at one time, tons of people cannot afford that... thats an awful lot!

I've called so many places, I would think they would have said something. I just cannot believe they wont work with me!

I work for a heating and cooling company and unfortuntly the propane company sets stupid rules on how much they will deliver. Are you out of propane and that's why your heat isnt working or is there another problem with your furnace? Has it ever been working, etc? Maybe you can call your town for assistance. The propane company probably won't be much help if they are anything like the ones around here. Good Luck, you'll be in my thoughts and prayers.

i don't think it is anymore. They don't keep track of the propane, its up to the home owner. They usually arent very caring. Some houses can use propane up much faster than others. Its all about what type furnace you have, how efficient it is, how the house is insulated, etc. Its not uncommon for a house to use up 20% in a month.

It went through 20% in a week. We called last month because we thought there was a leak, they said smelling gas and a noise by the tank was normal.
The tank is on 0, so it is out.

That sounds not only NOT normal, but dangerous as well:eek: Of course they don't care, the more you leak, the more $$$ they make:mad:

I'm so sorry that you and your family are going through this:( Prayers going up that you get relief quickly:hands:

Thank you :)
I have the dryer running downstairs with it vented inside to keep the pipes from freezing and hoping it will help heat the floor a little.
I am going to see if there is a cheap electric heater somewhere that I can get to try to get us by. I am going to find out if we are bound by a contract to our propane company too. They have just been very cold and heartless about this whole thing.

I hope you can get some help soon. Is their a church group that could help.

I have called every number that I have been given. We are youth leaders at our church, but honestly, I would not call them about it because I know that giving is down a ton at church. Its just tough for everyone right now unfortunately.

I'm just reading this post now I must have missed it when it first went up somehow. Just curious as to how you're doing? Any resolution? I hope so.

Best wishes and i'm praying for you.

Yeah, we have heat now. We got a little bit of a pay advance for taking care of Grandpa, and used the rest of our Christmas money. :( I am still holding on to the hope that we might still be able to finish Christmas shopping for the kids.
Thank you for asking about it :)

Its super hard when stuff like this happens around Christmas. Depending on the relationships with your kids and how the react to stuff theres alot you can do without money. I grew up rather poor and we used to carol and decorate or do puzzles and sing christmas songs. We also would go out and find pine branches to make wreathes for "forgotten" souls at the cemetary. (You could do the same thing but drop them off at neighbors?) Or instead of spending your christmas day opening presents, make an igloo as a family and drink hot cocoa. I'm glad you have heat and I hope everything works out for you!

My kids are good kids. They will be happy no matter what. I just feel terrible because this Christmas my mother in law decided that she is not buying gifts for anyone because once again, her lifestyle is a priority. So this will be her first year not buying for any of the kids. My brother is not doing Christmas with my kids this year, not surprise because he is very selfish too, my dad now says he is going to postpone Christmas with us, and my mom isn't doing much. So no matter how great my kids are, its going to be a shock to them to not have anyone besides us this Christmas. Not that they ever get a ton anyway, we aren't one of those families that spoils the kids rotten for Christmas. It just hurts that my family is last or not even on anyones priority list (well my mom would do more, but she's having a hard time). I just don't get it. I love to give. I love picking out the perfect gift that I think will mean a lot to someone. I cannot imagine not wanting to give to my grandkids.
I'm sure it will break my heart more than it will the kids' this year.
As far as thinking there's a leak, I called them and told them about the smell and they said that it was normal to smell propane and hear a hissing sound when an appliance kicked on. A couple of days later they sent someone out who walked out there for a sec and then repeated the same thing to me. I have never noticed that at my old house before, and our tank was much closer to the house.

Yes, I understand all that, and please understand, if I had a close family, or if my husband did, this would feel much different. See, his mother never pays any attention to my kids at all. She complains because she has grandkids, because she is "too old to be a grandma". She is an alcoholic, and says she is going to be 29 forever and never get old. At least at Christmas they can feel like she cares a little bit if they get something from her, since they don't get love or hugs. As far as my brother, he never comes around, he has a gambling addiction, never even calls my kids to wish them happy birthday, but last year when we went to their house for Christmas and did a gift exchange was the first time my kids felt like they meant anything to him. Not because of how much they cost or how many gifts there were, but because he actually took the time to think of them. I feel like at least at Christmas they got to feel a little bit like these people cared about them. Yes, it was through gifts, but these are people that do not show them affection or give them any attention any other time. They are not going to not give gifts this year because of some tragic financial crisis, its because my mother in law would rather party and drink her money away, and my brother would rather smoke and gamble it away.
I came from a family that does gifts at Christmas and Birthdays, and I respect the beliefs of those that don't, but as a person that loves to bless people with gifts myself, I cannot comprehend how someone can blow off their grandchildren or nieces and nephews this way. I would feel differently if they cared otherwise.
I understand the meaning behind Christmas. I have been a strong Christian my whole life, and my husband and I are very active in our church. I hate the commercialism of the Holiday now, and I hate how children are demanding ipods and gifts that cost hundreds of dollars. I cannot fathom how someone can spend so much on Christmas. However, we do love to bless our children with modest gifts this time of year and it is very heartfelt. It hurts me that my family, and my husbands family make such different choices than us that effect our children.

Sorry to hear you're having problems at Christmas but I do wish you (and everyone:)) a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!! If you want to know if you have a leak, you can get a spray bottle and put some soapy water in it (dishwashing liquid works well). Spray some around any connections and if you have a leak, bubbles will appear.