sometimes I want to be Sherlock Holmes. it'd be a nice justification for feeling misanthropic

[greenapricot]

When an introvert says that they don't want to see any people and want to spend the one day this week that it's possible by themselves the correct response isn't a pitting awww, the correct response is cool. So I have successfully brushed off all potential people who might stop by (and just in case I've locked the door

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[greenapricot]

We did build it ourselves. Or more accurately T built it while I helped and made lists of materials needed. There are two solar panels on the roof with pipes going down through the house to the tank in the basement. The water that circulates in the panels is actually a mix of water and antifreeze which keeps it from freezing in the winter and from boiling in the summer. The tank in the basement fills will water from the well and then the pipe from the roof runs through a coil of pipe inside the water tank exchanging heat (and keeping antifreeze out of our water). There is a circulating pump that is set to turn on when the water in the collectors on the roof is warmer than the water in the tank. If it's sunny there is basically free hot water (the pump is electric so we're paying for that, but it's pretty efficient). That is the story of our solar hot water.

T is currently starting the process of installing the on demand back up hot water heater. It doesn't have a tank, the hot water pipes coming out of the big tank run through it and if the water isn't up to temperature it turns on a little propane burner under the pipe and makes up the difference. So, probably by Monday, but certainly by next Friday, we'll have hot water even when it's 18˚ and cloudy like it is right now. And consistent hot water really is the only thing I wanted for Christmas so I'm pretty happy.

Hope your Christmas is happy too. <3