"The best laid plans of mice and men" meant that our plans to install a wood burner before next winter were stil being debated. As we rent our house we had to decide whether we really wanted to pay for a wood burner in someone else's property. Well the damp and the condensation of the last couple of months just about convinced us to bite the bullet, but then the mould appeared.
My lovely landlord Savvas appeared with first a civil engineer, and then a builder, and then a decorator, and they all had different views as to the cause of this outbreak. It was decided to send in a team to clean the mould, and service and clean the air conditioning (as apparently this can cause the spores to spread). Then the whole interior of the house was to be decorated with anti-fungal paint.
But two of the experts concluded that, whilst this might make a difference, the house needed to be heated more effectively. I missed that bit of the conversation, as my Greek was not up to the task. Savvas returned to tell me he was going to get a quote to install gas central heating. A friend had this installed in a larger house and the cost was eye-watering. So, on the principle of "nothing ventured, nothing gained" I suggested getting a wood burner installed.
I outlined the benefits and he was off like a shot to our local installer Bioenergy in Polis, which is highly regarded. (
http://www.ambioenergy.com). Three hours later he returned with one of the partners, who was up on the roof to check the chimney, and then to investigate whether there was sufficient "draw" as our fireplace was very smoky and we no longer use it. The conclusion was that it would be fine and so a convection stove was recommended (10 Kw) which would fit into the fireplace, with the flue in the chimney. Apparently it would only take a day to install.
So our plan to install a wood burner at our own expense was confined to history. What a result. It must have been the discussion I had with the engineer when I mentioned that, unless the damp and condensation and the mould was resolved, we would start looking for another property.
As Churchill said, "Action this day".