I’ve lived in Elgin, Illinois, my entire life.
While I love my local area, the weather can be difficult.
I appreciate the differences of each of the four seasons. In the winter, there is the cold and snow that provides all sorts of activities. I enjoy riding snowmowbiles, cross-country skiing and snowboarding. The Christmas holiday is always a winter wonderland and never fails to put me in a festive mood. However, temperature in the negative digits, requires a powerful heating system. I spent a small fortune on a state-of-the-art furnace that promises a 98% AFUE rating. They unit includes adaptable-sped technology that automatically adjusts output to match the specific needs of th home. By running the majority of time at lower speeds, it uses less energy, makes less noise and costs less to run. I still dread my monthly energy bills. When the temperature outside plummets to negative twenty-five degrees, the furnace runs just about non stop. Plus, it’s necessary to rely on the heater for approximately eight months straight. Due to issues with overly dry air, I’ve also invested into a humidifier. It seems to take forever for the snow to melt and warmer weather to arrive. I get excited for the first sign of robbins and daffodil sprouds. Unfortunately, spring often brings thunderstorms and high winds that knock down tree branches and take out power line. Going without electricity is inconvenient, can cause damage and create safety risks. With excessive snowmelt, there’s the potential for the basement flooding. I not only purchased a sump pump for the basement but added an emergency backup incase of a power outage. While the summers in Elgin tend to be short, they are typically hot and humid. I have central air conditoning as well as a dehumidifier. The expenses associated with the weather add up quickly.