I discovered today that the new Mansion Break Room currently has no heat, or plans for heat.
The room would almost surely have to be closed down in the deep winter, it was cold today and the temperature was well above freezing.
I’m jumping onto that fray, pushing for heat. Kassi said portable heaters are forbidden by the state, and she doesn’t really know where to go for money to put heat into the room.
After checking on various options, I came up with the idea of a single baseboard heating unit, along with some outlets for a small refrigerator, and perhaps a coffee machine.
Kassi loved the baseboard heat idea.
Kassi Garmley has a very tough job.
The Mansion has very little discretionary money – they just renovated a big building, and there is a flood of state and local regulations regarding portable heating units – they are forbidden. And as the Break Room was originally built as a storage room, there is no heat or any outlets.
I admire her compassion and empathy for wanting a Break Room and agreeing to let us help furnish it. So I’m going to push hard to help. I told her I would fund the electrical work necessary to put some heat into this room – one outlet and a single electric baseboard.
I’ve had this work done in my house more than once and I believe it could cost up to $200.
I can’t abide this staff working and resting and eating in a Break Room without heat. There isn’t much Kassi can do, but there is a lot we can do.
Kassi said she is grateful for any help we can provide, there are few options that can get past inspectors and little money to execute changes.
One is the baseboard. There are electric baseboards all over the Mansion, I know they are legal. And there is already a ceiling light in the room, so it is wired.
One blog reader is donating a 6 x 8 carpet and having it shipped to the Mansion.
I want to get a floor lamp, another soft chair, and a small portable refrigerator when we get power into the room. I’ll stay on it, I’m willing to fight for this Break Room, the staff needs it badly.
I invited Maria to come to my meeting with Kassi this afternoon, she brought a beautiful fiber wall painting she put together, we have that and two other color pieces for the walls.
I asked for her help in brightening up the room.
The table we purchased fits easily into the far corner of the room, so do the four chairs around it.
They don’t need too much more, but they do need heat and outlets.
The cost of this just went up a bit – I didn’t know or realize the room wasn’t heated.
I am determined to get this done. The aides work long and hard hours, they need their own room to eat, rest and re-charge.
Thanks for the money you have already sent. Any additional help would be appreciated: via Paypal, [email protected], or by check, Jon Katz, Break Room, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.
I admire this project and I plan to donate, but what you’re describing costs far, far more than $200 (permit fees alone would probably be that). You’re looking at $1500 -$2,000, easy.
No, John, I’m afraid that’s not true. I’ve spoken to two electricians, and $200, perhaps $300, is what both have said it will cost. I will get it done, and it will be nothing anywhere near $1,500..I’m sorry you live in a different kind of place. I don’t want to live where you live. We just had this very same work done in our bedroom (which is twice the size of the Break Room) for $240. Thanks for your donation. P.S. there are no permit fees required for adding an outlet to a newly wired room, or for adding a single baseboard heater. There are perhaps 80 of them in the Mansion.
We had an electrician come because we wanted several new outlets. He was talking $400 each. We didn’t get any.
I think we need to simplify our understanding of this. the Mansion wants to do it. I want to do it. The AOG wants to do it. If it costs $400 that will be fine, the estimates I’ve gotten have been lower. This is not that big a deal, it does not involve tearing up walls or floors or spending thousands of dollars we don’t need permits and architectural drawings. we just need one outlet and one electric baseboard heater…I’ll get it done, believe me..
What about getting a “mini split”? It looks like this room doesn’t have windows and a mini split would give them air conditioning in the summer heat in the winter. And, as I understand it, mini splits come in different sizes. It would probably be a little more money, but possibly worth it.
I don’t believe the state permits any plug in heating devices Carol..I’ve purchased a number cooling ac sticks that are approved, and I think an electric baseboard will do fine, inexpensive and already in place all over the Mansion. We’ll do find. Once I get a few hundred dollars, we’ll be set.