Disturbing Dust

That hasn't been disturbed in about 40 years, you gotta love a turn of the century farmhouse. 

Stone foundations that are nearly 3 feet thick and a floor to ceiling (floor joist) height of only 5 - 5 1/2  feet. Many aspirin later and a back that will take the next four days to straighten out, I finally have the cold air return ducting upgraded and ready for the new furnace. Just replacing the cold air side of the ducting should make a huge difference in air flow during the heating season. The old school installation of simply closing in the space between two joists to act as a duct is finally gone, the return air must now come from the return air registers ... and not multiple cracks and crevices along the way. My face was totally black except where my respirator was.

Conclusion:  Step 1 of the furnace replacement COMPLETED!

Now as long as the weather remains warm so I don't have to run the furnace I can start disconnecting the heat runs from old one in preps for cutting it up and hauling it out of the basement.