Home Improvement Thread

Postby **NTP66** » Fri Dec 15, 2023 3:18 pm

Travelers is asking for documentation on the insurance for my wife's bass and bow ($16k), and seeing as how that appraisal is from 2007, I have a feeling that they're going to require an updated one. That's going to suck, since we'd have to drive an hour and forty-five minutes to get to the closest appraiser.

Postby **mamaemeritus** » Mon Dec 18, 2023 12:25 pm

Oh joy. Furnace broken. $2100 to fix and the guy can't even locate the part to put in a unit that is notorious for issues (came with the house - installed in 2014.) $3200 to put a new one in hopefully today, sold. Ho ho ho and Merry Christmas to me. Frick.

Postby **NTP66** » Mon Dec 18, 2023 1:28 pm

If it makes you feel any better, depending on the model of furnace, $3200 installed is not outrageous.

Postby **skullman80** » Mon Dec 18, 2023 1:29 pm

That's really cheap to be honest. Especially if that is like 96/98% efficient one etc.

Postby **mamaemeritus** » Mon Dec 18, 2023 1:55 pm

Oh yeah, I'm thrilled it's not more. Just the timing being right before Christmas - and right after we shelled out almost $20k on bathroom renos. The joys of being a homeowner.

Postby **NTP66** » Mon Dec 18, 2023 2:06 pm

Speaking of, now that I have the entire summer's worth of data, my electrical usage is noticeably lower with the new HVAC system:

2022:
July: 1107
August: 1572
September: 1344
October: 921

2023:
July: 1091
August: 1024
September: 1045
October: 793

August being 54% lower is massive, though the average temperature that month in 2022 was 5° higher. Either way, this 2-stage equipment is doing exactly what I expected it to, which means my solar panels are likely to generate more than the 114% of power I expected them to based on 2022's electricity usage.

Postby **NTP66** » Tue Dec 19, 2023 6:57 am

@Dickie Dunn: Who do you use for your SREC trading? srectrade.com? PA is pretty low at around $30/SREC, compared to NJ and DC between $200-300.

Postby **Dickie Dunn** » Tue Dec 19, 2023 9:39 am

Yes and they suck. Our most recent sale was at $27.50 after hitting $45 earlier in the year. Not entirely sure why, but we're also only allowed to sell in PA and OH despite other states offering a lot more.

Postby **NTP66** » Fri Jan 05, 2024 9:07 am

First propane refill of the year, and prices are up $.19/g. Nice. This was my fourth highest charge ever.

Postby **mac5155** » Fri Jan 05, 2024 11:04 pm

I just paid $3.89. I thought that was pretty high. Luckily I just use it to cook and 100 gallons lasts me about 20 months.

Postby **mac5155** » Sat Jan 06, 2024 11:23 pm

First propane refill of the year, and prices are up $.19/g. Nice. This was my fourth highest charge ever.

How much per gallon?

Postby **NTP66** » Sun Jan 07, 2024 6:09 am

First propane refill of the year, and prices are up $.19/g. Nice. This was my fourth highest charge ever.
How much per gallon?

$3.029/g

Postby **shafnutz05** » Sun Jan 07, 2024 7:30 am

First propane refill of the year, and prices are up $.19/g. Nice. This was my fourth highest charge ever.
How much per gallon?
$3.029/g

I paid $3.59/g through Amerigas last week. 330 gallons later...

Postby **NTP66** » Sun Jan 07, 2024 9:43 am

JFC, that's outrageous. 241g for us, and it was one of the highest bills we have seen according to my tracking.

Postby **mac5155** » Sun Jan 07, 2024 10:39 am

Do those prices include delivery and/or tank rental? I pay a flat $3.89 a gallon, that's it. Delivery charge is included in that I suppose. I don't track how much I spend because I don't use much. Im just curious if I'm getting completely ripped off or not. This is my third fill since we moved in in April 2018 (including the initial fill)

Postby **NTP66** » Sun Jan 07, 2024 10:56 am

Do those prices include delivery and/or tank rental? I pay a flat $3.89 a gallon, that's it. Delivery charge is included in that I suppose. I don't track how much I spend because I don't use much. Im just curious if I'm getting completely ripped off or not. This is my third fill since we moved in in April 2018 (including the initial fill)

No tank rental or delivery fees. A hazmat fee of $14.99 is charged with every fill up, which I just notice was raised from $8.95 last year. So thanks for making me double check that.

Postby **NTP66** » Sun Jan 07, 2024 10:59 am

If I get out of my contract, I have to pay the propane company a prorated fee for the tank. It's old enough now that it wouldn't be too bad. I have thought about shopping around, but didn't think the math would ever work out that I would save much money at all.

Postby **tifosi77** » Sun Jan 07, 2024 3:10 pm

Does anyone have any reccs for free floorplan software? Like where you plug in a set of room dimensions and you can virtually lay out furniture and stuff to get a feel for how to Tetris stuff into a space.

Postby **dodint** » Sun Jan 07, 2024 3:26 pm

I tried a bunch and the only one I liked was a tablet app.

Postby **MR25** » Wed Jan 10, 2024 9:40 am

Guess who's going to be the owner of a new garage door motor?

Yeah the 18 year old motor crapped out on me last week. Guy was going to replace the wall switch but tested the circuitry and it was shot. New one will connect to my phone so now I don't have to carry my keys with me if I go out. I'd like to thank Citizens Bank for their closing cost oversight that helped me cover the 50% deposit on the new motor.

Postby **dodint** » Wed Jan 10, 2024 9:51 am

New garage door motors are tight.

Postby **NTP66** » Wed Jan 10, 2024 9:54 am

How often do you guys use the app on your phone for your garage doors? That's what's preventing me from upgrading, personally. I don't know that I'd get much value out of a change just to have it integrated into my smart home network.

Postby **dodint** » Wed Jan 10, 2024 9:56 am

Never.

Postby **skullman80** » Wed Jan 10, 2024 9:57 am

I don't use ours alot, cause both our cars have it built in to the rear view mirror via a button... so we don't even carry our garage door openers in our car (plus there is a keypad outside). However the app is handy to set schedules to make sure the doors close if I leave them open (I've done that before and had them open all night), plus it integrates into our ring system so that is also helpful.

The fancy garage door opener was already installed though when we moved in by the prior owner.

Postby **Beveridge** » Wed Jan 10, 2024 10:33 am

I actually use mine more than I thought I would. If we go for a walk with the stroller, I use it rather than go through the door and grab the car remote. We have someone clean and that is how we let her in. If my dad has to run up to do something like meet for a delivery and I can't make it home, etc.