Home Improvement Thread

Postby **Silentom** » Mon Oct 29, 2018 12:32 pm

Just finished my master bedroom in the spring. Would have been good to know, since I wired two outlets separately with 12ga wire, specifically for an A/C unit.

Postby **mac5155** » Mon Oct 29, 2018 2:39 pm

Yeah, I was told the Arc Fault is able to catch (prevent?) the spark when pulling a plug out of a receptacle, i.e. an electric blanket arcs onto a curtain and catches on fire.

It does protect a spare bedroom. (and the house was built this year).

The way he said it was 'now that you're past inspections, you can use this'... so that's what had me concerned.

Postby **NTP66** » Mon Oct 29, 2018 3:00 pm

Yeah, I’m not listening to that advice if I’m you, personally.

Postby **Shyster** » Mon Oct 29, 2018 8:00 pm

Anyone here own a Mr. Buddy portable propane heater? I'm thinking of getting a Big Buddy and using 1lb. propane tanks for when I work on my car in the winter.

Yes. Bought a Big Buddy as an emergency heat source after the snowmageddon storm years ago. I wanted something that I could use to keep pipes from freezing during extended power outages. I've only used it a couple of times since, but it does put out plenty of heat, and it seems pretty durable and well-made. There's a blower fan that helps circulate the heated air if you put D batteries in it, but it can run just fine without the fan.

Postby **NTP66** » Tue Oct 30, 2018 6:54 am

Good to know, thank you. I was going to buy the $10 AC adapter for it if I bought it to save myself from spending money on batteries. I'm less worried about frozen pipes, and really am just trying to justify spending $106 on a refurb unit so that I can work on my car once or twice a year in a cold ass garage.

Postby **mac5155** » Tue Oct 30, 2018 11:42 am

I have one of these, and it works very well. A lot cheaper too.

https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Heater-Single ... B004W7SIUG

I also have a double one. I can be in shorts and a T shirt with the double one, in my 24x24 garage.

Postby **NTP66** » Tue Oct 30, 2018 12:56 pm

That was my other option, but it's outdoor use only.

Postby **Lemon Berry Lobster** » Tue Oct 30, 2018 12:57 pm

Just turn your car on and let the exhaust heat up the garage.

Postby **NTP66** » Tue Oct 30, 2018 12:59 pm

I had a friend and his toddler actually die that way. He started his car with the garage door closed and blacked out on the way to open the door. His toddler was buckled into her car seat. Was a **** awful time.

Postby **Shyster** » Tue Oct 30, 2018 8:06 pm

I think the "outdoors use only" is based on the fact that propane tanks aren't supposed to be used inside under OSHA rules or something like that. I bought the bulk-tank adapter hose for the Big Buddy, and IIRC there are warnings all over the manual that if you hook the heater up to a bulk tank, the bulk tank must stay outdoors and you're supposed to run the hose out a window or door. I don't think the issue is anything to do with the heaters themselves.

Postby **NTP66** » Tue Oct 30, 2018 8:09 pm

I get that, but at least with the Buddy series, they come with a number of safety features that aren’t included on the tank-top heaters. I’m just extra cautious with propane.

Postby **mac5155** » Wed Oct 31, 2018 1:02 pm

The tank top heater I have has a timer button and auto shut off if tipped over. Oh well to each their own

Postby **DigitalGypsy66** » Wed Oct 31, 2018 2:18 pm

Getting an estimate for a new heat pump today, to replace our abomination of a spec house shortcut disaster that we currently have.

Looking at a variable speed heat pump and air handler, which should make our house actually inhabitable in the dead of winter and summer. Evidently, the local power company gives $400 rebates for new efficient heat pumps and another $125 for programmable thermostats.

The estimate will probably be scary though.

Postby **DigitalGypsy66** » Fri Nov 02, 2018 1:34 pm

The estimate will probably be scary though.

Aye, it was.

OK, for an 18 seer 3 ton variable speed heat pump unit with air handler and new thermostat and some duct work upgrades was $13K.

For the 17 seer, 3 ton dual stage heat pump unit with air handler, a new thermostat, and some duct work is $12K.

I was caught off guard by the numbers, but I don't have any personal experience with replacing heat pumps. Asking around work, this seems to be in the ballpark.

Anyone else want to chime in?

Postby **Freddy Rumsen** » Fri Nov 02, 2018 2:01 pm

I had a 16 seer Armstrong unit put in two weeks ago. No idea on the size. Our house is a ranch, about 1800 sqft. Cost was $6,500+/-

Postby **DigitalGypsy66** » Fri Nov 02, 2018 2:02 pm

Our house is 1950 square feet, but 150 of that is bonus room with its own split unit.

Postby **Freddy Rumsen** » Fri Nov 02, 2018 2:04 pm

They had to do very little duct work. Not sure why the big price difference.

Postby **NTP66** » Fri Nov 02, 2018 2:08 pm

When you say ‘some duct work’, what does that entail? $13k seems very high to me.

Postby **Lemon Berry Lobster** » Fri Nov 02, 2018 2:42 pm

Postby **dodint** » Fri Nov 02, 2018 2:50 pm

Merry Christmas!

Postby **DigitalGypsy66** » Fri Nov 02, 2018 6:32 pm

They want to change some of the runs from the trunk lines and add dampers to control airflow. The trunk and half of the runs will remain the same.

They also want to widen the main return, which means cutting the ceiling obviously.

Postby **mac5155** » Fri Nov 02, 2018 8:58 pm

My parents just did a new outdoor AC unit with gas furnace for 5500 installed.

Postby **NTP66** » Sat Nov 03, 2018 7:16 am

Did you only get two quotes? I’d probably get another one or two just to see if that truly is the going rate. It just seems high to me if they’re not replacing all of your duct work.

Postby **Silentom** » Tue Nov 06, 2018 11:04 am

I've come to learn that angle valves need to be perfectly aligned. I love our boiler heat, but working on radiators sucks.

Postby **iamjs** » Mon Nov 12, 2018 6:49 pm

any reason why the light on my garage door opener won't go out?