Hello Mr. HVAC (a name that sounds like the Grand Puba of HVAC) I am sure I have more stupid stories than you could imagine also; Just not me. If I need to put equipment on a roof, I hire a crane. Done it, been there. I have to admit, I have the training to be a rocket scientist, I lived in Houston for many years, where rocket scientists exist in great quantities, but I work on practical equipment. I attended the same engineering college that produces many scientific workers at NASA. I have performed muck level jobs, I love the smell of oil and grease. I also design and build devices. I know how to read technical data; which seems to be a problem with many HVAC workers in Texas. I tried to discuss technical aspects with this forum multiple times, but you werent interested. I was willing to try. The best you could offer was comments on my alleged drug usage. Kinda lame in my opinion. I guess you fall into the reading challenged category. You have been working like a pack mule longer than I have worked with HVAC, from your admissions. I wouldn't want to brag. When I need manual labor, I hire workers ALWAYS. If I need to do a labor intensive job in an emergency, I still hire workers. I have hired temp workers walking by a job at midnight and put them to work immediately. I think like a boss, not a worker in that aspect. I guess that comes from many years of operating my own business. Think smart, try to never repeat mistakes, and NEVER lie to the customer. I still think that if I can teach you, I can teach anyone. You are an opinionated hard case that is living in your dreams. I hope you are happy; I have dropped to your level with this post. As to advising on issues, if I do not have direct experience; I don't advise. It must be mind boggling to you, to imagine my qualified experience level in so many areas. As a service provider/ owner, I did a lot of varied work. Just because you donÂt agree with me does not immediately make me wrong. It does show poor judgment on your part, to claim I am wrong. For the people that write me, or are considering writing me; I am always willing to help, but I do not feel it is appropriate to troll this site for work. If I give referrals to anything, I do not profit from the referral. IMO, this is bad business. Others can do as they wish. When I started posting on this site, it was not for any ego gratification. It was to show potential employers my troubleshooting skills and general knowledge. I found that I like helping people in need. I mention this site (Garden Web) to all that can benefit. I do not post very much on the other site, that has a lot of commercial and large equipment workers. I do post where appropriate. Funny I donÂt get negative comments on that site. Only pros are allowed. I would probably stop posting entirely on that site if some of the guys were like this site. I have asked the same questions, and of skill level there also.

Tigerdunes - yes all my systems are getting a work out this week. We lost power for 4+ hours on Monday and all 4 HVAC units were working hard to get the house back to comfortable. The gas units (including the new bedroom one) warmed things up pretty quickly - all in second stage. My basement unit (heat pump and electric strips) was a real problem. The condenser froze up with the rain/sleet and the defrost cycle wouldn't clear it. We ran until today on the strips only (can't wait to see the electric bill) before I could chip all the ice off the condenser and get it running properly again. Forecast is for low teens the next day or two - so they will all be working hard for the next couple of days. Glad I signed up for a low 12 month fixed gas rate. To the other poster - not sure why the comments on zoning - my house is zoned by having different units (one for each floor and a separate one for the master bedroom), not a mechanical zoning system.

Mr bear,that volt meter that's telling you there's no power at disconnect will easiely find the trouble if only you will use it. What you have been doing is commonly known as "throwing parts at the problem". What you describe points to a broken wire/connection between main panel and disconnect. Stick the meter into an outlet to confirm meter works when set to voltage. Set meter to ohms, touch probes togeather and calibrate to zero ohms. Set to volt,touch one probe to either conductor wire at disconnect and other probe to bare ground wire. 110 to 120 volts mean's that leg of 220 is ok. No or less than 110 volts means that leg is bad. Move probe to other conductor. If there is no volts at either conductor,check ohms between bare wire and a known earth ground to confirm no resistance. Disconnect wires at main and tie them togeather,disonnect wires at disconnect box,there should be zero ohms between conductors at disconnect. It isn't unheard of for one side of main breaker to go bad,did you change main breaker or only the panel? Normally when one side of main go's bad you lose power to random 120 outlets. BTW,do you have a love smitten brother named Running?

We've been experiencing some of the same. First it was the furnace having to be replaced. (before that it was the oven had to be repaired) When DH went in the garage to look at the new furnace being put in, he happened to look up and notice stains on the garage ceiling. The bathroom in his man-cave is just above. Had to have the toilet fixed and next on the list is repairing the ceiling. Then there's the squirrels. We had holes repaired and metal pieces put in the areas where the squirrels had bored through to get into our attic and now we see more damage. Had someone by yesterday. $260.00 and that's just the start. Lots of wood has rotted and has to be replaced. Haven't gotten the estimate on that yet. Our house is 20 years old now. We've never lived anywhere long enough to redecorate never mind fix and replace things. Inside could use a paint job. That will be next.