Charlie - if by "nutritional value" you mean enhancement of immune function, there's some evidence that both above-ground growth and roots of Echinacea may have value. Here's a study that looked at echinacea for preventing and treating the common cold: "Echinacea preparations tested in clinical trials differ greatly. There is some evidence that preparations based on the aerial parts of Echinacea purpurea might be effective for the early treatment of colds in adults but results are not fully consistent. Beneficial effects of other Echinacea preparations, and for preventative purposes might exist but have not been shown in independently replicated, rigorous randomized trials." The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine has recently done a couple of clinical trials on echinacea with negative results. "Study results are mixed on whether echinacea can prevent or effectively treat upper respiratory tract infections such as the common cold. For example, two NCCAM-funded studies did not find a benefit from echinacea, either as Echinacea purpurea fresh-pressed juice for treating colds in children, or as an unrefined mixture of Echinacea angustifolia root and Echinacea purpurea root and herb in adults. However, other studies have shown that echinacea may be beneficial in treating upper respiratory infections." In my own experience, I've avoided colds and flu after taking Echinacea preparations before plane flights, but I've also avoided sickness when I didn't take it - so, my anecdotes are not the greatest evidence. Where I suspect you're correct about Echinacea herbal rip-offs, it's those products that are not properly standardized to contain an optimal amount of active ingredient (or may not contain any active ingredient at all). But that's a problem plaguing the supplement industry as a whole.

"All of them should know what size supply the water heater requires and compare that to what is available in the house." The AHJ often has limited knowledge. The code the AHJ enforces does not cover distribution equipment. They do not control the gas company, and generally have almost non jurisdiction over them except after the meter. It was solely the responsibility of the plumber adding the gas equipment to make sure everything would work. That said, no one is going to tell the plumber to run a new gas service line. that would be between you and the gas company. The plumber can remove the equipment he installed, refund your money, and that is about all you are likely to get from him. he did no9t purchase something that cannot work in your house due to factors beyond his control. He may not have known it would not work either. What would you have said if he had simply refused the work telling you the unit could not function with your supply line? The only way it might be his responsibility is if he sold you the equipment.

In a word - YES. You could have purchased new equipment for the amount they have charged you to move it. Call around and speak to other water treatment folks in your area. Look for industry standard rather than proprietary equipment. Kinetico quality is quite good. They are, however, much mor expensive. There are others out there that will provide the same result with much less expense. As long as you're looking, get your own testing done by an independent lab and size your softener accordingly. Softeners aren't just cookie-cutter. One size does not fit all. What worked for you before may not be what you need now.

It really depends on the situation and every home and need are different. In the basement overcooling situation, you gotta do it for the comfort. Some people have insulation between the basement and living space so you don't want to lose your heating to that area. Then there is the problem with imbalanced pressures. If there are supply duct openings, where is the air going to go? If the basement is closely coupled to the area with a return (upstairs?) and you don't mind a little air down there to dehumidify, or warm it up a little bit, leave it alone. If the basement is sealed off from the return upstairs, it may leave the area more closely coupled to the outdoors. It will be pressurized and the air will tend to leak out through the openings and cracks to nature. That will, in turn, depressurize the living space and suck unconditioned air from random cracks and openings up there. It might even come down some flues. If that is going on, you gotta fix it. You can do it by adding a return or sealing the supplies. Ducting systems are complicated. I hate them.