Estimators came...and I am DREADING this. Talk me down off the ledge!
Chessie
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
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SJ McCarthy
6 years agoChessie
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoRelated Discussions
Pls talk me off the ventilation ledge - xpost
Comments (5)LOL, plllog! You remember my cardboard hood mock-up? Yes, my craft skills, limited that they are, were put to the test when I built this: It did help me realize that an island hood would be too big for our modest kitchen and that the best solution was to move the cook top to the perimeter. That hood was long ago recycled. Besides, I'm quite sure a cardboard hood is a bad idea, now matter how great the blower motor would be. :) I had forgotten you have a MA hood. I'm glad to hear you're happy with it and your previous one. We can't go with an in-line or remote blower, unfortunately, but after hearing the fan noise of the VA, Wolf and a mesh filter Zephyr, I'm quite sure that the noise level of a MA hood will be acceptable, especially compared to our horribly noisy pop-up downdraft. What has me hesitating is the fact that I will be buying it without trying it. All should be fine but it's the "what if" that has me hesitating, especially since it's a big ticket purchase. Rococogurl suggested I see if I can find a MA hood owner in my area who's willing to let me come see the hood. I am short (a bit less than 5'4"). I have test driven hoods in show homes that are 34" above the counter and haven't had a problem reaching the controls at the front. Does MA offer a remote feature? That would be worth checking into. Thanks! Thanks, sonny_h, for the suggestion since that's not a brand I'm familiar with. However, it would again be buying one without seeing it and without as many glowing reviews, I'd be even more hesitant. I will look for your kitchen pics, though! Always love to see kitchen eye candy....See MoreI really think I am being ripped off...
Comments (31)I'm baaaackkk! My contractor responded to my question to him about why the heat pump quote was so much higher than the non-heat pump quote...He didn't really answer it, but he has revised it to include the Infinity furnace (variable I think) along with the Infinity heat pump-a/c. My total payment after rebates is about 13,500. This includes the system below, 50 gal powervent hwh, 950 sq feet of r-19 blown in fiberglass and air sealing gaps in attic and as needed elsewhere. I have no idea what a reasonable price for this Infinity system is. I know the hwh and insulation are a little high, but not crazy. Any ideas what this hvac alone should cost? He doesn't list Infinity control but maybe that's an oversight as one of the units (a/c?) seems to require it. I would ask for it to be included in the price. This is the same price as he originally gave me for the 59TP5 furnce..the only diff is the furnace, is it much more in cost? � Remove and dispose of existing furnace, coil, line set, and plenum located in basement � Clean duct system. � Install new 2-stage, 100,000 BTU Carrier 96% gas furnace. (Model 59TN6A0100E2120) � Install new 4-ton Carrier Infinity 16, 2-stage heat pump condenser on legs. (Puron) (Model (25HNB636B) � Install new matching Carrier evaporator coil. (CNPVP4821A) � Install new properly sized disconnect/ whip. � Install new media cabinet and filter. (MERV 10) � Install new Carrier Edge programmable thermostat control. � Install new plenum and duct adaptation to existing supply and return duct. � Install new copper line set to connect units between indoor and outdoor equipment. � Install new condensation removal system terminating to exterior. � Connect to existing intake and exhaust piping to exterior. � Includes Carrier Limited Lifetime warranty on heat exchanger. � Includes Carrier Limited 10-year warranty on heat exchanger. � Includes Carrier Limited 10-year parts warranty and 10-year labor warranty. � Includes 1-year maintenance agreement. (Fall 2012 and Spring 2013) � All UCC required permit fees included Of course I do know that if my unit dies I could replace it with something for around 8-9k...but don't know how much Infinity would cost or if it's worth it. Also, He wrote his in the email, "This project will save over 27% of Total usage but I used 25% reduction over the course of one year. Using your utility bills from 5/11 to 4/12 you spent approx. $2,397.00 on electric and $1,040.00 on gas. (Keep in mind this was one of the warmest winters on record. From 4/11 to 5/10 you spent $1,375.00 on gas). Taking theses costs and deducting the 25%, we have an average monthly savings of $21.66 on gas and $49.93 on electric which equals to a total average monthly savings of $71.59. Remove that cost from the $83.33 loan payment you have $16.74 per month payment which equates to paying back $2,008.80 on a $10,000.00 loan." BUT, isn't part of my electric my fridge, computers and tv??? Also, I doubt the people who paid 8k got a 10yr pt/labor warranty...which does have some value....See MoreCost of additional shower head&valve - am I getting ripped off?
Comments (7)"that there was nothing in our spec sheet specifying that we could only have one shower head and valve per shower" Sounds like there was nothing in the specifications about more than one, so that's almost certainly how it was priced. The CO should be done in advance of the change, giving you an opportunity to accept or reject the charge, not after the work is started. It will cost a lot more to retrofit, so chalk it up to small lessons learned at this point. The more complete the specifications and drawings are, in my experience, the fewer the bad surprises. Something around $1K/fixture seems pretty typical in the primary estimate, work done under COs is almost always more expensive....See MoreTalk me down off the ledge ... Aloe Aristata look so thirrrsty!
Comments (43)Jeff It seems to me that I am the only one against the misting. But I have to make myself clear: I believe many (not all!!!) ppl just assume that they should mist the plant. Misting the soil should be np, but I still rather put them in gritty mix, in container with drainage hole and water if and when needed. I don't need to worry about not wetting the plant, about overwatering, and drainage. I won't say that everything always survives, but success rate is quite high. Many don't care about gritty mix; I love it. I can take a hose and water them all outdoors. It can rain and I don't have to take them inside (obviously, not a torrential rain that lasts for days and days - but we don't get that kind of rain; and obviously - not hailstorm...) I like to make it simple and found gritty to be very simple. Much simpler than hoping to find a bag of 'good soil'. Buying ingredients in bulk is very economical too and I would bet that this 'custom' mix is much less costly than bagged soil. I know that it isn't possible for everyone, especially if no storage - and/or car - is available. I was, perhaps, bit obsessed ('anal'?) at first, trying to find the right bark...measure exactly...I can go on. Don't do it any more, buy ingredients maybe 2x/year in bulk. I have many other plants - won't bore anybody with naming them, there is close to 100, and many are going into grittier mix when needed to repot. I use some soil for those plants, but no more than 50% and often much less. And yes, I use chicken grit for those too....See Moresofaspud
6 years agoChessie
6 years agomillworkman
6 years agoMrs. S
6 years agoChisos
6 years agoChessie
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoChessie
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoChessie
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoChessie
6 years agoSJ McCarthy
6 years agoChessie
6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
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ChessieOriginal Author