Any suggestions about door paint colors, given the existing other colors? I think a black door can look super elegant in many cases, but maybe wouldn't work as well with my shutters which are dark brown. Interesting about not installing new plants when a house is on market. My thought was that filling in a blank space (within reason) might look better. My market is probably first time home buyers. Younger people who aren't yet gardeners may not see the value/ potential of a blank slate. Indoors, my realtor and a friend have said my minimalist furnishings are cold looking and need some strategic items to make rooms more inviting. Considering that, I was thinking a couple bigger plants would make the outdoors -- by magic! -- more inviting. I take your points about the addition of permanent plants not being 100 percent called for in home selling. I'm probably dreaming outside of my budget anyway. To answer publickman, storm doors insulate the primary door against winter cold air/ summer hot air, and protect the primary door from driving rain. Maybe storm doors were first developed for entrances that don't have a porch or other roof. Also many storm doors have screens for summer use. Thanks again everyone.

Hi All. Live in eastern Ontario and just got installed a Greenspeed 25VNA048 heat pump w a 59MN7080 gas furnace to stop paying for oil. It was a learning curve for this system as it is an advanced heat pump system - expect the competition to ramp up their pumps HSPF to 13 also or lose the market. My coldest night so far was -15C and we got our 21C/70F indoor temp in our 2800 sq.ft house.My balance point is set for -17C/1F and I should be getting to -18C this wed/Thurs evening for a real test for the normal switch to gas furnace. Yes the system by default uses gas heat on defrost. Without it it would be blasting cold air in the ducts for 5 minutes. So the gas frnace heat modulates at 65% so to neutralize the cold air so air temp swings are minimum for comfort. Yes you can disable this on the touch screen interface in service/ setup/ heat source lockouts. Yes one can monitor electrical costs in $$$ or Kw and gas $$$ or therms on a per day/ per month and per year to date on the interface. I've experimented between the different options in choosing efficiency or comfort and there is a noticeable difference to the environment and a slight increase in costs of electricity between the two. I do prefer comfort. On an average cold day 0C/32F w -5C at night it costs me @ $5 per day in electricity and with heat on defrost w/ continuous low fan for only an additional cost of $1 every third day (.33cents per day). (yes the different areas of kw usage is separated in the readout) The only puzzle I have to resolve is last Saturday nite at 3 am the house felt cold - it was 15 F outside. Gas furnace came on for a couple of hours before pump came back ???. No codes or resetable fault codes registered on interface. The only way for the gas to go on at that temp way above the balance point is a 2 degree drop or a manual increase of temp of 2 degrees or more. So why did did happen.... stay tuned.... Gotta love saving money. Last year in October it cost me $425 in oil - this year for Oct gas+electrical $202 Included is a pic Update Jan 2014: had issues w furnace overiding heatpump prematurely and Carrier change my thermostat which had Version 9 to version 10 software - issue fixed. those who want to see what savings a heat pump can have over your specific system try this: http://sagoro.wrightsoft.com/Carrier/Default.aspx This post was edited by Cocobob on Mon, Jan 13, 14 at 23:22

"I had another quote today for a Tran 14i system. That person said there no yearly visit was necesary...maybe eveery few years. He said that tinking can cause more trouble than not. Ex: checking the freon level twice a year is fine but you loose a hose worth of freon each time. Eventually you may for a charge. He said it would not hurt to get a cleaning every few year depending on whether you have kids, dirt, smoke and how much you run the unit...at least that was my understanding of whast he said." _______________________________________________________ This sounds like the many companies that preffer installing systems (more money in it) than keeping them going, as his statements are wrong! Outdoor coils can get seriously dirty in just one years time and this affects the life and efficiency of the system. Drains can clogg up and ruin cieling or carpet. So what if you have to add a little vapor freon every 3 or 4 years of checking the pressures? What's the damage caused by a system improperly charged year after year? Unbelievable! Read the contract warranty with Trane! It states quite clearly that if the system or parts fail due to abuse or lack of maintanence may void the warranty (Read the back of the contract, right side upper corner "customers responsibility") Get these things in writting, not from a "shucks -don't worry about that" word of mouth contract. A proffessional a/c and heating check is not "tinkering", and if that is what he calls it- don't deal with him! I really feel sorry for folks that have to put up with such bs companies and not knowing where to turn. I'll bet he would be one to say "Why clean the house- it's just going to get dirty again"! :)

Love those views and my gosh you must change those windows for the sake of the views!!! New double pane windows are today 1000 times better that what you have in place. Our house, in the SF Bay Area facing SW, had EXACTLY the same problems you have now. We had Aluminum double pane "builder grade" and in the summer, the glare was blinding and they transmitted heat into the house. In the winter, it was cold and produced condensation like crazy on high humidity days. We are on a hillside with spectacular valley views but the drapes were always drawn. What a waste. After switching to new windows 4 years ago, the change is spectacular, literally. New double pane now offers a spectrrally selective coating known as Low-E. There is Low-E II, 3 and up to 4 now. They eliminate glare, keep out UV rays, cut down heat transmission. Better windows also offer Argon gas between the pane to further reduce heat transmission into and out of the house. Low-E II (3 or 4) plus Argon gas keeps you warm in the winter and cool in the summer and it gives you spectacular views out your windows. You may find that interior window treatment is now optional and can simply rely on the exterior solar shades to cut out the setting sun's direct rays into the house. There are fiberglass windows, fiberglass exterior and wood (paint or stain) interior windows, aluminum clad exterior and wood interior windows and vinyl windows. We have had very good experience buying Marvin, Andersen and Milgard. There are others (Pella, Kolbe-Kolbe, Loewen, etc) but I am only familiar with these three and they have all worked well for our homes over many years. You will not regret one bit swithing to new low-E II and argon filled double pane. Your husband will be shocked by the spectacular glare-less views! Geat ready to Enjoy!