I have no scapes (at least, not yet - I'm beginning to think anything may happen), but I have had two DLs come out of what I understand is called "summer dormancy" about 3 weeks ago. I have 3 in pots - the one that is semi-evergreen bloomed a bit in late spring. Another (a Dormant type)gave me one bloom, and the third (also a Dormant type) gave me NONE. I don't hold it against them, as I ordered them from Vermont, and I think moving to Central California was too much for them. I had great hopes for next Spring, though - but now I just don't know. If they went into dormancy in the summer and came out of it in early Fall, what will happen this Winter? Let alone next Spring! They look healthy, and in fact all of them have new fans coming up. But I'm worried that all this unexpected behavior means they will be so out of sync with the seasons that they won't be able to cope with the winter weather (we are supposed to have a milder Winter than last year, but I'm not counting on it, and last Winter was a killer!) Can anyone enlighten me on this? I'm just a rank beginner...

Thanks everyone!! Yes, I got a $ prize, too. As far as the luna moths go, I see maybe 2 or 3 a season. Not many. But they seem to be attracted to light and bright colors so I had my patio light on and the hostas... Well, it's a luna moth magnet!! :-) I love my Wheee she is definitely fun... Guacamole is a stunner for sure so thanks for the suggestion Don! I'm glad I added her!! DFrench, I used to have h. luna moth but she did not make it through the tough winter. You probably saw h. Captain Kirk or maybe h. Summer Breeze was mistaken for her? I am re-adding her. I just have to save the money up.

The furnace model number with the XR16 is an XC80. Very similar to the XV80 but communicating. Must be a mistake. TCONT803 is a fine thermostat to use with the XR16 air conditioner and furnace. Overall, I do not agree with the equipment matchups proposed with the furnaces and air conditioners. Oversized furnace on both systems, and oversized coil to achieve marginal efficiency gains on the XR16 system. I realize you may not understand all the implications of oversized equipment, but it is a big deal for comfort, efficiency and reliability. All things considered I still recommend the heat pump system. This post was edited by ryanhughes on Wed, Apr 24, 13 at 13:54

To argue whether or not someone has a license to do HVAC work or not. To consider what makes a pro a pro versus someone with just a license. And how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll sucker? You only have a few metrics from which to judge someone who does this kind of work. You have to hope they are telling you the truth. I am very vocal about my skills and how long I have been doing this. You can go to Texas license board and view my license number to show the number is mine. I have a youtube channel that has been in existence since very early when I started the business, another way to check. Will you be able to do these sorts of things for every contractor? NO. I take things to the 'whole nother level' as the old MAD TV skit portrayed. (Keegan Michael Key) The characters on the side of my van, in my advertising were all created by yours truly. So outside of experience what is there: PASSION. If a contractor is passionate about what he does --- what does that mean. That is the easiest way I can tell you the difference. (The difference you can't compare via what something costs or doesn't cost.) If you're only in business to make money, passion is a waste of time. That's the point. I'm here posting to a board on a post in which this is not my customer and probably never will be. Passion. (So you understand the situation.) One of my characters is showing #1. This means more than what you think. Originality. I don't follow the mold. You either like this or you don't. I am a take or leave it kind of guy. I don't sell gimmicks, I sell service first and foremost, and I charge for it. Knowledge. ---------- Stipulations: If you hire me to change a part of your system, that part comes with a warranty. Part and labor if you want to pay for the extended labor I can sell you that as well - your choice. (conditions may apply) The part or part(s) of your HVAC system that are replaced are covered by the warranty. Warranty does not include maintenance related repairs. Warranty does not include the older parts of your system. If you want a system wide warranty, buy a complete HVAC system. Which will cost you more money, that is the trade off. Again your choice, you choose. --------- Because I know what I am doing, you do not get to decide what is fair or not fair in the event of another failure. So if the guy the OP hired failed to do this or that and *if* he admits that he made a mistake that's up to him to correct it. If I make a mistake I correct it and 99% of the time I correct it at the jobsite before I leave. So most of the time my customers never even know a mistake was made. This single advantage to the unskilled vs. skilled set me apart. How skilled is someone from a larger company? How will you know? *you won't* Example: you install the condenser and go check the refrigerant charge and the pressures do not look right. (If the pressures do not look right, it's not going to 'work') --- you have to *know* how to fix these kinds of problems. If you don't know, the result of this discussion on a forum board is likely the result. A HVAC installer is not likely to know, so you understand the complexities of this job and the difference from a installer, a tech and a licensed contractor. The installer is bottom rung. I do all three positions - and I charge for it. What do you want? A headache or something that works? Your choice. Anyone can do HVAC repair, even a home owner. This doesn't mean it will be done right. So saying you're a pro and actually being one --- what conclusions can you draw from this post? #Ray is one in a million? two million? If I am not please direct me to a post on this board that has half the posts I do that shows them as being a pro and actually doing this type of work *professionally*. Outside of all that I am not going to go down the path of thinking this guy you hired did something wrong, maybe he did, maybe he didn't ----- maybe the situation was fraught with failure from the get go because it sounds like the system is oversized for the structure. This again is the part in which knowing what will work and what won't. I don't sell jobs in which I think there is going to be some kind of debilitating problem. Whether that helps or not? I'll leave it to the consensus of the board to determine.