11-07-13, 02:05 PM | #11 |
Knows enough to be danger
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Washington state
Posts: 24
Thanks: 5
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
|
Thanks for the reply's! Not sure where summer went? I've got almost enough wood for winter. Still thinking. mejunkhound I like the 2 mini splits idea.
One concern I have is the forced propane furnace ducts. If I have an efficient mini split system how would I seal the ducts from the forced system? Of course it would need to be a simple better than the basic grill set up so I dont lose heat in the duct work? |
11-07-13, 02:14 PM | #12 | |
Knows enough to be danger
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Washington state
Posts: 24
Thanks: 5
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
|
Quote:
I could do all but the evac/charge freon work. |
|
11-07-13, 03:05 PM | #13 |
Supreme EcoRenovator
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 4,004
Thanks: 303
Thanked 724 Times in 534 Posts
|
You can do that too.
-AC
__________________
I'm not an HVAC technician. In fact, I'm barely even a hacker... |
11-07-13, 05:31 PM | #14 |
Supreme EcoRenovator
|
I know what you mean, Nonhog. Sometimes an energy audit is like going to a car dealership for a "free" test drive. However, lots of info can be gleaned from these encounters concerning the test results. Sometimes it's better to prolong the agony of a salesman and his pitch to get clear answers.
If the auditor/sales associate has doubts you'll buy anything, they might not let you know much about your audit. They would rather opt for a hasty exit, and "on to the next one", so they say, in hopes of a sale and a paycheck. Heck, the auditor might not have even been paid to do the audit! The HVAC industry has such a high cost structure and such an aura of mystery and complexity that a couple of sales a week will make up for a dozen or so energy audits done for free! So what did the auditor suggest in his pitch? Did you basically get a fourth estimate for a heating system, or did he suggest methods to reduce your heat loss? I'm assuming they did a blower door test and took some thermal imaging from your comments. Did you get any concrete info from the audit? |
11-07-13, 11:43 PM | #15 | |
Knows enough to be danger
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Washington state
Posts: 24
Thanks: 5
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
|
Quote:
This guy was not little had to be a real pain to look at what was up there. I've been all through my attic. I'm 6' tall but not too wide. LOL I never let the sales pitch start. He kept saying we could get together like I had all the time in the world. Anyway I e-mailed the company today and asked to be sent the report. I did tell them how good the guy was but it would not result in any sales as I am a DIY'r. Nothing concrete yet. Have my doubts. I'll let you know what if anything comes of it. I did spent 95$ so I expect my results. |
|
11-08-13, 10:04 AM | #16 | |
Steve Hull
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: hilly, tree covered Arcadia, OK USA
Posts: 826
Thanks: 241
Thanked 165 Times in 123 Posts
|
Quote:
I get brought in, rather commonly, to look at "difficult" solutions. The HVAC company hires me to look at their examination/test data. This can include a blower door test, IR scan, physical insulation assessment, examination of all utility bills that have HVAC influence, HVAC size/age/capacity/efficiency as well as owner lifestyle. Sorry, but this is not cheap! Yes, many "can" do this themselves and many on this site can do it. But how does the retired couple, one in a wheelchair (spinal injury from Vietnam) and the other completely ignorant of basic physics do this? I enjoy working with ideas and finding a good engineering solution to a problem. On my own home, I can afford the luxury of spending "free" time, but I can't give it away to anyone when I am on the clock. It is good to recall the saying "that which is given away lightly is little regarded". There are consults that I do commonly where people are astounded at how leaky their home is, are using electric resistance heat and just assume that the heating bills have to be that way. They view my consult as frankly a tremendous value! That said, I have a sliding scale and at times I do "give away" time (such as above couple). There is a HUGE value to pointing out that simply sealing up a home can reduce HVAC system capacity by sometimes 50%. But finding those leaks often requires more than a candle/wet finger and a windy day . . . . Hope you all understand that the "free" energy consult is just like the "free lunch". Steve
__________________
consulting on geothermal heating/cooling & rational energy use since 1990 |
|
11-08-13, 10:59 AM | #17 |
Supreme EcoRenovator
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 4,004
Thanks: 303
Thanked 724 Times in 534 Posts
|
I believe that the last time you said this, I corrected your statement to be, "That which is given away is difficult to monetize".
It takes energy to be a DIY guy or DIY gal, not only to do the actual work, but even before that, to overcome the notion of helplessness in the face of overwhelming technology, and industry and trade protectionism. I myself, have paid my own good money to infiltrate professional industry and trade seminars, where I learned first hand how they manipulate and hold back information to enhance their profits at the expense of their customers who they pretend to serve. I have seen this in GSHP re-certification seminars and also Solar re-certification seminars. I learned as much as I could there and have shared it out to the fullest extent possible, in the pages of EcoRenovator. The industry and trade groups will flourish just fine without the DIY world paying any homage to them at all. I would even go so far as to say that it is very healthy for any DIY guy or DIY gal to begin each project with a quiet moment of reflective time in which they focus their minds on their feelings of contempt for over-priced, under-skilled, irresponsible, predatory "professionals". Then learn all you can, and have at it! Sincerely, -AC_Hacker
__________________
I'm not an HVAC technician. In fact, I'm barely even a hacker... Last edited by AC_Hacker; 11-08-13 at 11:22 AM.. |
11-08-13, 03:13 PM | #18 | |
Knows enough to be danger
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Washington state
Posts: 24
Thanks: 5
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
|
Quote:
I didn't think there were strings attached. I figured $95.00 and an hour and they would be gone. I was wrong, the guy spent way more than an hour because he was good. This company might be just the ticket for the average guy? I just wish they were upfront about the hard sale. Heck time share people are. |
|
11-08-13, 04:59 PM | #19 |
Steve Hull
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: hilly, tree covered Arcadia, OK USA
Posts: 826
Thanks: 241
Thanked 165 Times in 123 Posts
|
Nonhog,
Your quote was meant to emphasize just how much this guy did for the $95. Did not mean to confuse. We can help you sort out what you need. Even if you condition the atrium, a 24,000 BTU unit (2 ton) would be my choice. Leave the propane unit in for now and explore this winter (while you burn your wood) the options that are on this forum. Steve Steve
__________________
consulting on geothermal heating/cooling & rational energy use since 1990 |
The Following User Says Thank You to stevehull For This Useful Post: | Nonhog (11-08-13) |
11-08-13, 05:06 PM | #20 | |
Knows enough to be danger
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Washington state
Posts: 24
Thanks: 5
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
|
Quote:
|
|
|
|