Topic: What you Buy or DIY show off thread

[Solstice2006]

^ Even with the new furnace and a/c installed.  Heat rises.  My basement is always cooler than the main level.  And my bedroom is always warmer than the main level (in a 3 storey house anyway)

[Great_Big_Abyss]

^ Even with the new furnace and a/c installed.  Heat rises.  My basement is always cooler than the main level.  And my bedroom is always warmer than the main level (in a 3 storey house anyway)

yeah, but the fact that I can constantly circulate the air in the house now will make a huge difference in temperature differential.

[sailor723]

New (to me) racing boat for next year. Smaller and more "geriatric" friendly then the previous boat and less complicated to crew.

[Ex-airbalancer]

New (to me) racing boat for next year. Smaller and more "geriatric" friendly then the previous boat and less complicated to crew.

 , that is great

[tortoise]

That's quite the armada you're amassing.

[CanuckS2K]

Nice Graeme!  Would of loved to see your other new boat this year, did you get it out much since bringing it home from the US?

[sailor723]

Nice Graeme!  Would of loved to see your other new boat this year, did you get it out much since bringing it home from the US?

I managed to do a quite few day trips and my daughter & I went out for the Labour day weekend. We'll probably do the YC annual cruise (week long) next year. It's in late July and i was away in Ireland when it was on this year.

You, Tom & I will have to get out for an afternoon next year

[sailor723]

That's quite the armada you're amassing.

Yep, it seems to be growing of it's own volition

....I seem to remember a thread here where people were adding up how many cylinders they had (cars, bikes, boats, snowmobiles etc etc)  I think I'm now up to 23 in boats alone! 

[CanuckS2K]

Nice Graeme!  Would of loved to see your other new boat this year, did you get it out much since bringing it home from the US?

I managed to do a quite few day trips and my daughter & I went out for the Labour day weekend. We'll probably do the YC annual cruise (week long) next year. It's in late July and i was away in Ireland when it was on this year.

You, Tom & I will have to get out for an afternoon next year

Done, I'll bring the beer!

[tortoise]

Well, duh....

[Ex-airbalancer]

By the way, which bank are you robbing , not to buy the boats but for the maintenance 

[mmret]

I ordered a LG HE top loading laundry pair.

http://www.lg.com/ca_en/washing-machines/lg-WT1501CW-washing-machines-lg-wt1501cw-top-load-washer

Am I making a mistake? I like the higher capacity of a top loader and theres less mold issues vs. front loaders. My parents own a LG front loader for years now, with no problems.

I hope not...that's the same one (or very close anyway) we bought to replace our less than 4 yr old Maytag front load (was over $1g new - facking POS).  We chose to go with the LG, it was $100 more than repairing the other one - I was told if the board on it goes it's only $160 vs one of 2 $300 units on the Maytag.  Plus the LG's board is covered in some kind of (word escapes me) epoxy (maybe?) unlike the Mtag which has open circuit boards.  Dust, humidity...all good stuff in a laundry room.  I also like the top load for the very reason it uses more water.  Clothes don't smell, and when it's running the house doesn't smell like a sewer backup...and my wife/I followed the care instructions on the Maytag to a T; wipe the rubber seal, leave the door open...and it smelled like crap every time you used it (after a year or so), even after running those cleaning bars thorough it.  No issues so far with the LG.

We have a new LG set for our house too. Can't speak about longevity as yet but so far they're pretty darn good at cleaning (and doing it really quietly and without any shake, etc. - we have 2F laundry).

http://www.lg.com/ca_en/washing-machines/lg-WT1801HVA-top-load-washer  <-- that one plus the matching dryer. Paid like $1800 for the pair.

[2JDM]

I ordered a LG HE top loading laundry pair.

http://www.lg.com/ca_en/washing-machines/lg-WT1501CW-washing-machines-lg-wt1501cw-top-load-washer

Am I making a mistake? I like the higher capacity of a top loader and theres less mold issues vs. front loaders. My parents own a LG front loader for years now, with no problems.

I hope not...that's the same one (or very close anyway) we bought to replace our less than 4 yr old Maytag front load (was over $1g new - facking POS).  We chose to go with the LG, it was $100 more than repairing the other one - I was told if the board on it goes it's only $160 vs one of 2 $300 units on the Maytag.  Plus the LG's board is covered in some kind of (word escapes me) epoxy (maybe?) unlike the Mtag which has open circuit boards.  Dust, humidity...all good stuff in a laundry room.  I also like the top load for the very reason it uses more water.  Clothes don't smell, and when it's running the house doesn't smell like a sewer backup...and my wife/I followed the care instructions on the Maytag to a T; wipe the rubber seal, leave the door open...and it smelled like crap every time you used it (after a year or so), even after running those cleaning bars thorough it.  No issues so far with the LG.

We have a new LG set for our house too. Can't speak about longevity as yet but so far they're pretty darn good at cleaning (and doing it really quietly and without any shake, etc. - we have 2F laundry).

http://www.lg.com/ca_en/washing-machines/lg-WT1801HVA-top-load-washer  <-- that one plus the matching dryer. Paid like $1800 for the pair.

Very nice. I have the model below that one, but I also got it at $1800 (tax in). I still have 30 days for price matching.

[KD]

New (to me) racing boat for next year. Smaller and more "geriatric" friendly then the previous boat and less complicated to crew.

Awesome!    

Although I must say I'm not surprised.  I figured the sailing itch would need scratching sooner, or later. 

[blur911]

That's enough about tires and washers.  Back to furnaces.

I had my new furnace and thermostat installed yesterday. 

New furnaces are brilliant.  The new one is about half the size of the old one, and significantly quieter.  I couldn't run the fan on my old furnace all the time because A) it was too loud and B) it used too much power to be economical.  The blower on that old furnace was either on or off, just one speed.  It also wasn't very powerful.  The air coming from the vents was akin to a mouse coughing (although one thing I will say about that furnace is that the air it blew was HOT).  The new furnace has five different fan speed settings (at least for circulating air).  At the lowest setting, the furnace is inaudible, and you can't hear the air coming out of the vents.  Perfect.  I can let this furnace circulate air 100% of the time now, meaning the basement will be more comfortable for my mother-in-law tenant. (previously the basement was always a few degrees cooler than the main level, but no more!!!)

When the thermostat calls for a heating cycle, the burners kick on completely inaudibly, then the fan speed slowly ramps up to the required speed called for by the thermostat. 

Not only does the thermostat communicate to the furnace, but the furnace talks back, too (this is the main feature of communicating thermostats).  The thermostat will not only remember how long it took to heat the house (most thermostats do this), but the furnace will also tell the thermostat what speed it is running at.  The next time the thermostat calls up a heating or cooling cycle, it will factor in furnace speed and duration in order to most efficiently heat or cool the house.

So anyways, I'm a damn sight happier with my new furnace, and hope that it gives me many years of comfortable, trouble-free operation.

Brother of a friend recently got into the furnace/HVAC business.   Said they told him that they don't build furnaces like they used to as they lasted too long and not enough repeat customers.  Now they build them to fail once the warranty runs out.
YMMV

[Great_Big_Abyss]

That's enough about tires and washers.  Back to furnaces.

I had my new furnace and thermostat installed yesterday. 

New furnaces are brilliant.  The new one is about half the size of the old one, and significantly quieter.  I couldn't run the fan on my old furnace all the time because A) it was too loud and B) it used too much power to be economical.  The blower on that old furnace was either on or off, just one speed.  It also wasn't very powerful.  The air coming from the vents was akin to a mouse coughing (although one thing I will say about that furnace is that the air it blew was HOT).  The new furnace has five different fan speed settings (at least for circulating air).  At the lowest setting, the furnace is inaudible, and you can't hear the air coming out of the vents.  Perfect.  I can let this furnace circulate air 100% of the time now, meaning the basement will be more comfortable for my mother-in-law tenant. (previously the basement was always a few degrees cooler than the main level, but no more!!!)

When the thermostat calls for a heating cycle, the burners kick on completely inaudibly, then the fan speed slowly ramps up to the required speed called for by the thermostat. 

Not only does the thermostat communicate to the furnace, but the furnace talks back, too (this is the main feature of communicating thermostats).  The thermostat will not only remember how long it took to heat the house (most thermostats do this), but the furnace will also tell the thermostat what speed it is running at.  The next time the thermostat calls up a heating or cooling cycle, it will factor in furnace speed and duration in order to most efficiently heat or cool the house.

So anyways, I'm a damn sight happier with my new furnace, and hope that it gives me many years of comfortable, trouble-free operation.

Brother of a friend recently got into the furnace/HVAC business.   Said they told him that they don't build furnaces like they used to as they lasted too long and not enough repeat customers.  Now they build them to fail once the warranty runs out.
YMMV

I will say one thing about my old Natural draft furnace.  It was a workhorse that just kept on ticking.  35 years old and still going strong. 

[OliverD]

Brother of a friend recently got into the furnace/HVAC business.   Said they told him that they don't build furnaces like they used to as they lasted too long and not enough repeat customers.  Now they build them to fail once the warranty runs out.
YMMV

Sounds like a conspiracy theory to me.

[BWII]

Brother of a friend recently got into the furnace/HVAC business.   Said they told him that they don't build furnaces like they used to as they lasted too long and not enough repeat customers.  Now they build them to fail once the warranty runs out.
YMMV

Sounds like a conspiracy theory to me.

Until you start replacing hot water tanks every 6 years and 2 months...or your furnace bites it 8 yrs in.  Time will tell.  Maybe it should be treated like a lease, you move in, keep up with the maintenance and repairs, then sell and buy a newer house before goes south. Next person moves in and starts the whole cycle again, not knowing it was just done, 6 years ago.   

[OliverD]

Most hot water tanks around here are rented from the power company anyways. Maybe they should do the same with furnaces.

[safristi]

New (to me) racing boat for next year. Smaller and more "geriatric" friendly then the previous boat and less complicated to crew.

 I used to  float boats as a kid on the wee ponds that were everywhere in Scottish beachside towns and still love the idea...(Grandpa on dad's side was a sea cap'n) but my only real sailing(other than sitting aboard Yachts I canna afford) is on a 2 day lake course where my 2 person "boat" won the final day race...NY TIMES had it on the front page   but I beat my boss
so I retired (RE-Tyred!) undefeated....
 Enjoy your floating on the Ocean..."Waves  from a distance "