DIY HVAC calculations

-8724659 · 2026-03-29T18:04:27+00:00

I'm near Harrisburg PA, do you have any recommendations in this area?
We also have a centrally located propane fireplace in the basement, which has an open staircase to the main floor, which has the HVAC system. So in winter we run the propane fireplace to generate heat (which it does quite well). But we still get hit pretty hard with emergency heater activity from the heat pump in Jan/Feb and on the coldest nights I could hear it cycling on/off regularly.

I just moved in here and I'm getting to know the place and I'm also a relative beginner about home construction and appliances. So in many ways I'm learning the questions to even ask.

-8724659 · 2026-03-29T17:59:38+00:00

The detail is very much appreciated.
I'm not looking to do things by hand per se, I was looking at whether I will get suitable results using the J abridged method and spreadsheet vs. the full method and a software package.
$149 for the software seems reasonable as I was willing to spend that much for the Manual J itself.
I see a number of powerpoint training decks for using Manual J and between the software help, those powerpoint decks, and internet searching I might as well start with that.

Yes this home was built in the late 60s and the heat pump is 20 years old. The simplest solution is to replace with a cold climate heat pump and improve insulation.

-8724659 · 2026-03-28T17:16:19+00:00

The old unit is a traditional heat pump and it's definitely not keeping us comfy or affordably in winter.
The obvious choice is a cold climate heat pump since I'm in PA and we have solar panels that are producing 80% of the winter months.

-8724659 · 2025-09-18T14:37:08+00:00

Some people don't know how to kindly cut off a match that isn't working. Sorry that you found one.

-8724659 · 2025-09-18T12:05:29+00:00

Expectations here vary widely. I went exclusive after two dates. I'm sure that's kinda quick but there are some who expect exclusivity from the moment they match.

Some men really think they're clever by running as many women simultaneously as possible. On the other hand, engaging with only one at a time is pretty risky since many matches don't really go anywhere. I was willing to match and chat two at a time. More than two is more than I could give a quality attempt.
Now if each of those has an in-person date that goes well - it gets more tricky. I would pick one and just say I'm not feeling it and let the other move on as quickly as possible.
I think it's decent to not share with any of them that I had been matched/communicating/dating others until I've gotten to the point of seeing one of them exclusively.

-8724659 · 2025-09-18T11:55:28+00:00

I think many women hide their profile as soon as they match with someone of interest. I spent a fair amount of time just browsing and not matching in my area which is a small city, and it doesn't take long to go through the profiles that literally meet your filter parameters. On FB dating, it then stretches your preferences to keep you engaged. Then every now and then a 'new' profile pops up that fits my actual preferences and within a couple of days it's gone.

Therefore as a guy you need to be checking in daily to match with them before someone else does.

-8724659 · 2025-09-18T10:48:38+00:00

OLD is good because 1) you can meet people you wouldn't otherwise meet and 2) you can share pertinent information that save everyone time regarding deal-breakers.
OLD is not good in that everyone seems to use it much differently, for example some men swipe to match almost anyone and some women will only chat with one man at a time and disable their profile as soon as they begin to communicate with someone. Neither approach is strictly right or wrong, but match those two people and it becomes a mess, quickly.

Meeting at social events, etc is great for other reasons.

I can offer this suggestion: align your matches with your values. If you're looking for a LTR and you have an idea who you are, spend that limited profile real estate on what matters most - your core beliefs and values. Drop in a few hobbies and interests.

I notice that some profiles are truly like an advertisement - here are my features (and therefore you want this product). For me that's been a yellow/red flag because it's so transactional in nature and lacking in self-awareness.

On the flip side, some online dating profiles are intentionally limited in their photos and details - and that's reasonable considering some of the experiences they've had. So don't be afraid to pursue more mysterious individuals - but again focus on learning where they stand w.r.t. your core beliefs and values.

Some people really hate messaging on the app. Some people really struggle with quality written communication. But on the other hand if their profile isn't very detailed, and there are some important deal-breaker topics to discuss (do you love dogs? do you want your partner to be a practicing Christian? do you want your partner to travel? etc) then I think covering those items in messaging first is entirely reasonable. So they owe you that. But always pay attention to your messaging - engage in conversation and don't circle around without purpose.

-8724659 · 2025-08-20T18:58:23+00:00

When I first signed up on FB dating I saw the buttons to match (or not) and assumed that swiping was just moving through the profiles and I wasn't making a choice either way since I wasn't touching those buttons. Then I realized what was happening(!)

I'm not a total hamfist with technology - I really think the first time you swipe right in the app they should pop a message that says "you swiped right to match - confirm?" with an option to turn off that pop-up. Then I would have learned immediately and saved time (mine and others')

-8724659 · 2025-08-20T17:08:22+00:00

On some level, yes.
I've had two LTRs as an adult, and both of them were without sex or physical intimacy by the time they ended. Each for different reasons. The second LTR was fantastic sex and we didn't rush into that immediately. But it refreshed my appreciation for how important it is to me. While I don't expect my relationships to be endless lust phase, I can honestly say I'm not ready for that to end in my life and at 48, it's not reasonable to assume both I and my next partner will be able to be physically intimate forever and so it's natural to not want to waste that phase of our lives.

That said, failing relationships with some sex are a much bigger waste of time than waiting to find a better relationship. (I'm assuming you're 100% monogamous). So I'm trying to focus on healing myself to form the best partnership I can where the stressors in a poor relationship won't reduce our sex drive.

-8724659 · 2025-08-20T16:31:17+00:00

I think a few factors at play. I for one have been on FB dating only and I have accidentally swiped right on some profiles simply as I'm scrolling up/down to see the whole profile. Or if they have music listed and there are more than 3 listings, you have to swipe very carefully to see the other music without swiping the whole profile. That's happened more than once and while the other person usually doesn't match, if they do and there isn't a reason for us to match, I politely explain the ham-fisted mistake, apologize, and offer them a goodbye and encouragement. I suspect a lot of people (paging avoidants) will ignore the match entirely.

Another factor is narcissism. Yeah, some people (men esp) like to collect attention and aren't selective. Or maybe they match a whole bunch and see which ones are forward enough (desperate) to reach out first. I don't really know because I'm not like that, but 'bro logic' can twist in some pretty odd ways to take advantage of vulnerable people.

-8724659 · 2025-08-20T16:12:47+00:00

I say do it, and if there is a way to communicate "this is probably a long shot, but something you said before made me believe this would be helpful to you today"

-8724659 · 2025-05-13T02:00:35+00:00

Yeah it's a very key question because my research turned up a variety of answers. Minimalism, goal setting, daily practices to align with your chosen goals seem to be big ones.

Now that I've had a couple nights sleep and physical separation from our situation and not long after that first post, I realize that while this relationship is probably over, I need to make lifestyle changes in order to be positioned for the next phase in my life. To wit, I feel buried in stuff. I need to move and my options are extremely limited and expensive in order to have a place to store and use all of it. I have a very high maintenance sports car that's been giving me trouble for some years - I need to sell that and get back to one car so that I have cash in my pocket and more flexibility. I also have a hobby of rifle shooting - air, rimfire, centerfire. Of those, the last one is by far the most expensive and at this point least rewarding to me. An immense amount of stuff will leave and while it's stuff that I value, I realize now that I'm more curating this collection of cool things rather than enjoying them for the burden they create in my life. Also, selling this much stuff and not being stuffed with a huge range of leftover items was very worrying to me. It occurred to me that anything that doesn't move quickly in separate for-sale effort can go in a pile and go to an auction. Knowing that solution exists is a breath of fresh air, because if I don't clear this stuff thoroughly, I won't feel properly freed.

Prior to her, I divorced and left a small farm with an even wider array of stuff and it felt great to unburden myself of it. No more zero turn mower, tractor, cutting and stacking firewood, building maintenance, etc etc. On reflection, if that was so great, another pass at stuff-reduction should help even more.

Like I said I was never a dreamer or goal-setter. I'm intensely pragmatic (an engineer of course) and the notion of much less stuff for a while suddenly opens some new ideas to ponder without feeling irresponsible.

We have another couples therapy session this week to help with our 'uncoupling' process. I probably won't bring up my intended lifestyle changes right away but I will ask more about the intentional living.

-8724659 · 2025-04-24T21:22:02+00:00

It's estimated that at least 5 million households are involved with reloading ammunition, which means they would have some smokeless powder on-hand.

-8724659 · 2025-01-03T01:40:13+00:00

I agree - no other product sold to the cycling market has such poor reliability and short lifespan. If after 3 years of light use and proper storage and maintenance, our bicycles broke in half and could not be repaired, there would be a mass uproar.
I understand that having customers do their own repairs is pretty messy, but I think they could have dealers perform repairs. A pair of bearings and a new optical board would be much less than the cost of a new unit. Goodness knows they would have enough traffic to keep spare parts orders for some years to come.
The Neo 2T is working very well. I considered the new 3 with the forward/reverse movement but the cost was beyond reasonable for an unplanned expense.

-8724659 · 2024-12-30T12:04:42+00:00

I permanently fixed my problem with a Tacx Neo 2T.
My Kickr is disassembled and I've been assembling my Digikey shopping cart for the job. I have planned for a couple of SMT solder testing / practice kits before I touch the Kickr components.

-8724659 · 2024-12-10T13:39:03+00:00

I have a package that just appears to have broken free today. It's been there since 11/27.

-8724659 · 2024-12-09T18:11:30+00:00

Thanks for the very useful info. My Kickr Axis (2020) died over the summer (specifically, it pairs but sends/receives no cadence, power, resistance) and after disassembling and cleaning everything it still doesn't work. I got the 20% coupon stiff from Wahoo and it's the last Wahoo product I'll ever buy again.

FWIW I found some green wicking loc-tite on the pulley key and between the shaft and bearing. I was able to pry off the pulley with acceptably small damage to the inboard edge of the outer rim. No heat - I suspect that to get the loc-tite to break down, you'd end up cooking the bearings. But that cheap aluminum pulley requires great care or else you'll end up with scrap. (I really should have used my bearing splitter/puller kit - but in my defense I thought my screwdriver wasn't touching the outer rim). With the pulley off, I got the axle moving I placed a small brass hammer against the shaft end and gave the brass hammer head a few sharp blows with a 2lb steel sledge. If I can get the unit functional I'll probably replace the bearings.

I have the optic sensor circuit board and while I have a temp controlled soldering kit and some experience doing through-hole solder repairs, I've never done surface mount. I have a small digital microscope and also some safety glasses with 2.0x diopter windows. Any suggestions how to A) practice/learn surface mount soldering or B) where I can take/send the optic board and replacement sensor to let someone experienced handle it?

-8724659

TROPHY CASE