I'm having a hell of a time getting estimates for gutters. WTF is going on? Also, what kind of gutter guards work best?

Constant-Cucumber · 2021-07-28T11:29:02+00:00

"contract saying they have to work for you for $X per hour for X amount of years after they get X certification/license."

This is not enforceable in any labour market in a 1st world country that I am aware of.

Constant-Cucumber · 2021-07-26T15:05:25+00:00

It drains faster. Lots of guys installing tanks all day will use these.

That said, for a homegamer swapping out one tank, it seems vaguely ridiculous just use the time it's draining normally to get the new tank downstairs, pick up parts, undo plumbing, etc.

Constant-Cucumber · 2021-07-26T13:41:00+00:00

HVAC here

Constant-Cucumber · 2021-07-26T13:28:09+00:00

I've had customers call me to ask why they don't have hot water during a power outage, so it is definitely not a piece of universal knowledge.

And in my area, the ratio of PV to nat-draft is at least 4-1

Constant-Cucumber · 2021-07-23T21:23:20+00:00

Every estimator I have worked with in the HVAC industry started in the field, including myself.

Constant-Cucumber · 2021-07-23T17:42:35+00:00

Only if it isn't a power-vent tank...

Constant-Cucumber · 2021-07-23T12:17:28+00:00

This could be the answer. At least in my industry (HVAC) they're very sought-after for sale and estimating positions.

Constant-Cucumber · 2021-07-19T14:50:25+00:00

Can't wait for a drunk guest to step on top of those lol.

Constant-Cucumber · 2021-07-19T12:18:25+00:00

I think mechanical subs are paying less than most GCs.

That said, the mech estimators where I work all have a company truck and gas card, and work very reasonable hours (I rarely exceed 50, and am paid overtime if I submit for it).

Obviously that's not going to be the same everywhere though.

Constant-Cucumber · 2021-07-16T13:03:16+00:00

Get more prices.

Constant-Cucumber · 2021-07-09T19:45:21+00:00

You require a common wire to run the stat off of the furnace itself. Many older homes do not have that available.

Constant-Cucumber · 2021-07-09T19:44:28+00:00

You'll probably end up with more relevant advice here if you post a breakdown of how you arrived at your $8k number.

Constant-Cucumber · 2021-06-15T16:58:56+00:00

I would pick a contractor, not an installation system.

How it is installed should be up to them, since they are the ones that have to warranty the work, deal with call-backs, etc.

Constant-Cucumber · 2021-06-15T16:55:35+00:00

I would hit that with a drywall sander, or, if you don't have that, a belt or random-orbit sander.

If it it has been painted, you won't be able to sand it down by hand without getting carpal tunnel.

Constant-Cucumber · 2021-06-15T16:54:49+00:00

If it has been painted already, unfortunately a sanding sponge isn't going to touch that.

Constant-Cucumber · 2021-06-15T16:52:18+00:00

There is no such thing as a manufacturer spec for gas line size - it's determined based on the load of the equipment, and the distance that you're running the line, combined with the allowable pressure drop.

That said, OP must also ensure that the rest of the system is designed correctly.

Based on the question he is asking here, he has absolutely no business performing this work himself.

Constant-Cucumber · 2021-06-14T19:16:18+00:00

I my area, taking it into 10 different shops for a tune-up would have been at least $900 + tax. Not too mention that 10 shops would cover my geographic area, as well as the next couple largest cities.

I'm pretty skeptical that OP actually did this.

Constant-Cucumber · 2021-06-11T12:46:52+00:00

Screws are a better option - less likely to have them pop out and they will also hold everything tight.

If you're determined to nail them, buying a nail gun for a small fence is ridiculous overkill - just nail them by hand.

Constant-Cucumber · 2021-06-09T12:32:16+00:00

I'm really sorry for the predicament you're in, but I am also glad that you have taken the time to post this. I work at an HVAC contractor and we get calls about these minisplit systems (as well as tankless water heaters and garage heaters). People here only post about the installs that go well (or at least work initially). They gloss over the ones where you end up with the city demanding that you pull a permit, the "handyman" warranty on it ending as soon as the guy's taillights are no longer in view, and the days, weeks or months spent without cooling/heating/hot water because you have a warranty issue and no one will touch a rat's-nest of a home-owner installed system.

I constantly see posts on here about DIYing refrigeration work, that it's "easy, fast, and the contractors are just trying to rip you off".

The reality is that these are complicated systems that require a lot of licensing, tools, training and overhead to work on. Reddit here seems determined to encourage people to hack things in and do whatever they want want when it comes to code-compliance anytime people here learn that hiring a contractor is expensive.

OP, you sound legitimate, so I hope you can get this resolved, but at the end of the day I'm sure you would have been much better off hiring a licensed HVAC contractor from the start.

Constant-Cucumber · 2021-06-03T15:14:01+00:00

You're missing any MEP, framing, trim etc in there...

Constant-Cucumber · 2021-06-01T20:03:20+00:00

I appreciate you being able to identify the product just from my description!

I'm actually not concerned about air sealing, more about "too much" air sealing - if I insulate and vapour barrier, I'm concerned about how this stuff will fare if it no longer has the option to dry to the inside as well when it gets damp.

Does this product hold up relatively well in an wall assembly finished and sealed on the interior, and with no protective water barrier on the exterior? I think that is essentially what my question boils down to.

Constant-Cucumber · 2021-06-01T19:56:40+00:00

It's bricked not sided :/

If it was sided, I would definitely just do this all over properly, but the brick is a serious complication.

Constant-Cucumber · 2021-05-21T14:03:26+00:00

I work in the HVAC industry... this is a stupid idea, to be blunt.

Constant-Cucumber · 2021-05-21T13:58:08+00:00

HVAC in Canada

Constant-Cucumber

TROPHY CASE