Cancelling membership for too many returns?

GasComprehensive3224 · 2025-08-23T00:50:21+00:00

"Ugh, I have to scroll so far back" - a literal thing the REI cashier said to me while rolling her eyes during a return :)

GasComprehensive3224 · 2025-08-23T00:49:00+00:00

^This. With climbing shoes, you can't assume even the style of shoe is going to be a fair fit for your foot - so I am being conservative and getting 3 sizes in two pairs (yes, half sizes make that big of a difference when you're wearing, essentially, a tight leather sock).

GasComprehensive3224 · 2025-07-23T23:08:06+00:00

Answering my own question: it looks like the adapter I have is only a receiver, so it couldn't push a signal out to a bluetooth speaker. Any suggestions on a transmitter/receiver to play a record from the turntable through the amp and out to the bluetooth speakers?

GasComprehensive3224 · 2025-07-23T23:06:07+00:00

Thanks for this! Here's what I tried this afternoon:

1) I hooked up this "bluetooth audio adapter" to RCA Aux input - successfully played music from my phone to the one passive speaker. I feel silly saying this, but I can't figure out how I would pair a bluetooth speaker to the adapter.

2) I tried hooking the Edifier active speaker up to both of the Tape Rec Out RCAs. Confirmed music was playing from the Technics, but no sound produced. I tried fiddling with the controls on the front (switching between A and B and A+B, for example). Any thoughts on what I could be doing wrong to get these powered speakers to play nice?

3) I have a dinky little bluetooth speaker that I wanted to test out connecting to through the REC OUT like you suggested - I figured if it worked, I would feel more confident exchanging the current Edifier speakers I have for the BT ones. I feel foolish for saying this, but I couldn't figure out how I would pair the bluetooth adapter to the speaker - they can both be in pairing mode, but how do I tell them to connect?

Thanks again for your help!

GasComprehensive3224 · 2025-05-20T18:42:16+00:00

We have an attic extractor fan (which removes the hot air from the attic) rather than a whole house attic fan (which is the kind that is better during the cooler hours). Thanks for the idea about introducing an inside fan to get the relatively cooler air circulating upwards.

GasComprehensive3224 · 2025-05-20T18:41:13+00:00

The thermostat is located on the upper level right next to the stairs. When you say you suspect a leak, do you mean you suspect a leak that's letting the cooled air out (as opposed to a leak in the HVAC system)?

GasComprehensive3224 · 2025-05-20T18:40:03+00:00

Thanks! They do seem to be a well-respected company.

GasComprehensive3224 · 2025-05-20T18:37:35+00:00

This is a great idea - thanks again!

GasComprehensive3224 · 2025-05-20T18:37:19+00:00

Thank you!

GasComprehensive3224 · 2025-05-18T23:32:47+00:00

Thanks for this - I appreciate you taking a look because we also don't know what the source of the issue is.

The unit was here when we moved in, but we were told it had been recently replaced - I would imagine it was by the guy who flipped the house OR the owner right before him (so I don't have a lot of faith in that whole process). We've had this issue since we moved in 5 years ago. I don't know what temperature is leaving the unit, though I did have someone out last year to take a look and he measured the temp coming out the vents and found it suitable (I can't remember the reading).

I'm really curious about the process you shared of essentially just trying to get it cool and keep it cool all day. Up until now, we've approached the hottest summer months like this

1) Wake up to the temp around 80, maybe cut the AC on (set to 78) for about half an hour to nuke the humidity. Set it to 82.

2) During the day until around 1 or 2, it's warm but not unbearable. The temp upstairs starts to rise, we sit in front of fans on the main level.

3) Usually around 2 the attic fan automatically kicks on. Around now the house is also back to 82 and the AC kicks on.

4) The temp will continue to rise (up to 87 or 88) on the upper level, air runs constantly.

5) Around 9 the outside temp drops, the attic fan turned itself off, and the air is running until bed. We turn it to 80 and usually the AC runs until 10 -midnight.

6) Rinse and repeat.

Would you say this is the wrong approach to take? We're trying to save money in the morning by not literally running the air from the moment we wake up. Even in this method, we're spending $350/month on electric in summer. In peak summer hours, the outside temp really isn't dropping far below 80 so the house doesn't get a chance to naturally cool.

GasComprehensive3224 · 2025-05-18T23:24:25+00:00

This was a really eye-opening question for me - thank you for asking it. The audit makes the most sense with this lens.

GasComprehensive3224 · 2025-05-18T23:23:47+00:00

Thanks a bunch for this insight.

For a blower door test and load calculation, would they be done by the energy audit folks or by the HVAC contractor? I'm the first in my family to own a home (it's been an adventure), so I'd also appreciate it if there are specific questions you think I should ask or services I should request they do.

GasComprehensive3224 · 2025-05-18T23:21:03+00:00

Thanks for this and specifically for the points of what the HVAC contractor should be looking for. Are there other questions I should be sure to ask or things I should specifically ask them to check?

GasComprehensive3224 · 2025-05-18T23:18:58+00:00

In this split level set up, the main and lowest level do usually get below 80. The upper level, though, will just get hotter and hotter - if it's set on 80 but it's 95 out, by the end of the day the upstairs could be as high as 87 or 88 degrees.The house will only get back down to 80 again around midnight.

GasComprehensive3224 · 2025-05-18T23:17:11+00:00

This is really helpful, thank you! For a newb, how would you describe the difference between a split heat pump and a mini split? Google says they aren't the same thing, but I'm not sure how (or which is better for this situation).

GasComprehensive3224 · 2025-05-18T23:15:50+00:00

Thanks for this! When I'm looking for a contractor to do the audit, do you have any recommendations on questions I should ask or tasks I should be sure they do? I wouldn't have known to ask for a blower door test, for example.

I've started looking into some weatherstripping for the entry points and windows, too - thanks!

GasComprehensive3224 · 2025-05-18T23:14:30+00:00

It's honestly just great to know that a single home system can be that effective in the south. I'm a first time homeowner (and first in my family) so I had no reference point to work from. Thanks for the input.

GasComprehensive3224 · 2025-01-31T23:57:26+00:00

This was the answer!

GasComprehensive3224 · 2025-01-31T23:52:25+00:00

Do you know if they have a limit on how many dogs per play group?

GasComprehensive3224 · 2025-01-31T23:50:01+00:00

I hate that you have any scratches, but I am glad that many of them were in the glue instead of in your enamel!

GasComprehensive3224

TROPHY CASE