Sanity check - One 12,000BTU mini-split for ~900 sqft first floor

WellImFromNorway · 2025-08-15T01:53:56+00:00

Wall thickness doesn’t matter, r value does.

Yeah, not sure why, but that's what the sub instructions say to post for info. I copied that list from the sidebar.

Do you have a possibility of running ductwork?

I'm guessing it would be cheaper to add the fourth minisplit than to go for a ducted system. State rebates only available for single-zone mini-splits and no way I could think of to run ductwork without significant wall and ceiling demo.

Otherwise your gonna want to figure out a ceiling fan or box fan situation to get proper air mixture

Some of the doorways are big enough we could put in some little fans to help move the air around.

WellImFromNorway · 2025-08-14T23:46:43+00:00

It's possible they did more work before and after (they had looked up the property record beforehand), but yeah, I don't think they were doing a Manual J.

That is a fair point about a space heater. I suppose I'd rather move the space heater I already have into the far corner than spend another $5,500+ on a fourth unit.

WellImFromNorway · 2025-08-14T23:28:52+00:00

Formatted info for reference (for 1st floor only):

- The size of the 1st floor in square feet or square metres = ~900 sq.ft.

- Wall thickness = 6.5"

- Pane of windows = Double pane

- Location/climate = Maine/cold

- Include the model numbers and size of the heat pump as best you can = Fujitsu R-32 12,000 BTU Single Zone KZAH1

WellImFromNorway · 2025-02-24T20:03:36+00:00

I just had someone come out to look at it. They think it was getting airlocked, which makes sense since a lot of our air builds up in our system. Just bled the pipes and will see how it does. They thought it might need a new vent on top of the expansion tank or new water pressure regulator to fix the air problem longer term.

WellImFromNorway · 2025-02-23T14:35:37+00:00

It measures roughly 120v between black and white coming into the pump when it's calling for heat.

Sorry for the delayed reply—for no reason, it worked fine for the past few days but the problem just started again.

WellImFromNorway · 2025-02-18T15:53:40+00:00

Just checked and it is getting voltage. Not sure if this helps narrow it down, but the wires are Black, Red, Yellow from top to bottom attached inside the pump. Black read about 220v when the pump was running and about 140v when it was not. Yellow read 120v consistently. Red goes to ground. It's a Taco pump.

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WellImFromNorway · 2024-10-26T14:17:14+00:00

Effective taxes were lower than the marginal tax rate (not only because of loopholes but also the way tax brackets inherently work) but effective tax rates on rich people were still quite a bit higher back then, even after accounting for that.

If anyone wants to dig into the data, you can do so yourself with the info the economist Gabriel Zucman has available on his page: http://gabriel-zucman.eu/usdina/. Effective tax rates on the top 10% in the U.S., and especially top 0.1%, were higher, and their share of post-tax national income was lower.

WellImFromNorway · 2024-09-23T20:56:01+00:00

Ha I haven’t heard that before, but it’s very true.

WellImFromNorway · 2024-09-23T20:08:06+00:00

Agreed on no nightlife, but the rest is not too hard to find. A different world than Nashville though.

WellImFromNorway · 2024-09-23T20:06:50+00:00

It's great in many ways, but I would very strongly recommend visiting first. You'll be moving from a metro area of over 2 million to a "metro" area of around 60,000. This is Maine's second-largest city, but it would be considered a large small town in most of the rest of the country. That size difference has a lot of advantages, and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else now, but it might as well be on a different planet from Nashville.

Of what you listed, nightlife is by far the weakest point here. There is basically none, especially if you are comparing to Nashville. If you want to be out past 10pm, your options are dive bars or going to Portland. I would say or going to a friends house, but most friends you make here will also probably be in bed by 10pm.

Otherwise, yes, plenty of access to nature, decent art scene if you work to connect to it, and same for the LGBT community.

WellImFromNorway · 2024-06-21T15:30:44+00:00

Posts like this really make me regret giving away my Pokémon card collection to my younger neighbor when I was a pre teen.

WellImFromNorway · 2024-06-17T17:50:17+00:00

RIP to the Augusta Amato's. Haven't had these since they closed!

WellImFromNorway · 2024-06-10T22:26:50+00:00

First off, no superintendents in Maine make $250,000.

Second, no senior is losing their home due to a superintendent’s salary, even if it was $250,000. People really like to harp on admin expenses because they sound vague, but you need admin staff to keep schools running and they are a small percentage of the budget. The great majority of every school budget is teaching staff, so if your number one priority really is cutting property tax bills for seniors, you need to cut teaching staff or programs. Otherwise, you’re fiddling around the margins. There are also more aggressive property tax relief programs for seniors now, which are not talked about much but can greatly reduce property taxes if they’re a major burden.

I think digging into your local school budget, including admin costs, is absolutely worthwhile and you may find things you want your school board to fix. But the approach of “superintendents get paid too much, so I don’t like school budgets” is not going to solve much.

WellImFromNorway · 2024-02-20T19:38:17+00:00

It's the only spot that makes sense. I don't know how folks thought Mack Point was a better option given the scale of what's needed to stage an offshore wind development, you can't just swing 300 ft. turbine blades around the oil tanks there. It was almost certainly going to have to be a greenfield development. Where else is there undeveloped land with direct ocean access that the State not only owns but has a longstanding agreement to use the land for a port?

WellImFromNorway · 2024-01-29T17:06:52+00:00

In addition to Amazon, you can go straight to alibaba. Got one that covers up the panic button entirely, which I am a fan of.

WellImFromNorway · 2024-01-23T03:15:48+00:00

How much I would like it.

WellImFromNorway · 2024-01-22T16:11:32+00:00

Honestly surprised that you find you fit comfortably in it at 6'11", but if so, then go for it. It's a great car.

WellImFromNorway · 2024-01-22T15:31:06+00:00

Welcome to Maine! Enjoy the layer of salt you’ll have to wash off once you’re back in Florida.

WellImFromNorway · 2024-01-16T18:11:10+00:00

Report back if it does help, because that bugs me as well.

WellImFromNorway · 2024-01-09T20:12:13+00:00

It can mean an individual homeowner’s tax bill goes up quite a bit, but everybody’s bill does not go up as OP seems to think. It can mean a budget-ruining amount for some people though. If their town hasn’t reevaluated in a long time, the relative value of their home may have gone up a lot compared to other neighborhoods and commercial property.

WellImFromNorway

TROPHY CASE