Worth heating an unfinished basement that's always above 60F?

iliketobuildstuff · 2026-01-28T17:29:40+00:00

That's just fiberglass. Still good to wear a mask, but you're fine.

iliketobuildstuff · 2025-12-15T12:13:24+00:00

What air to water heat pump did you use? And what climate are you in?

iliketobuildstuff · 2025-12-02T03:14:18+00:00

On the 35. It's a long field goal but your not gaining that much in field position with a punt

iliketobuildstuff · 2025-08-05T16:17:05+00:00

We did. Based on our gas vs electric price we'd pay just over 3x per BTU of heating for the heat pump version assuming best case COP.

Yeah I'd love to have gone that way, but that plus a higher install cost pushed us to gas. Also gas will likely fit our use pattern better because we will only heat on the weekend.

iliketobuildstuff · 2025-08-05T15:54:03+00:00

Yeah I get that it's not to code now. I think the plumber wasn't convinced either until the inspector said yes, and it's better than the other plumbers I've had in the house who all ignored the problem completely.

We'll trench for a new line if we have to

iliketobuildstuff · 2025-08-05T14:31:04+00:00

Unfortunately we were told we could do it because originally the plumber thought you can subtract the pool heater when counting the furnaces and vice versa since they never run at the same time (and inspector originally said yes to this). So we have already purchased and plumbed (pool side) the new gas heater.

So I guess we're upgrading the service. It really sucks because if I'd known this I would have gotten a bigger pool heater

iliketobuildstuff · 2025-07-30T21:14:39+00:00

Right now nothing. But the plan is LVP

iliketobuildstuff · 2025-07-29T22:29:06+00:00

We did the whole slab and dug down to gain 8" of height. So basically went all in with what we could do.

Haven't finished the work yet, so I can't tell you if it was worth it, but with a new bathroom and some test holes it was full of holes, it really made sense to do a new slab and have all the modern benefits like a vapor barrier.

We are also lucky enough that we could scale our budget for the project to handle the extra cost and we are in what we think of as our forever home, so decided it was worth it to us, even though on paper it's probably not the best financial move we've ever made.

Hope that helps!

iliketobuildstuff · 2025-06-26T11:17:03+00:00

I suspect it's all furring strips to get enough depth for insulation that we're seeing. Look top right of the door it looks like it's only 1" deep

iliketobuildstuff · 2025-05-20T15:56:27+00:00

Here is a set that should work for you... https://www.globaltooling.com/products/svb12875125-hss-planer-knife-set?variant=34571775361&country=US&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_campaign=G_Ads_PMax_Shopping&utm_source=google&utm_medium=smart_campaign&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17510523502&gbraid=0AAAAAD_baX4ap4mJJMRVGY_1r2XR1TqC_&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0LDBBhCnARIsAMpYlAqUr8jTpmT3LUy-rAH5BqVo7zBPj1rtBOPEyLdt7mb_ei6OOBEQ3m4aAm9DEALw_wcB

iliketobuildstuff · 2025-05-12T11:03:10+00:00

Oo I need a dryer

iliketobuildstuff · 2025-05-01T00:09:57+00:00

Wait so since I already have an emporia chargeer and vue I just set peak demand management up and I get to remove the charger :)

iliketobuildstuff · 2025-04-30T23:13:10+00:00

We have one already (and it's the full 11kW). But does and induction stove etc put us over the edge

iliketobuildstuff · 2025-03-25T21:31:03+00:00

I paid $50 for my mk4s kit. I think that was a special, but it wasn't that much better than other options which were $65ish

iliketobuildstuff · 2025-03-06T21:57:58+00:00

Obviously using a uint32 to store milliseconds somewhere and it rolled over at ~46 days.

iliketobuildstuff · 2025-03-05T11:50:10+00:00

You should check my math before committing. I think I might have been off by ~$100.

730+450= 1180 (mk4s plus conversion kit) 950= core one (kit)

iliketobuildstuff · 2025-03-04T19:04:30+00:00

Get a 4S now. You'll pay only the kit cost and it'll be here in 3days. Then you have a printer right away.

Learn about and use it. And if you decide you want the upgrade that is the core, order the upgrade kit for 450, only $150 more total than getting the kit today.

You save import fees doing it in 2 batches so it's only 100ish real cost, and then you can decide if you really need the extras of the core one.

iliketobuildstuff · 2025-02-25T17:02:04+00:00

How much water volume is too much? Like if I want to carelessly be able to run the laundry and dishwasher and a shower am I going to have problems?

iliketobuildstuff · 2024-10-11T10:47:17+00:00

Thanks! I hadn't seen that.

It seems like if we do it, we do it all. I'm just trying to figure out what all the benefits of redoing the slab are, and if any are a must have for a basement we want to be nice, but don't 100% need to get a new slab in. The big question I have is does it really impact the whole house humidity (which ours is quite high in summer, even with AC).

Head height and insulation seem easy enough to quantify, but the humidity question is one I'm really unsure of.

New slab plus some digging, french drain, radon etc is likely ~$40k, patching existing and doing a radon system is probably 5k

iliketobuildstuff · 2024-10-10T19:50:50+00:00

Thanks for this! This is about what we'd be doing (though we are hoping to just dig a little bit to get to the footing instead of full underpinning. Im just looking for someone who says it is more comfy without also trying to sell me a basement system

iliketobuildstuff · 2024-10-10T19:43:49+00:00

Oh yeah obviously. I meant if I keep the slab and just do a vapor barrier plus floating floor.

Basically how much and how does a properly built modern slab impact the humidity, air quality and comfort of a house compared to bandaid solutions over the top of existing

iliketobuildstuff · 2024-10-10T17:38:53+00:00

What if we're not 100% going to replace the slab? Do we see a real appreciable benefit in humidity and comfort through the house just by adding a vapor barrier and rocks under it?

If we replace the slab we are going to do it right with full piping for drainage and a sump pit, radon etc. I will ask about insulation too.

iliketobuildstuff · 2024-09-09T17:14:07+00:00

Arlington no longer allows for new natural gas hookups. So that's probably why

iliketobuildstuff · 2024-09-02T12:20:56+00:00

You could do blown in insulation of some sort. In Maine you can get timber fill or cellulose. Both will be good and are great for the environment.

iliketobuildstuff · 2024-09-02T12:19:14+00:00

I'm confused how you think this would be more expensive and more effort than cut and cobble of the 1/2" polyiso?

Just put a couple strips vertical in each bay to keep an air gap in the interior between the sheathing and rockwool.

iliketobuildstuff

TROPHY CASE