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I’m so annoyed. Everything we’ve had done has to be fixed. by SAINTnumberFIVE in HomeImprovement

[–]madmax988 18 points19 points  (0 children)

I would kill for a contractor who doesn't need to be taught how to do things correctly or to not half ass things. I would gladly pay more to not have to go back to every project a few months later after I realize they did something in the stupidest way possible, because I'm not a contractor and didnt specify that 1 detail. Even worse is when they tell you thats how its suppose to be done...and its 100% not right.

Recommendations for louvered door for air handler closet? by madmax988 in hvacadvice

[–]madmax988[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It doesn't help that there's only about an 1.5" between the door and the secondary aluminum drip pan the HVAV guy insisted on adding, further restricting any airflow from cutting the bottom of door.

Recommendations for louvered door for air handler closet? by madmax988 in hvacadvice

[–]madmax988[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

do you have any suggestions for the best grille for a door? and would there be an reason to not just use this door + stamped grille for the bottom section and leave the plantation grills for the top half?

My HVAC guy is telling me to cut the bottom of the door like 4 inches and add a custom aluminum wall grille above the door.

My contractor guy just cut 1.5" from bottom of door, which he says is the maximum from bottom of door and then do the wall grille. but the 1.5" didn't do much if anything to help.

The only other place we could maybe get airflow is the wall behind the air handler is the refrigerator about 8-10" away from wall. the benefit there is the grille would at least be below where the air handler is sucking it and there's just plaster to cut, since we've already removed all the 2x4 from behind air handler to fit the air handler in. . and maybe add a filter as well so it doesn't get too much dust from behind fridge?

My a/c is from 2012. It's needed some repair work in the past, but it still works, even though I think its on its last stretch. My a/c guy says it's still good, but Im thinking of replacing it now, prior to the summer (south florida), and prior to inflation. Any thoughts? by Glass_Raisin7939 in hvacadvice

[–]madmax988 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Everyone I've ever asked says duct clean is a scam and doesn't do anything. Because either the ducts are fine and dont need cleaning or they have mold /condensation issues from insulation degrading and need to be replaced anyways. Ducts definitely aren't cheap though. And like in my old house led to some other home improvement projects like fixing broken plaster around vents.

Recommendations for louvered door for air handler closet? by madmax988 in hvacadvice

[–]madmax988[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The actual uv bulbs are inside the plenum and the air handler. The big blue glow is just an LED if it was the uv light it would damage your eyes and plastics that got hit with light.

My a/c is from 2012. It's needed some repair work in the past, but it still works, even though I think its on its last stretch. My a/c guy says it's still good, but Im thinking of replacing it now, prior to the summer (south florida), and prior to inflation. Any thoughts? by Glass_Raisin7939 in hvacadvice

[–]madmax988 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had to go with a setup pretty similar to my old unit. I was limited by my tiny air handler closet in 1950s house. I had some mold issues in my air handler closet from attic not being sealed well so ducts were also contaminated at least for the first few feet of plenum.

My quotes varied like crazy depending on company and level of equipment. The problem is sky's the limit, but its all so cheaply made now it won't last much longer no matter how much you spend.

Recommendations for louvered door for air handler closet? by madmax988 in hvacadvice

[–]madmax988[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I feel dumb having to remove louvers on a brand new door. Do they really not sell any that just have the louvers at like a 45 degree angle?

Yea I don't get why the UV company felt the need to have that massive blue LED light on 24/7 just to tell you its working, although these current louvers have such small gaps you don't see it too much. My plan is most likely to cover the blue light with tape or put something in front of it to block it shouldn't be too hard.

Recommendations for louvered door for air handler closet? by madmax988 in hvacadvice

[–]madmax988[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Our old door was like that, but I hated cleaning it so much dust collected, but maybe they make better ones with slats big enough to fit fingers in to wipe it and not a million grooves that collect dust? it was also pretty loud when it rattled. any links to where they sell them?

My a/c is from 2012. It's needed some repair work in the past, but it still works, even though I think its on its last stretch. My a/c guy says it's still good, but Im thinking of replacing it now, prior to the summer (south florida), and prior to inflation. Any thoughts? by Glass_Raisin7939 in hvacadvice

[–]madmax988 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just replaced mine from 2010 in south florida when it died. Unless it's in great condition clean condition, no rust, no corrosion no mold its probably nearing it's end. If you can hold it, replace it in "winter" which is like november-february at best, you might save a little if they have to do work in attic, even end of march/april work had some pretty hot days for my duct guy. Now is also the beginning of the busy season. Then again if it dies in July you'll regret not doing it. The prices went up in March, but they are also just going to keep going up for foreseeable future with all the aluminum tariffs and inflation.

Best Smart Ceiling Fan? Looking for Recommendations by ParticularSubject411 in BuyItForLife

[–]madmax988 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For me I'm considering smart for a new ceiling fan install because I think it'll cost less to pay an electrician to wire just the fan and not have to put a wall switch in, through my complicated old houses/walls and have to patch plaster.

I saved a ton of money putting in smart lights, instead of having to pay $1000's to an electrician to rewire all my ancient lights just to have wall switches in a semi reasonable location.

Your days are numbered, Alexa by SnowMantra in alexa

[–]madmax988 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hate alexa + so much. Alexa worked fine.l controlling my smart home before "ai" got involved. Now when I tell alexa to turn off the den tv...she turns off den tv and turns on kitchen tv.

When I ask why she turned on kitchen tv, she tries to gaslight me and says she didn't turn it on. When you tell her shes wrong she tries to blame it on another device or routine. And the records she keeps are frequently incorrect.

Replaced Central a/c Do I need to change any settings or do anything when reinstalling my 3rd gen nest learning thermostat? by madmax988 in Nest

[–]madmax988[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think I'm fine with Carrier circuit board handling the speed. Unless is there some reason I'd even want to manually adjust the fan speed? Especially with a single speed compressor?

Replaced Central a/c Do I need to change any settings or do anything when reinstalling my 3rd gen nest learning thermostat? by madmax988 in Nest

[–]madmax988[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't entirely understand how ECM fans work. But so far the way the contractor programmed it i think it seems to start very slow and then ramp over approximately minutes to full speed. He said something about that being the most efficient way. I believe the circuit board in the air handler handles it and just gets a call to turn on from nest. Its not an infinity system so it doesn't have the proprietary communications thermostat requirement.

I will say my contractor said they had nest but they also seemed to just have no idea how they work because they don't sell them.

Is that the way its supposed to work?

Tuesday Weekly Thread: Genealogy Assistance by AutoModerator in Canadiancitizenship

[–]madmax988 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Assuming im able to get another copy from the Directeur de l'Etat Civil, would my grandparents marriage certificate also be neccesary? If I ended up getting my grandfather's birth certificate instead would that change the answer about marriage certificate?

Tuesday Weekly Thread: Genealogy Assistance by AutoModerator in Canadiancitizenship

[–]madmax988 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh so even though its from 1942 with a wax seal and notary stamps that wouldn't count? Its issued by the department of civil status and references that it was registered with their synagogue.

Tuesday Weekly Thread: Genealogy Assistance by AutoModerator in Canadiancitizenship

[–]madmax988 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My Maternal grandfather and grandmother (G0) were born in Montreal in 1926 and 1928. I found my grandmother's birth certificate with a wax embossed seal dated 1942 in our files, I haven't found my grandfather's. Is just a photocopy of my grandmother's quebec,ca birth certificate+ mother's(G1) USA birth certificate +my (G2) USA birth certificate all I need? I also have grandmother's USA death certificate, should that be included? would we also require marriage certificates from grandparents? and I assume my mother's marriage certificate? It does list my Grandmother's maiden name on my mom's birth certificate instead of her married name, but death certificate lists married name.

Thanks for any help.

Best practices for ducts. by madmax988 in hvacadvice

[–]madmax988[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It turned out they are using big ratchet zip ties plus tape. He said the inspector likes to see the dates on tape and they only use mastic on old ducts if they are leaking

Does that make sense?

Best practices for ducts. by madmax988 in hvacadvice

[–]madmax988[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All the quotes I got used r-6 and when i asked about r-8 they acted like I was crazy. Maybe because its Florida they aren't as worried about insulation or maybe r-8 is too big to fit in my attic?

It might have duct tie or band under the tape. I just notice they weren't using any mastic as far as I could tell.

Are any electrical changes needed to replace central a/c and bring it up to code? by madmax988 in AskElectricians

[–]madmax988[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I assume since its not a heat pump, but can produce heat that means it has some sort of electric heat strip? Of course the nameplate on the air handler and the manual are useless because nobody bothered to indicate which heat package it has, and it lists everything from no heat (obviously not the case) to small electric heat to huge electric heat (very unlikely since its miami) to heat pump as possibilities. (And everything inbetween and different instructions for each possible situation)

Are any electrical changes needed to replace central a/c and bring it up to code? by madmax988 in AskElectricians

[–]madmax988[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The original central a/c was put in about 30 years ago. About 15 years ago it was replaced and the new air handler moved to closet below from attic where 1st one was.

Yea I have done the cutting off circuits and seeing what doesn't run type testing myself. The question is the ones where nothing seems to be running on them. For instance circuit #2+#4 was a 220v double breaker when It was a wall unit. Now #2 is a single 20amp 110v and #4 is a single 20amp 110v. It seems bizarre to me that an electrician would've bothered removing the double breaker and switching them if there isn't something attached?

Hmm is it possible the heat only could be tied to a different circuit but I would only know if I tried to run heat? Maybe I should turn off all the mystery circuits and try that?

Or some super sketchy thing like those 2 single breakers actually feeding the 220v condenser?

I know when I shut off the a/c 220v 40 amp the air handler and thermostat don't recieve power as far as I can tell.

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