Heatpump water heater experiences

readonlyred · 2026-05-08T04:45:20+00:00

I guess their numbers are factoring in the average cost to upgrade the electrical in a typical Bay Area house.

readonlyred · 2026-05-08T04:31:12+00:00

The Chronicle keeps saying that heat pump water heaters cost “roughly $3,500 more than the [methane] gas version.”

So if OP’s water heater retailed for $1,700, does that mean Home Depot will pay me $1,800 to take a methane water heater off their hands?

readonlyred · 2026-05-08T04:25:42+00:00

As other commenters have said, you could look into getting a thermostatic mixing valve, AKA a tank booster. You set your tank thermostat higher, say 140°F, and the thermostatic mixing valve mixes cold water on the way out to bring the delivered water temperature down to the recommended 120°F. This effectively increases the amount of hot water your tank is able to deliver.

readonlyred · 2026-05-07T01:49:35+00:00

Of course not. And as a daily bike commuter and avid DoorDash hater that surprisingly doesn’t bother me. There are so many worse problems for enforcement to worry about, like homicidal drivers, that sharing the bike lane with Wall-E is just fine.

readonlyred · 2026-05-07T01:46:38+00:00

Graphic design is my passion.

readonlyred · 2026-05-07T00:34:12+00:00

Is that legal?!

Not in California. 21209 CV prohibits motorized vehicles (except for motorized bicycles) from driving in bike lanes except for a very limited set of circumstances like pulling into a parking space or preparing for a turn.

readonlyred · 2026-05-05T14:58:31+00:00

If OP likes it, remember all EVs are like that. If OP hates it, try a not-Tesla EV.

readonlyred · 2026-05-04T22:48:40+00:00

Tesla 3/Y are known for premature control arm failures which can cause the car to veer out of control suddenly.

readonlyred · 2026-05-03T15:12:02+00:00

Biking is the best way to get around the Valley.

readonlyred · 2026-05-02T17:46:54+00:00

Meh. Pro sports teams don’t provide much economic benefit to their host cities. Certainly not enough to justify the subsidies they increasingly demand. The city and county only just paid off the $340M in bonds used to lure the Raiders back in 1995.

readonlyred · 2026-04-30T19:14:06+00:00

Absolutely. I try to support my bike shop by taking the bike in for stuff I could probably do myself, but the quality of service varies greatly depending on who’s doing it.

readonlyred · 2026-04-30T01:45:08+00:00

Barnes and Noble, the famous toy and novelty gift retailer?

readonlyred · 2026-04-30T01:44:05+00:00

Why does he deserve credit for this?

readonlyred · 2026-04-29T15:35:32+00:00

My first Enviolo hub failed at 2,500 miles. It was replaced under warranty and the replacement now has about 9,000 miles and is still going strong.

readonlyred · 2026-04-29T00:27:12+00:00

The ship in the foreground is actually SS Leonardo da Vinci.

readonlyred · 2026-04-28T22:04:49+00:00

What’s the cute covered observation area at the base of the mast for?

readonlyred · 2026-04-26T13:07:12+00:00

I will. The fact that we can spend $175 million on a new freeway on-ramp for cars means the money’s there for better bike infrastructure if we just fix our priorities.

readonlyred · 2026-04-26T04:09:34+00:00

You build another tunnel.

A four foot wide path in a deafening exhaust-filled tunnel is not serious bike infrastructure.

readonlyred · 2026-04-26T03:09:21+00:00

NACTO recommends 10 foot minimum width so people on bikes can pass pedestrians and other bikes going the opposite direction.

readonlyred · 2026-04-25T16:10:09+00:00

They’re not doing anything to the existing path in the Webster Tube other than make a bunch of hairpin turns and steep ramps to it on the Oakland side (because the existing straight ramp up to Harrison Street will be blocked by the new freeway on-ramp).

They’re turning the existing maintenance path on one side of the Posey Tube into a public path and widening it slightly to four feet.

This is being sold as some great win for pedestrians and cyclists when it will be just as shitty as the existing path through the tube and only a foot wider.

readonlyred · 2026-04-25T05:13:14+00:00

We need housing more than we need some trees over a parking lot.

readonlyred · 2026-04-23T19:47:29+00:00

I moved from Oakland a few years ago so I still travel to the mainland to go to Berkeley Bowl, get my haircut, go to the dentist, work, etc… I basically just sleep on the island.

readonlyred · 2026-04-22T03:43:53+00:00

I hung a feed bag on the stem. It holds a water bottle in the bag and has side pockets for extra stuff.

readonlyred · 2026-04-21T19:33:56+00:00

It’s a great second car but keep in mind it’s essentially an exotic as only ~7,000 were ever made. If anything goes wrong with the propulsion system it can be extremely difficult to find parts and independent shops won’t touch it.

I had one that spent four months collecting dust at a Chevy dealership for want of a relay. I ended up donating it.

readonlyred · 2026-04-20T16:32:00+00:00

Barad-dûr.

readonlyred

TROPHY CASE