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I bought this kit for one of my techs. He's had it for about two weeks so far. He loves it.

Would you mind describing the various things you use your tablet for? Believe me, I have a very long list of things I want my techs to use them for, but I'd like to hear what they *are* being used...

Interesting. I've actually wondered why someone didn't something kind of like this - or maybe I've just not been able to find it. I originally tried looking for a wireless transmitter and receiver...

Actually,without looking at the price (bad idea, I know), that looks like it might be just what I was asking for, and then some. I'll have to study the specs and directions to make sure, but it could...

I bought the big Kindle at the end of last year to test it.

It's very easy to add PDFs. You plug it in to a USB port and it shows up in file manager like another drive. Just drag the files.

The...

I'd like to find a wireless thermometer with at least four inputs. It should be able to record temperatures over time then download those temperatures via USB.

(It would be nice if it was...

Maybe you need to adjust the float ... :grin2:

Not enough heat. Did you downsize the furnace? I've seen moisture run down the flue and fry a circuit board.

There are elegant ways to correct the problem that have other benefits as well. Circulating air in the home works brilliantly even if you *don't* lower radon levels. Radon isn't the real culprit....

Also from the BEIR VI report:
"The committee's best estimate is that among the 11,000 lung-cancer deaths each year in never-smokers, 2,100 or 2,900, depending on the model used, are radon-related...

I used to be in the radon business, but I got out. I could write a book on why, but the bottom line is that I didn't believe I was providing any value to my customers. I had a run-in with EPA at a...

We just bought several of these for our techs. We already have two that have had to tape the battery cover on and one that has lost the battery cover. This thread goes clear back to 2006. Apparently...

In my neck of the woods adding electric heat strips and shutting down the gas would just about triple the cost per btu delivered. Is it really cheaper where you are? Here even propane is just about...

I'm not a smoker and I'm not around them but Amazon has a variety of product under "smoke eater" such as this one:...

N2 flowing is absolutely a must for 410A systems. 410A, like R-12, has solvent characteristics that R-22 didn't (doesn't) have. A 410A system will polish all that stuff off the copper sometime in the...

Four tons seems like a lot for a conference room. I have a customer that converted an equipment room to a conference room but hasn't changed the a/c yet. It's miserable when the a/c kicks on -...

I hope you're at sea level (or lower). We struggle at 4,500 feet, I typically oversize my blower by one size for insurance that I have enough cfm.

I'll look into that. I have one technician who is NCI certified. He took the trouble (and expense) to do that himself before he came to work for me. Do you consider this to be a good program? Are you...

Has anyone used the WrightSoft tablet block load program? How easy is it to draw the proper dimensions?

We used to install Goodman equipment and I have no big beefs. I quit installing their 80% models in indoor closet applications though because they're noisy (or at least, they used to be - it's been a...

Interesting topic. We have condemned any time we find a crack. I've always felt that a crack could indicate a larger problem where a whole chunk could conceivably fall out. Plus, our gas utility will...

Make sure the contractor takes your ducting into account. Very few mobile homes do an adequate job of moving more than about 1200 CFM of air, and you can't skimp on air with a heat pump. You may need...

I think #1 sounds shady, and they both sound, at best, uninformed. I agree with motoguy that you should tough it out until things settle down a little bit then try again. Here are my reactions to...

I agree. Builder models themselves may be 10-20% cheaper (depending on brand, size, and phase of the moon), but the overall job ends up being within 3-5% when using what we call "replacement grade"...

It really does come down to the contractor and their reputation. But it's possible that you're not saving all that much when you go to a lesser brand. The problem is that many times the contractors...

You will find this situation to be the norm. Typically ducting is almost big enough to deliver the heat load, and it's nearly always too small to properly deliver the cooling load. So most of the...

Sorry for the confusion, I was replying to Radkon.

As for your setup, I suspect that it will work well as long as your basement is well sealed and doesn't smell funny, and you have a large enough...

You really need to hire a contractor with a good reputation, who'll look you in the eye and make you believe in his/her integrity, and who will give you options up and down the price/performance...

I've seen this done two ways: supply side and return side.

Supply side installations typically duct the evap cooler into the supply plenum. They often "work" OK because 1) some air makes it out...

The variable speed blowers we have worked with will start to "surge" if static gets too high. That's typically above 1" TESP. Manufacturers typically *rate* their equipment at .5 TESP but that's very...

Look at the Emerson (White Rogers) EZ Reader. One button each for heat, cool, fan only, and off across the bottom. Two larger buttons for warmer and cooler on the right side (along with two small...

I wouldn't do it. You got more duct work that is exposed to the elements and that can leak or be chewed through by varmints. You are going to have issues with a good way to run your return that's...

Speaking of cars, I once had a boss (in a different industry) who had a BMW 5 series company car. This would have been in the '80s. He bragged that he had 60,000 miles on it and had never had it...

Sadly, I think too many have already forgotten. I do my best to remember and respect, but I know time dulls memories.

My day tends to be hectic until at least 8:30 or 9:00. My office people know that if an applicant drops in unannounced while I'm here that I at least want to meet them and shake their hand. I like...

I cruise. My 24 year old BMW K bike with 130,000 miles on it starts right up, purrs like a kitten, and is a joy to ride, although I'm going to have to upgrade the seat to handle my fat *ss a little...

I have to agree with the other comments. If someone calls me looking for work, I will talk to them once and invite them to come by in person. I will even schedule a 15- 30 minute meeting with them....

There is a dilemma here, because I regularly hear from out of work techs, yet when I try to hire, I find that high quality techs are few and far between. Our market here in Nevada is soft right now...

We wouldn't quote this job:
1. We won't repair based on someone else's diagnosis.
2. We won't quote repair prices over the phone (well, maybe for a long time, reliable customer, but not for a blind...

Interesting. I toured the Trane condenser factory and all I could think about was "how would you clean that?"
As far as dryer lint goes, my most amazing experience was inspecting a furnace in a...

We're a downflow market in northern Nevada. When I look at upflows I get confused. I do like the idea of blowing heat the direction it wants to move though.

I'm impressed by a neat, organized, clean vehicle. I might even be inclined to hire a guy based on keeping his van that neat. Well, maybe not, but it would certainly start things off on the right...

Watch Penn & Teller's BS episode on recycling.

That's mind boggling.

How easy is it to draw a block diagram accurately with your finger? How long do you think it will take to do a block load calc once you get used to it?

I think it's still early in the game. My R-22 concerns are for the second half of life of equipment being installed today when supplies really start to drop (2020 and later). The reality is, though,...

I love the idea of using ductless systems to run a whole house. Here's a starter list of pros and cons:

Pros:
Very high SEER units available.
Room by room temperature control. You can even heat...

The pipe lengths are for each pipe. Using 2" you can have 30 equivalent feet of vent pipe and 30 equivalent feet of combustion air pipe. If you need to go 40 feet, use 3". Like rundawg said, read the...

I believe York makes that furnace. If you check the manual I think you'll find that 30 equivalent feet is the maximum for 2" pipe, but 3" allows about 90' and 4" allows about 150'. Look for a section...

I'm not convinced we do our customers any favors when we sell them dry R22 units. Every time I've come across a place where I could use one, I have a pro/con discussion with the customer, and so far...