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Misc General Banter Thread

Hate to keep harping on this. If/when we have a landfalling hurricane we’re in trouble y’all. Especially somewhere like here in SC that hasn’t scaled emergency response with the population boom on the coast.

You have read the tea leaves about what will happen when another major hurricane hits the NC/SC coast with a direct impact. With all of the growth that has occurred in the NC/SC coastal counties and areas further inland and the lack of planning and infrastructure to keep up with it, a major hurricane would cause property damage on an unbelievable scale and emergency services would be overwhelmed. Just the evacuation traffic alone would cause nightmares for those heading to higher ground. Add this to the fact that many of the residents who live in these areas now have never been through a hurricane like Fran or Hazel and you have the recipe for disaster on an unforeseen scale.

The sad thing about this is that it's really not a matter of if a major hurricane will hit our coast again but when. Fran and Hazel were powerful storms but if an upper end category four or five storm ever hits the NC/SC coast and cuts a path inland there will be many people who are not prepared for such an event including the planning boards in the communities and counties who allowed all of this unchecked growth under their jurisdiction to happen.
 
I would like to talk to you about your cars extended warranty!

Never bought an extended warranty until a couple years ago. My wife got a brand new 2023 rogue a few years back. It was going to be a high mileage vehicle so I bit the bullet and bought the Ex warranty.

Fast forward to 3 weeks ago car had a indistinct hard to place ticking sound. If you were on the driver's side it sounded like it was on the passenger. Go over there and it sounded like it was on the driver side. Next day it was louder and a check engine light came on. Took it to the dealer the next day and they were saying a new sensor for the actuator for the oil compressor. Total cost $4400. So they run it by Nissan to make sure it's covered and it is. They go to replace it and find the pin connecting the actuator to the crankshaft is tore up.......need new lower block but an inspector has to sign off on it. He comes then they send for an engineer and it turned into a full engine replacement.

Thankfully I had the warranty
 
in I would like to talk to you about your cars extended warranty!

Never bought an extended warranty until a couple years ago. My wife got a brand new 2023 rogue a few years back. It was going to be a high mileage vehicle so I bit the bullet and bought the Ex warranty.

Fast forward to 3 weeks ago car had a indistinct hard to place ticking sound. If you were on the driver's side it sounded like it was on the passenger. Go over there and it sounded like it was on the driver side. Next day it was louder and a check engine light came on. Took it to the dealer the next day and they were saying a new sensor for the actuator for the oil compressor. Total cost $4400. So they run it by Nissan to make sure it's covered and it is. They go to replace it and find the pin connecting the actuator to the crankshaft is tore up.......need new lower block but an inspector has to sign off on it. He comes then they send for an engineer and it turned into a full engine replacement.

Thankfully I had the warranty
My wife got a warranty with her 2024 Chevrolet Trail Blazer and it has already come in handy as in your situation. The shifter in her car had an issue with a sensor that let the computer she had shifted into park. Because of it she was having problems starting her car. The dealership we bought it from installed a new shifter and sensor free of charge. Without the warranty it would have been a $ 1,200 repair. Problems like this never happened when automobiles didn't have computers.

I believe that a car manufacturer could make a fortune coming out with a no frills line of cars and trucks without the sophisticated computers that automobiles have today. Cars and trucks like this would be less expensive and would not have a 500 page owner's manual to learn all of the features today's automobiles have.
 
My wife got a warranty with her 2024 Chevrolet Trail Blazer and it has already come in handy as in your situation. The shifter in her car had an issue with a sensor that let the computer she had shifted into park. Because of it she was having problems starting her car. The dealership we bought it from installed a new shifter and sensor free of charge. Without the warranty it would have been a $ 1,200 repair. Problems like this never happened when automobiles didn't have computers.

I believe that a car manufacturer could make a fortune coming out with a no frills line of cars and trucks without the sophisticated computers that automobiles have today. Cars and trucks like this would be less expensive and would not have a 500 page owner's manual to learn all of the features today's automobiles have.
Yeah if one sensor can fail and cost me $4400 then we need to rethink the way we build cars. A regular old.manual oil pump would have had this problem and caused me.to lose an engine
 
I would like to talk to you about your cars extended warranty!

Never bought an extended warranty until a couple years ago. My wife got a brand new 2023 rogue a few years back. It was going to be a high mileage vehicle so I bit the bullet and bought the Ex warranty.

Fast forward to 3 weeks ago car had a indistinct hard to place ticking sound. If you were on the driver's side it sounded like it was on the passenger. Go over there and it sounded like it was on the driver side. Next day it was louder and a check engine light came on. Took it to the dealer the next day and they were saying a new sensor for the actuator for the oil compressor. Total cost $4400. So they run it by Nissan to make sure it's covered and it is. They go to replace it and find the pin connecting the actuator to the crankshaft is tore up.......need new lower block but an inspector has to sign off on it. He comes then they send for an engineer and it turned into a full engine replacement.

Thankfully I had the warranty

Not gonna lie, I first thought the Indians had hacked your account.
 
Yeah if one sensor can fail and cost me $4400 then we need to rethink the way we build cars. A regular old.manual oil pump would have had this problem and caused me.to lose an engine

I can't imagine the amounts of sensors on that nearly new F150 I drive at work. My 2011 HHR had all kinds of problems a few weeks ago(found out eventually that had water in the gas) but a car not starting could be almost anything on that joker from bad ECM, to Evap, to sensors and who knows what else.
 
My wife got a warranty with her 2024 Chevrolet Trail Blazer and it has already come in handy as in your situation. The shifter in her car had an issue with a sensor that let the computer she had shifted into park. Because of it she was having problems starting her car. The dealership we bought it from installed a new shifter and sensor free of charge. Without the warranty it would have been a $ 1,200 repair. Problems like this never happened when automobiles didn't have computers.

I believe that a car manufacturer could make a fortune coming out with a no frills line of cars and trucks without the sophisticated computers that automobiles have today. Cars and trucks like this would be less expensive and would not have a 500 page owner's manual to learn all of the features today's automobiles have.

No one would buy them. Base model "poverty pack" cars and trucks are the most difficult for dealers to move as it is.
 
-One year ago I bought a 3 ton, 16 SEER2, 2 stage American Standard AC + gas furnace + programmable thermostat with 2 year labor/10 year parts warranty for $10.4K installed in Savannah

-Today, someone I know bought a 2 ton, 18-19.5 SEER2 variable one phase Lennox AC + gas furnace + smart thermostat with 10 year labor snd parts warranty for $16.5K (after $1.5K Lennox rebate) installed in Atlanta

I thought my American Std 3 ton/16 SEER2 + furnace/therm. for $10.4K system was reasonable. But $16.5K for the 2 ton Lennox system seems a bit high compared to how I did. Opinions?
 
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-One year ago I bought a 3 ton, 16 SEER2, 2 stage American Standard AC + gas furnace + programmable thermostat with 2 year labor/10 year parts warranty for $10.4K installed in Savannah

-Today, someone I know bought a 2 ton, 18-19.5 SEER2 variable one phase Lennox AC + gas furnace + smart thermostat with 10 year labor snd parts warranty for $16.5K (after $1.5K Lennox rebate) installed in Atlanta

I thought my American Std 3 ton/16 SEER2 + furnace/therm. for $10.4K system was reasonable. But $16.5K for the 2 ton Lennox system seems a bit high compared to how I did. Opinions?
I paid $6500 for a 3 ton 16 SEER unit in 2019, 3 year labor and 10 year parts. It’s just where we are now with cost of living and hyper money printing.
 
I paid $6500 for a 3 ton 16 SEER unit in 2019, 3 year labor and 10 year parts. It’s just where we are now with cost of living and hyper money printing.

It seems like HVAC increases have gone well beyond the CPI increases. I’m estimating nearly double from just 2012 to 2024!

Evidently, updated federal requirements for refrigerants have been a contributing factor. It appears that getting anything other than a bottom of the barrel system for much under $10K today wouldn’t be easy. Considering where prices are now, I bet you feel fortunate that you got it at that price then. I feel great about getting a Trane heat pump with 10 year warranty in 2012 for only $5,500. It’s still working well.
 
It seems like HVAC increases have gone well beyond the CPI increases. I’m estimating nearly double from just 2012 to 2024!

Evidently, updated federal requirements for refrigerants have been a contributing factor. It appears that getting anything other than a bottom of the barrel system for much under $10K today wouldn’t be easy. Considering where prices are now, I bet you feel fortunate that you got it at that price then. I feel great about getting a Trane heat pump with 10 year warranty in 2012 for only $5,500. It’s still working well.

My unit is a Carrier and I know is at least fourteen years old. My plan is to buy a mini-split unit next spring for our bedroom and bath and install it myself. If it works well, gonna start putting them into each room over time.

When my unit finally blows up, I won't be relying on one 10k+ system.
 
I made an Instagram page for monitoring ATL weather if anyone wants to follow along

@ATLseverewx

 
You have read the tea leaves about what will happen when another major hurricane hits the NC/SC coast with a direct impact. With all of the growth that has occurred in the NC/SC coastal counties and areas further inland and the lack of planning and infrastructure to keep up with it, a major hurricane would cause property damage on an unbelievable scale and emergency services would be overwhelmed. Just the evacuation traffic alone would cause nightmares for those heading to higher ground. Add this to the fact that many of the residents who live in these areas now have never been through a hurricane like Fran or Hazel and you have the recipe for disaster on an unforeseen scale.

The sad thing about this is that it's really not a matter of if a major hurricane will hit our coast again but when. Fran and Hazel were powerful storms but if an upper end category four or five storm ever hits the NC/SC coast and cuts a path inland there will be many people who are not prepared for such an event including the planning boards in the communities and counties who allowed all of this unchecked growth under their jurisdiction to happen.
The Charleston area is overdue for a major hit too. Another one like Hugo but tracking 50 miles west of where he went once inland would be real trouble for all of SC and much of NC. Helene left behind a lot of weakened trees that would fall west of I-77. Flooding would be a big issue too, even if it was a fast moving system. The Savannah GA is also overdue for a big hit.
 
I paid $6500 for a 3 ton 16 SEER unit in 2019, 3 year labor and 10 year parts. It’s just where we are now with cost of living and hyper money printing.

There's a ton of consolidation in the HVAC industry that's gone under the radar. That itself is a major driver. Another factor is simply good old profiteering. I quote commercial greenhouses routinely and the parts in the US are more expensive than the same units sold in Mexico or DR for example. Even factoring in currency exchange companies know Americans will gladly get bent over a barrel on pricing.
 
-One year ago I bought a 3 ton, 16 SEER2, 2 stage American Standard AC + gas furnace + programmable thermostat with 2 year labor/10 year parts warranty for $10.4K installed in Savannah

-Today, someone I know bought a 2 ton, 18-19.5 SEER2 variable one phase Lennox AC + gas furnace + smart thermostat with 10 year labor snd parts warranty for $16.5K (after $1.5K Lennox rebate) installed in Atlanta

I thought my American Std 3 ton/16 SEER2 + furnace/therm. for $10.4K system was reasonable. But $16.5K for the 2 ton Lennox system seems a bit high compared to how I did. Opinions?

Random curiosity would it even get cold enough in Savannah or Atlanta to warrant to gas furnace? I've seen them in the mountains but only really see gas logs in warmer climates. Heat pumps are a far more economical solution and if you must have gas as a backup a fireplace would be cheaper.
 
Random curiosity would it even get cold enough in Savannah or Atlanta to warrant to gas furnace? I've seen them in the mountains but only really see gas logs in warmer climates. Heat pumps are a far more economical solution and if you must have gas as a backup a fireplace would be cheaper.

Hey Chris,
We got new gas furnaces only because there were gas furnaces already there. So, they were being replaced along with the AC.

Does doing that make sense to you?
Wouldn’t converting to electric heat have too large an upfront cost to be worthwhile? I seem to recall that’s why mine wasn’t converted last year.

The Atlanta one ($16.5K Lennox after rebate) hasn’t been paid for yet though I think an agreement was signed and they’re installing tomorrow. My understanding is that a heat pump was discussed but they decided on a gas furnace only because that’s what they now have. Was that a mistake?
 
Hey Chris,
We got new gas furnaces only because there were gas furnaces already there. So, they were being replaced along with the AC.

Does doing that make sense to you?
Wouldn’t converting to electric heat have too large an upfront cost to be worthwhile? I seem to recall that’s why mine wasn’t converted last year.

The Atlanta one ($16.5K Lennox after rebate) hasn’t been paid for yet though I think an agreement was signed and they’re installing tomorrow. My understanding is that a heat pump was discussed but they decided on a gas furnace only because that’s what they now have. Was that a mistake?

I'm in insurance so not an HVAC person and can't answer what the right call is in each scenario. If you're already replacing the air handler and a/c condenser it's only slightly more money up front to purchase a heat pump and air handler with backup heat strips. The only time I remember us needing to use the heat strips was when it hit 0 on the dot in January 2018 after a snowstorm. The additional cost would come from an electrical upgrade if you need that. Most every house built in the last 30+ years will have 200A service which is plenty for a heat pump and emergency strip heat. You may need to have the wire upsized to the air handler and breaker changed if it's not suitable. So many "what ifs" it's impossible to nail down.

We have a gas heater mounted to the wall in our dining room if we ever lose power in winter just in case. Runs off the same tank as our stove since we don't have natural gas service here.
 
I'm in insurance so not an HVAC person and can't answer what the right call is in each scenario. If you're already replacing the air handler and a/c condenser it's only slightly more money up front to purchase a heat pump and air handler with backup heat strips. The only time I remember us needing to use the heat strips was when it hit 0 on the dot in January 2018 after a snowstorm. The additional cost would come from an electrical upgrade if you need that. Most every house built in the last 30+ years will have 200A service which is plenty for a heat pump and emergency strip heat. You may need to have the wire upsized to the air handler and breaker changed if it's not suitable. So many "what ifs" it's impossible to nail down.

We have a gas heater mounted to the wall in our dining room if we ever lose power in winter just in case. Runs off the same tank as our stove since we don't have natural gas service here.

There was something that made converting mine (in Savannah) from furnace/AC to heat pump infeasible. I think it had to do with wiring and breaker issues but am not sure. Also, I may have been offered a better deal replacing with another furnace/AC.

I had never heard of heat strips until you just now mentioned them TBH.
 
While I am a little afraid of lightning, when you have a day with no storms shortly after a day where you’d have 2 inches of rain, and it’s 65% humidity at still near 90 degrees…

…tbh I’d rather have the storms continue until conditions get to as comfortable as they can be for this time of year. As long as I’m not driving, there’s a 99%+ chance I’ll be fine if it’s just summer storms as a lightning strike starting a fire that heavily damages the house seems like it’d be a freak accident, as is, there’s already been a couple close calls and the only thing that has come of it is a lost TV and Wii several years ago.

Edit: I’d even be fine with a weak tropical system, tho I’ve had my fun with Helene and do not want another shot at a strong tropical storm (that had hurricane force gusting) potentially carving out the same track.
 
While I am a little afraid of lightning, when you have a day with no storms shortly after a day where you’d have 2 inches of rain, and it’s 65% humidity at still near 90 degrees…

…tbh I’d rather have the storms continue until conditions get to as comfortable as they can be for this time of year. As long as I’m not driving, there’s a 99%+ chance I’ll be fine if it’s just summer storms as a lightning strike starting a fire that heavily damages the house seems like it’d be a freak accident, as is, there’s already been a couple close calls and the only thing that has come of it is a lost TV and Wii several years ago.

Edit: I’d even be fine with a weak tropical system, tho I’ve had my fun with Helene and do not want another shot at a strong tropical storm (that had hurricane force gusting) potentially carving out the same track.
Not directed at you by any means but I have seen a lot of posts from a lot of people who want a hurricane , or tropical system until they have to live with the backside of said storm.
 
Excellent video describing in detail the landscape of the TX Hill Country and how it tends to lead to big floods. This also contrasts its landscape with the Appalachian landscape:



Excellent video and really shows how foolish we have become. I knew that area of the west was dangerous, but dang Kerr county is a death trap just like areas of the Gulf are for storm surge.

Everything really boils down to people in our time believe that bad things will not happen to them.
 
It seems like HVAC increases have gone well beyond the CPI increases. I’m estimating nearly double from just 2012 to 2024!

Evidently, updated federal requirements for refrigerants have been a contributing factor. It appears that getting anything other than a bottom of the barrel system for much under $10K today wouldn’t be easy. Considering where prices are now, I bet you feel fortunate that you got it at that price then. I feel great about getting a Trane heat pump with 10 year warranty in 2012 for only $5,500. It’s still working well.
I feel extremely lucky that my system went out when it did. My friend got a quote from the same company for the same system two years later and it was over 10k.
There's a ton of consolidation in the HVAC industry that's gone under the radar. That itself is a major driver. Another factor is simply good old profiteering. I quote commercial greenhouses routinely and the parts in the US are more expensive than the same units sold in Mexico or DR for example. Even factoring in currency exchange companies know Americans will gladly get bent over a barrel on pricing.
I'm sure, and AC is one of those things that is almost akin to medical needs. People will absolutely pay in desperation in the summer heat.
 
There's a ton of consolidation in the HVAC industry that's gone under the radar. That itself is a major driver. Another factor is simply good old profiteering. I quote commercial greenhouses routinely and the parts in the US are more expensive than the same units sold in Mexico or DR for example. Even factoring in currency exchange companies know Americans will gladly get bent over a barrel on pricing.

I also think a lot of the problem is also people just will quickly pay the money than do a little research and fix the small problems themselves. I'm no HVAC tech, but I've replaced contacts, three capacitors and my air handler's fan relay board. None or these require that much know how, but probably saved $1000s in labor and parts.

I see the same thing in the plumbing field. I know plumbers who are so busy that they will now ghost customers with small leaks because they are making bank from changing out toilet valves. A pressure regulator could cost somewhere between $300-400 for a plumber to fix for a $70 part and a little sweat. This is in semi-rural Alabama, not the bigger cities which imagine nail people much worse.
 
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Goose Pitch GIF
 
I also think a lot of the problem is also people just will quickly pay the money than do a little research and fix the small problems themselves. I'm no HVAC tech, but I've replaced contacts, three capacitors and my air handler's fan relay board. None or these require that much know how, but probably saved $1000s in labor and parts.

I see the same thing in the plumbing field. I know plumbers who are so busy that they will now ghost customers with small leaks because they are making bank from changing out toilet valves. A pressure regulator could cost somewhere between $300-400 for a plumber to fix for a $70 part and a little sweat. This is in semi-rural Alabama, not the bigger cities which imagine nail people much worse.
Same here. I keep capacitors and contactors on hand. Ever touched a capacitor? It’s a memorable experience.
 
Same here. I keep capacitors and contactors on hand. Ever touched a capacitor? It’s a memorable experience.

Fortunately, no. I hope to never have that experience. I have had my wife turn on the breaker trying to work on the well pump contacts though. Thank God for rubber screw driver handles.
 
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