Backyard view

[Racinbob 11,045]

I was mostly just milling around while we were getting a new furnace installed. I opted to let the contractor do it so we will have a 10 year 100% parts and labor and 20 year parts warranty. That's some peace of mind.. We're probably just past peak fall color but I looked out a back window and the sun was hitting these trees just right. We're having an indian summer for the next week and you can bet I won't be doing any indoor projects the next few days. I'm not gonna waste the last few 70ish days of the year. 

 

Let's see some more posts of beautiful colors folks. 

 

 

[Pullstart 62,799]

Beautiful scenery!  I was confused for a minute, I thought your wood stack behind the fire pit was a bow target!

[Racinbob 11,045]

Nope. Not a bow target. The way I shoot it would be too dangerous to have stone anywhere in the vicinity. Earlier that morning we saw this out there. I didn't have my phone but my wife got this.

 

 

I was watching out the bedroom window and there was two of them. The other one was a bit smaller. Being rutting season I was hoping they would go at it but the dogs barking had their attention. They wandered off and a few minutes later five does showed up as if they were looking for the bucks. That seemed odd to me but if it's what they were doing I sure wish the human species would do that. 

[WHX?? 48,789]

17 minutes ago, Racinbob said:

were getting a new furnace installed. I opted to let the contractor do it so we will have a 10 year 100% parts and labor and 20 year parts warranty.

I wanna know more about this Bob!

Gimme the all gory details ...make, model etc.

Most of the Lennox crap I sell has a five year parts warranty extended to 10 with online registration. 100% parts and labor??? 20 year parts what's that about? 

 

BTW looks like you got the perfect backdrop for a M & G ....hint hint... 

 

 

[Racinbob 11,045]

It's a Trane S9X Gold series. It's probably the most expensive out there but the contractor is one of Tranes largest and has a rock solid reputation around here. The heat exchanger went out on the old one. I saw the issue Friday morning and a rep was here the same day. Signed the papers and the installers were here yesterday. The warranty is just that. The only catch is that we have a service tech out once a year to check it out. You know that's a good idea anyways. That's included the first year and is $90.00 after that. The unit is 100K input, 2 stage variable speed blower. They installed a new programmable stat but it won't get programmed. The installers did a great job, cleaned up perfectly and were just great guys. Our a/c was replaced 3 years ago by the previous owner so that stayed. 

 

Maybe next summer for that M & G. I don't have anyplace to plow but some nice trails to ride. Maybe I could get somebody with a side mount sickle to trim the briars. 

[Pullstart 62,799]

If there’s a M&G, I’d love to be in on that!  It would be one of the closest yet, shy of Scott’s place when he had them!

[CCW 1,292]

49 minutes ago, Racinbob said:

 

Let's see some more posts of beautiful colors folks. 

 

 

 

 

 

Colors are past peak now at home.  Currently in Texas and the only color here is green.

 

[WHX?? 48,789]

48 minutes ago, Racinbob said:

It's a Trane

Ewwww .... 

I tell my customers it's all junk nowadays .... just some junk better than others! It's all in the attention to detail on the install. Any furnace is only as good as the ductwork above it.

Can ya tell I'm old skool!?!? 

I very seldom sell the the high end stuff ... too many bells and whistles and more stuff to go wrong with. 

100 k sounds a little big?? You have a big house?

 My big mover is 66 k with the occasional 88 k. I find that most contractors oversize, myself included at times. Not so critical now with the popularity of  2 stage and modulating units. I am pulling out larger furnaces I installed 25 years ago and replacing them with smaller units and they walk with the place. Even at -20 outside. 

I offer "free first year oil change" with every machine I sell but then offer five years labor if they have it serviced regularly. Sometimes 10 if I am hungry and want the job.

Sound like you got a good contractor. 

I use non programmable easy to use thermostats with LARGE numbers for you old coots! 

 

48 minutes ago, Racinbob said:

next summer for that M & G.

Dan and I are in fer sure! We might even forgo a tractor show for that! 

Have sickle bar will travel! 

Edited November 4, 2020 by WHX24

[Achto 27,508]

37 minutes ago, WHX24 said:

Dan and I are in fer sure! We might even forgo a tractor show for that! 

 Yep, I'm in!!

[tom2p 2,394]

1 hour ago, WHX24 said:

Ewwww .... 

I tell my customers it's all junk nowadays .... just some junk better than others! It's all in the attention to detail on the install. Any furnace is only as good as the ductwork above it.

Can ya tell I'm old skool!?!? 

I very seldom sell the the high end stuff ... too many bells and whistles and more stuff to go wrong with. 

100 k sounds a little big?? You have a big house?

 My big mover is 66 k with the occasional 88 k. I find that most contractors oversize, myself included at times. Not so critical now with the popularity of  2 stage and modulating units. I am pulling out larger furnaces I installed 25 years ago and replacing them with smaller units and they walk with the place. Even at -20 outside. 

I offer "free first year oil change" with every machine I sell but then offer five years labor if they have it serviced regularly. Sometimes 10 if I am hungry and want the job.

Sound like you got a good contractor. 

I use non programmable easy to use thermostats with LARGE numbers for you old coots! 

 

Dan and I are in fer sure! We might even forgo a tractor show for that! 

Have sickle bar will travel! 

we have a similar furnace - I believe (?) - American Standard Gold Series 

 

I believe it is made by Trane (?)

 

not sure if it is 'two stage' - might be ?  - but it does have variable speed blower/fan 

 

we've had it 5 years now - it has been great ; no issues - house is comfortable *** and reduced our gas bill significantly 

 

the unit we replaced (can't recall brand) was much larger and probably would outlast this new AS unit (according to the HVAC company) ... that was the good news/bad news:  the old unit would continue to work - but not efficient

also had an Aprilaire air cleaner installed - replaced an electronic air cleaner (Emerson ?) that was a PITA to clean ... much easier to replace the Aprilaire filters (two times per year) - although they are not cheap 

 

*** comfortable :  fairly comfortable - for a 50's brick ranch with a lot of glass and limited insulation 

 

Edited November 4, 2020 by tom2p

[Racinbob 11,045]

7 hours ago, WHX24 said:

Ewwww .... 

I tell my customers it's all junk nowadays .... just some junk better than others! It's all in the attention to detail on the install. Any furnace is only as good as the ductwork above it.

Can ya tell I'm old skool!?!? 

I very seldom sell the the high end stuff ... too many bells and whistles and more stuff to go wrong with. 

100 k sounds a little big?? You have a big house?

 My big mover is 66 k with the occasional 88 k. I find that most contractors oversize, myself included at times. Not so critical now with the popularity of  2 stage and modulating units. I am pulling out larger furnaces I installed 25 years ago and replacing them with smaller units and they walk with the place. Even at -20 outside. 

I offer "free first year oil change" with every machine I sell but then offer five years labor if they have it serviced regularly. Sometimes 10 if I am hungry and want the job.

Sound like you got a good contractor. 

I use non programmable easy to use thermostats with LARGE numbers for you old coots! 

 

Dan and I are in fer sure! We might even forgo a tractor show for that! 

Have sickle bar will travel! 

 

The house is a little over 2000 sq ft with a full heated basement. The contractor didn't do the calcs. We had a 100K input before and it seemed about right but last winter was way warmer than normal. With the slightly better efficiency this one will have about 1K higher output. I know what you mean about the bells and whistles. I don't like them either but there's not much else out there. With all the electronics on them ya gotta be real careful running them on a portable generator. The harmonic distortion can kill them. Most portables have 15-25% THD and that's a no-no for electronics. I've got one that's <5% so I should be fine. They were going to install a wi-fi stat but I nixed that. I let them go programmable cuz is a real simple one. The number size doesn't matter anymore. Remember....the eye doctor fixed them cataracts  If I don't like it I still have the even simpler non programmable. A tin knocker friend says the same thing about the ductwork. He's looked things over and says we're in good shape

 

I had a sickle bar before we moved to Florida. I had a dedicated tractor for it. I would use a short chain to hold at a 45° angle and run the paths to trim the overhanging briars. You ever do that? 

 

If I do muster up a m&g toy can bet all will be invited. 

Edited November 4, 2020 by Racinbob

[tom2p 2,394]

we have a simple programmable thermostat - it has also been a big plus

 

it replaced an old round manual model 

 

[tom2p 2,394]

my kid plugs his 3D printer into a box that is on the same circuit as the furnace / AC ...

 

does not draw much (according to him) - but I'm not especially fond of it 

 

[Pullstart 62,799]

2 hours ago, tom2p said:

my kid plugs his 3D printer into a box that is on the same circuit as the furnace / AC ...

 

does not draw much (according to him) - but I'm not especially fond of it 

 

Most any contractor will always suggest a dedicated circuit to all home appliances.  

[WHX?? 48,789]

1 hour ago, tom2p said:

same circuit as the furnace / AC

Ney Ney Jose furnace is supposed to be on its own circuit and nothing else. The big deal is if something else trips the breaker it doesn't leave you with no heat. People have been know to run freezers and what not on furnace power. Most furnaces nowadays only draw 5 amps tops ...Bob Knows 

Agreed on the gennies Bob. Wi fi stats are the latest rage here. Dan's gonna get one for a Christmas present if he wants one and does't p me off! 

 

I have a 7-1311 bar I need to get assembled and on a tractor. Trouble is I need to get a dedicated late 60's long frame for it! On the hunt for another Raider 12! 

2 hours ago, Racinbob said:

use a short chain to hole it at a 45° angle

No good idea tho! 

[WHX?? 48,789]

3 hours ago, tom2p said:

we have a similar furnace - I believe (?) - American Standard Gold Series 

Yep same furnace just a different tag, if it's a V yes will be a two stage. All late model V's will be.  

You probably have an AA 1210 or 1410 using 213 or 413 filters Tom. I sell the filters for 50 clams but can be had on the net for alot less. 

[Pullstart 62,799]

15 minutes ago, WHX24 said:

Ney Ney Jose furnace is supposed to be on its own circuit and nothing else. The big deal is if something else trips the breaker it doesn't leave you with no heat. People have been know to run freezers and what not on furnace power.

 

Also, with more technology in today’s heating appliances, funky frequencies or poor grounds in the A/C line are known to mess with the micro processors and whatnot.

[WHX?? 48,789]

5 minutes ago, pullstart said:

poor grounds

Yep just like tractors they need a good ground. The boards in them are pretty sophisticated and will tell you if you have a bad ground, reversed polarity and even if your knickers are on backwards!  

[Racinbob 11,045]

42 minutes ago, WHX24 said:

Ney Ney Jose furnace is supposed to be on its own circuit and nothing else. The big deal is if something else trips the breaker it doesn't leave you with no heat. People have been know to run freezers and what not on furnace power. Most furnaces nowadays only draw 5 amps tops ...Bob Knows 

Agreed on the gennies Bob. Wi fi stats are the latest rage here. Dan's gonna get one for a Christmas present if he wants one and does't p me off! 

 

I have a 7-1311 bar I need to get assembled and on a tractor. Trouble is I need to get a dedicated late 60's long frame for it! On the hunt for another Raider 12! 

No good idea tho! 

 

It works great Jim. I had an eyebolt on the steering tower and one on the bar. Just hold it at the angle with a chunk of chain. I always had about a 3' broken hammer handle to help guide the briars away from me if needed.

Good advice on the dedicated circuit. Not only that, it's code. Only equipment directly related to the furnace like a condensate pump, humidifier, etc. can be on the same circuit. The exhaust blower on our water heater is plugged into the same circuit. It won't be for long though. 

[Achto 27,508]

6 hours ago, WHX24 said:

Wi fi stats are the latest rage here. Dan's gonna get one for a Christmas present if he wants one

 

I set my t-stat at 66 degrees & just let it ride all winter. Not a big believer in fluctuating the temp, don't really see the benefit in playing catch up with the temp every day.

Maybe it works on a well insulated house. But when your heating a corn crib, it's a whole different ball game.

[WHX?? 48,789]

45 minutes ago, Achto said:

 

I set my t-stat at 66 degrees & just let it ride all winter. Not a big believer in fluctuating the temp, don't really see the benefit in playing catch up with the temp every day.

Maybe it works on a well insulated house. But when your heating a corn crib, it's a whole different ball game.

I just thought it would be a good way to keep Gretski from jacking it up when you ain't lookin! 

[Achto 27,508]

5 minutes ago, WHX24 said:

I just thought it would be a good way to keep Gretski from jacking it up when you ain't lookin! 

 

If a tree falls in the forest & no one is around, no one may ever know if it made a sound. Even if I'm in a different state, touch my T-stat & I'll be on the phone askin' just what the heck you think yer doin'

Edited November 5, 2020 by Achto

[Pullstart 62,799]

18 hours ago, Achto said:

 

I set my t-stat at 66 degrees & just let it ride all winter. Not a big believer in fluctuating the temp, don't really see the benefit in playing catch up with the temp every day.

Maybe it works on a well insulated house. But when your heating a corn crib, it's a whole different ball game.

Might be preachin’ to the choir, or to the wall... but it’s about delta T.  If you set your control back to say 50 when nobody is home, your furnace is overcoming a lesser temp difference between outside and inside.  Savings.  To bring it up to temp an hour before you get home, it’ll run a long cycle, more efficient than short cycling because everything is at operating temp for longer periods..

 

with that said, I have the cheapest knob t-stat possible and do the same thing... leave it be.