Most liked posts in thread: Winter's here...

Page 2 of 4
  1. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
    25,021
    13,497
    113
    Burbs of Philly, PA
    Ratings:
    +14,644 / 10 / -4
    #22 Dave.0, Dec 29, 2016
    I was in SoCal for work a few years back and it was a dry 119 outside and I was freezing inside because they had the AC at 85. I was going outside to warm up. Dry heat is no big deal you just have to drink water. At the same time it was 80 here is PA with 90% humidity and we must have the A/C on or your sweating like you are in a shower all day long.


    Your are never really cold unless you look like this.....
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Savvy

    Savvy Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    Apr 16, 2010
    6,832
    2,011
    113
    Mechanical Engineer/DA Civilian
    DE
    Ratings:
    +2,024 / 0 / -0
    #23 Savvy, Dec 29, 2016
    Last edited: Dec 29, 2016
    Well, it is kind of a delayed Christmas miracle... but I finally have a supplemental heat source for the house. Thankfully, before the really bitter cold gets here.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I ordered it after I sold my Bug, back in October. But it took being a R-PITA, to get the natural gas run to the house before the end of the year. It should certainly help to offset the oil fired boiler expenses, while keeping the house a bit more comfortable.
     
  3. DneprDave

    DneprDave Well-Known Member
    Supporting Member

    Oct 23, 2010
    2,959
    1,505
    113
    Engineer
    Pacific NW
    Ratings:
    +1,731 / 0 / -0
    #24 DneprDave, Dec 30, 2016
    Does it have a remote control to start it?
     
  4. Savvy

    Savvy Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    Apr 16, 2010
    6,832
    2,011
    113
    Mechanical Engineer/DA Civilian
    DE
    Ratings:
    +2,024 / 0 / -0
    #25 Savvy, Dec 30, 2016
    Last edited: Jan 1, 2017
    It does. A fairly intense remote at that. Has 6 flame settings. Twelve if you count the back burner being on or off. Six fan speeds. Six accent lighting levels. Full manual control, thermostat mode, or a smart thermostat mode. The smart mode will throttle the flame level based upon how close to the set temp the room gets.

    [​IMG]
     
  5. caseydog

    caseydog Well-Known Member

    Nov 7, 2012
    2,433
    879
    113
    Automotive Photographer
    Dallas
    Ratings:
    +1,059 / 1 / -0
    #26 caseydog, Dec 30, 2016
    Last edited: Dec 30, 2016
    Savvy, I have gas logs in my regular fireplace. I hope yours draws intake air from outside. Mine doesn't, and if I use it a lot, my utility bills go way up. The fireplace sucks too much heated air out of the house. Between the gas my fireplace burns, and the gas my furnaces burn, I'm better off not using the fireplace, by a significant amount.

    Yours looks like a closed system. The key is to draw intake air from outside.

    Now that you have gas running to your house, you might want to do a cost analysis for switching your boiler to natural gas. NG is dirt cheap now, and should be for a long time. NG is one commodity where supply and demand is on our side as consumers.

    CD
     
  6. Savvy

    Savvy Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    Apr 16, 2010
    6,832
    2,011
    113
    Mechanical Engineer/DA Civilian
    DE
    Ratings:
    +2,024 / 0 / -0
    #27 Savvy, Dec 30, 2016
    Yeah. It's a sealed insert. 3" intake tube, 4" exhaust out. Both run in the chimney. And I plan on switching over to a NG boiler... when the current one dies. Or at least after I get my windows replaced next year.
     
  7. caseydog

    caseydog Well-Known Member

    Nov 7, 2012
    2,433
    879
    113
    Automotive Photographer
    Dallas
    Ratings:
    +1,059 / 1 / -0
    #28 caseydog, Dec 30, 2016
    The return on investment (ROI) on good replacement windows may take a while, although the "feel good" factor is high -- as in, I feel good even though it is 15-degrees outside. Definitely worth doing.

    I tend to think the ROI on a boiler change is faster, depending on whether or not you have to dispose of your old oil tank.

    As for timing, watch tax legislation like a hawk. The federal tax benefits to making energy saving upgrades may change radically over the next year or two. Maybe not, but I'm not seeing "saving energy" as a high priority in the near future.

    In my mind, saving energy = saving money. So, I tend to be a "tree-hugger" on the energy saving front. I like to save money. Hey, my car is a blast to drive, and gets 30 MPG.

    CD
     
  8. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
    25,021
    13,497
    113
    Burbs of Philly, PA
    Ratings:
    +14,644 / 10 / -4
    #29 Dave.0, Dec 30, 2016
    If your getting 30 mpg you are driving too slow. :lol:

    Please stay in the far right lane with the Minivans, SUV's and old people. :lol::lol::lol:
     
  9. DneprDave

    DneprDave Well-Known Member
    Supporting Member

    Oct 23, 2010
    2,959
    1,505
    113
    Engineer
    Pacific NW
    Ratings:
    +1,731 / 0 / -0
    #30 DneprDave, Dec 31, 2016
    If Caseydog is getting 30 mpg, it's because he has a series two MINI. They get 30 mpg because the engine management system is improved over the series one MINIs, even when driving them hard.
     
  10. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
    25,021
    13,497
    113
    Burbs of Philly, PA
    Ratings:
    +14,644 / 10 / -4
    #31 Dave.0, Dec 31, 2016
    I drive by smile with the peddle to the floor. I am the engine management system because it's more FUN that way.


    So by improved you really mean boring. :ihih:
     
  11. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
    25,021
    13,497
    113
    Burbs of Philly, PA
    Ratings:
    +14,644 / 10 / -4
    #32 Dave.0, Dec 31, 2016
    Btw this is what real winter looks like.
     

    Attached Files:

  12. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

    Jun 4, 2009
    19,445
    10,057
    113
    Retired old fart
    Hooterville Ohio USA
    Ratings:
    +11,698 / 2 / -0
    #33 Crashton, Dec 31, 2016
    Mileage wasn't bad on my R53 maybe 30 mpg on a highway with the cruise set & 26 mpg around town. When on track I got 8.5 mpg. :D
     
  13. caseydog

    caseydog Well-Known Member

    Nov 7, 2012
    2,433
    879
    113
    Automotive Photographer
    Dallas
    Ratings:
    +1,059 / 1 / -0
    #34 caseydog, Jan 5, 2017
    Well, our week of winter is upon us. It only got to 36 today, and tomorrow's high is forecast to be 28. That may even qualify as cold for Dave.0, so I won't be a baby if I don't like it.

    I'm thinking I've got to drive the MINI tomorrow. I don't think heat soak will be an issue. It will give me happy memories when it is 105 degrees in six months.

    CD
     
  14. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
    25,021
    13,497
    113
    Burbs of Philly, PA
    Ratings:
    +14,644 / 10 / -4
    #35 Dave.0, Jan 5, 2017
    It's 28 right now and snowing here.
     
  15. whaap

    whaap New Member

    Jan 10, 2014
    515
    313
    0
    retired
    Tucson, Arizona
    Ratings:
    +313 / 0 / -0
    #36 whaap, Jan 5, 2017
    Tomorrow the 60's and then we'll have to put up with several days in the 70's. I guess someone has to do it! :biggrin5:
     
  16. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    Dec 22, 2009
    5,639
    4,592
    113
    Male
    Overland Park, Ks
    Ratings:
    +5,184 / 1 / -0
    #37 Minidave, Jan 5, 2017
    We'll be -4 tonight......
     
  17. caseydog

    caseydog Well-Known Member

    Nov 7, 2012
    2,433
    879
    113
    Automotive Photographer
    Dallas
    Ratings:
    +1,059 / 1 / -0
    #38 caseydog, Jan 5, 2017
    Psycho-poodle hates cold. He came in from the 26-degree backyard, sat down in front of the fireplace, and gave me the hairy eyeball. Soooo, I lit a fire in the fireplace for my dog. He's loving it.

    Spoiled rotten.

    CD
     
  18. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

    Jun 4, 2009
    19,445
    10,057
    113
    Retired old fart
    Hooterville Ohio USA
    Ratings:
    +11,698 / 2 / -0
    #39 Crashton, Jan 6, 2017
    It was a balmy 5 degrees this morning at the old farts home. We got some snow yesterday, not enough for the JCW snowblower. But enough for an old fart with a snow shovel. :shovel:
     
  19. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

    Mar 30, 2009
    25,144
    10,052
    113
    Writer
    Short North
    Ratings:
    +10,069 / 0 / -0
    #40 Nathan, Jan 6, 2017
    Yeah, it's dang cold out!
     
  20. caseydog

    caseydog Well-Known Member

    Nov 7, 2012
    2,433
    879
    113
    Automotive Photographer
    Dallas
    Ratings:
    +1,059 / 1 / -0
    #41 caseydog, Jan 6, 2017
    Soooo, it's the coldest day of the year, so what just has to happen? Any guesses?

    It has something to do with a home HVAC system. :mad2:

    Parts have been ordered. The furnace should be running like a champ by Tuesday... when the forecast calls for a high of 73 degrees. :incazzato:

    At least my house has two HVAC systems. Looks like I'm sleeping upstairs tonight.

    CD
     
Page 2 of 4