KAOS

4 hours ago, mappy said:

 

Moved this to banter as to not clog obs. It is my understanding that we do have a fan that often runs when the AC is not putting out cold air. I could be wrong however lol 

but yes at the moment we can’t turn the ac off, at least I don’t think do. Not that we would right now. I could be confused. I know we can’t turn on the heat, that I remember the hvac guy saying. 

Crap... I think I posted in the wrong thread. It sounds like you could be confused. Anyway, just trying to help out. That's the way we roll in the dena. I'll leave this here...

https://www.cooltoday.com/blog/on-vs.-auto-which-thermostat-setting-is-better-for-your-home

19 minutes ago, mappy said:

Correct, it cycles at it should, fan runs when the ac isn't pumping out cold air. if we were to turn it off though, we wouldn't be able to turn it back on lol HVAC guy never made it out today, but we are managing.

Down to 56% in the house now, much nicer than it was this morning. Was cloudy for most the day so that helped. 

Are you saying that the furnace (indoor) fan runs even when the AC (outdoor) is not "pumping out cold air"? And why if you turned it off would you not be able to turn it back on? Forgive me if this was already discussed. Assuming the fan is running while the AC is not pumping out cold air, that alone will cause high levels of humidity. The fan needs to cycle with the AC. This gives time for the condensation to run down the indoor coil and drain out of the condensate line. Otherwise you are just re-circulating most the humidity in your house.

Can't help but feeling like I have been short pumped.

While I did not get jacked IMBY... there was quite a bit of thunder, some lightning and brief gusts. Not impressed.

Rumbling to the west... this is the new air mass incoming.

8 minutes ago, Eskimo Joe said:

New SVR to our west.

Not surprising given the lackluster activity. The old nasty air is still in place.

sunny rain with thunder to my east... totally missed my area. like it developed over the bay.

big wind

2 hours ago, losetoa6 said:

Yea ...I treat builder's or General contractors differently then directly with homeowners as I've been hooked several times in 20 years of business . I've only been snubbed once by a homeowner. Truthfully majority (99%) of my customers are referred to me by there friends family or neighbors so everyone knows each other so less chance of bring stiffed.  Thus ...are very good about paying on time vs builder's stretching me out to 30-45 days . Most homeowner jobs I ask for nothing upfront ( large jobs 15%)and draws of 60%+ extras  at rough in completion and 40% at final . Builders usually I do 15% /45%/20%/20%. Last couple years I do mainly service calls anyway ( 1 hour ,1/2 day jobs ) quick in and out and not laying out much $ upfront anyway)

A lot of GC's will say paid when paid... which means you get paid when they get paid (supposedly). This means if there are outstanding issues as it relates to any portion (plumbing, hvac, painting, etc.) of the entire project, you could potentially wait quite a while to get paid. Referrals obviously are best being somewhat "vetted" by previous customers.

29 minutes ago, Stormfly said:

I've never had to give money up front.  Even on a $23,000 roofing job.  I've had some ask for % up front and I pass on that.

Roofers though, lots of skeevy crap going on!  Some just present collaterals and take advantage of people that know nothing about roofs, take five grand up front and the next day they're posting ads on Craigslist looking for people that can use air nailers and lift shingles!  And then go to a supply house and buy shingles.  And rent a dumpster if it's a tear off (which it SHOULD be!).

The upfront money is meant to take care of initial expenses for larger projects like wiring an entire house. Certainly not asking for anything upfront as it relates to "service calls". Basically just want to cover the cost of permits and materials. A roof is different, in a lot of instances it is a one day job... in and out. Not really hiring people on Craiglist for an electrical project which requires not only a licensed contractor but a workforce that has the education and are certified to do the work of a real electrician (journeyman, etc.). So I am not sure that is a fair comparison?

9 hours ago, losetoa6 said:

That surely wouldn't get the relationship off on the right foot imo. ( the $50 a day penalty) . I've been in Construction for almost 30 years and never have I heard of that . I'd probably walk away as a electrical contractor if a customer suggested that to be very honest.  ( or if you do maybe give them a 2 week buffer then have a penalty if you want)There so many things out of the GCs control that can alter the timeline.( his subs, weather, illness , unexpected stuff, etc etc) . Especially a large Job.  Instead check him out really good and talk to previous customers if possible.  As far as any delays to the GCs fault I would instead modify the draw schedule in your favor.  Example...instead of him only being owed 10% at the end maybe make it 30% . 

Just my 2 cents 

Good luck 

Number 1 thing to do imo is constantly communicate with them as the job goes along . That's key . Once communication gets sketchy.  That's a red flag . This the single #1 complaint I hear from my customers about other contractors. 

By law I think any remodel job the GC can ask for 1/3 up front . I actually don't like that . I would want at least materials delivered on site before I cut someone a check for $1,000s . As a electrical contractor I've never taken a third upfront before any work was preformed.  Occasionally I'll ask for 10-15% on large jobs  . But maybe I'm the minority 

30% up front. 30% upon completion of rough-in and inspection. 30% upon completion of trim out. The remainder (10%) upon final inspection. I am not a finance company. I do not want to be in the hole if the customer/homeowner is a deadbeat. I can justify a loss in my profit, but surely don't want to go in the hole if the customers decides not to pay. This is subject to change if not dealing directly with the homeowner and is instead sub contracted through a general contractor.

In the commercial realm this is avoided by creating a schedule of values and billing is based off of those values.

Couple of gusts in the last few minutes. Though I have no doubt it will increase. We do well with wind.... except in the summer when it's hot and humid. Then there is not a breeze to be found. I have really enjoyed the last three days of what seems to be non-stop rain (sarcasm). Cold rain is something we excel at as well. Hard to imagine three days of snow that isn't pixie dust.

The entire winter has been a disaster here in Pasadena. All I've had is a slop mess and piles of puddles this year. I've never heard my sump pump run so frequently in the 15 years I have been in this particular house. Like 5 minute intervals.

39.1128° N, 76.5590° W

On 2/18/2021 at 7:14 PM, SomeguyfromTakomaPark said:

Since I don’t know what anyone looks like I always just picture people as their avatars.  Like I don’t even know what some people’s avatars actually are but they become the image of that particular poster. So you basically are Beethoven in my mind. 

As I said before... I picture them as their username.

Here is PSU...

I'm calling this The "Shoot me in the Head" storm.

I made the mistake of going into the Mid-Atlantic Winter 2020-21 Snow Totals thread... Total buzzkill.

Clearly Japan is still secretly pissed off about hiroshima and consequently stealing our snow.

And of course the bullseye is DC.

10 minutes ago, Bob Chill said:

Does anybody really care about anyone's snow climo beyond their own yard? I sure don't. Never understood why people care when areas to our north or south get hit and we fail. It snows all over the globe 12 months a year non stop. Any place outside of my yard is all the same to me irt snow. Nonexistent. Areas of Japan get buried 5 stories deep. Places like that is where we should be envious. Certainly not Scranton. Lol

https://www.internations.org/go/moving-to-japan

2 hours ago, MN Transplant said:

It was grabbing the burger from last week.

Maybe this could be a naming convention of sorts for storms.

The "Nothing Burger" Storm

The "Crab Claw" Storm

etc.

Just now, CAPE said:

Who is drinking what?

This is banter and it is Friday and it is HH.

I am having a latte.

Sierra Nevada Torpedo

17 minutes ago, TL97 said:

The crab claw got us here in DC

The claw is real...

And H20..

etc....

1 hour ago, SomeguyfromTakomaPark said:

Since I don’t know what anyone looks like I always just picture people as their avatars.  Like I don’t even know what some people’s avatars actually are but they become the image of that particular poster. So you basically are Beethoven in my mind. 

Right... So I have a bias to picture people as their username. As an example, here is mappy...