New England 2025 Warm Season Banter

[SJonesWX]

54 minutes ago, powderfreak said:

We’ve been seeing a ton of bear break-ins around Stowe.  They are getting into vehicles and even homes (all by opening doors).  I wish I could post videos… there’s two ring camera scenes of bears walking up to front doors in Stowe and just turning the handle and walking inside.

They have mastered car doors with an incredible efficiency.  7 cars got broken into last night in a condo complex.

The most startling one was at a local hotel, a bear broke into a car by opening the door, but then the door shut behind him.  Locking him in the vehicle.  The front desk got calls at 2am about a horn honking outside in the parking lot.

They find a bear in there honking but it absolutely totaled the vehicle on the inside.  He was trying to remove the door panels to get out.  They ended up popping the trunk and it barely got over the back seat and out.

 

 

 

ummm, holy shit!

[Damage In Tolland]

1 hour ago, powderfreak said:

We’ve been seeing a ton of bear break-ins around Stowe.  They are getting into vehicles and even homes (all by opening doors).  I wish I could post videos… there’s two ring camera scenes of bears walking up to front doors in Stowe and just turning the handle and walking inside.

They have mastered car doors with an incredible efficiency.  7 cars got broken into last night in a condo complex.

The most startling one was at a local hotel, a bear broke into a car by opening the door, but then the door shut behind him.  Locking him in the vehicle.  The front desk got calls at 2am about a horn honking outside in the parking lot.

They find a bear in there honking but it absolutely totaled the vehicle on the inside.  He was trying to remove the door panels to get out.  They ended up popping the trunk and it barely got over the back seat and out.

 

 

 

Are these people dressed up in bear costumes? 

[powderfreak]

1 minute ago, Damage In Tolland said:

Are these people dressed up in bear costumes? 

“Man dressed in bear costume locks himself in vehicle, then destroys it” would be a much more catching story .

[tamarack]

1 hour ago, powderfreak said:

“Man dressed in bear costume locks himself in vehicle, then destroys it” would be a much more catching story .

That car looks worse than one from which Customs dismantled to find all of the 100kg of meth.

[dendrite]

2 hours ago, Damage In Tolland said:

Are these people dressed up in bear costumes? 

[radarman]

RIP Gary England

Met him more than once.  Legend.

https://www.oklahoman.com/story/entertainment/2025/06/10/friday-night-in-the-big-town-oklahomas-master-meteorologist-gary-england-dies-at-85/84115807007/

 

[DavisStraight]

10 hours ago, powderfreak said:

We’ve been seeing a ton of bear break-ins around Stowe.  They are getting into vehicles and even homes (all by opening doors).  I wish I could post videos… there’s two ring camera scenes of bears walking up to front doors in Stowe and just turning the handle and walking inside.

They have mastered car doors with an incredible efficiency.  7 cars got broken into last night in a condo complex.

The most startling one was at a local hotel, a bear broke into a car by opening the door, but then the door shut behind him.  Locking him in the vehicle.  The front desk got calls at 2am about a horn honking outside in the parking lot.

They find a bear in there honking but it absolutely totaled the vehicle on the inside.  He was trying to remove the door panels to get out.  They ended up popping the trunk and it barely got over the back seat and out.

 

 

 

Are the doors unlocked when they get in or are they able to get in anyway?

[MarkO]

On 5/11/2025 at 9:29 PM, bristolri_wx said:

I need to pick up some window air conditioners this season.  Unhappy with a GE unit I purchased last year.  What brands/models are folks having success with that last more than two or three seasons?  As much as I like to do things to help the environment, these high efficiency window units don't last like the units from the "good ole days".  And before you ask - can't afford mini-splits... yet...

Installing AC units is a PITA. Have you thought about a mini-split? I installed one for heat because my solar panels are overproducing, but it is so much better than window units and wasn't too difficult to install. I went with a Mr. Cool. 

[MarkO]

On 5/14/2025 at 5:45 AM, BrianW said:

Yeah. They are outstanding units that behave like a mini split. We have some of the most expensive electricty in the US in New England. Anyone not running one of these is just throwing money to Eversource. 

I don't think people realize how  expensive electricty in New England is compared to the US. 

Top 5 most expensive according to the EIA monthly data..

Hawaii .4269

Connecticut .3325

RI .3307

California .3166

MA .3044

https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_5_6_a

A traditional window AC unit just cycles the compressor on and off at full speed at like 800 watts. They usually end up running non-stop at like 800 watts when that much cooling power is often not necessary.

These Midea U are using variable speed dc fans and compressor. They  can throttle the compressor down to as low as like 150 watts and run up to max at the exact cooling load for the room. They are also like 10 times quieter at low speed. I

100%! I got so fed up with my monthly bill ageraging $230, I gave in, cut some trees and went with solar. If you do go with solar, buy it outright, and oversize it. It will take 6 years to pay for itself. I have a 7 pitch rear roof (30º) that's 10 degrees west of due south, so almost ideal, but I still have neighbors trees that affect my production, especially in October. 

Since my installation, my meter has been on the positive side of 0 for a few months, but I'm currently at 99,335, and I'm at $295 in credit according to my last bill. If I can accurately calculate how much to use for heat, I shouldn't have another electric bill for as long as I live here. 

[mreaves]

53 minutes ago, MarkO said:

Installing AC units is a PITA. Have you thought about a mini-split? I installed one for heat because my solar panels are overproducing, but it is so much better than window units and wasn't too difficult to install. I went with a Mr. Cool. 

Did you have an electrician wire a line for it?

[Brewbeer]

2 hours ago, MarkO said:

go with solar, buy it outright, and oversize it. It will take 6 years to pay for itself.

this.  did this 8 years ago, haven't paid an electric bill in 8 years, currently have a $1k credit with Eversource and it is peak generating season and the ACs still aren't installed yet 

 

 

 

[MarkO]

16 hours ago, mreaves said:

Did you have an electrician wire a line for it?

I used the existing wire from my former electric hot water tank. It happened to be the exact gauge I needed. Wiring isn't very difficult. You can youtube just about anything.

[MarkO]

15 hours ago, Brewbeer said:

this.  did this 8 years ago, haven't paid an electric bill in 8 years, currently have a $1k credit with Eversource and it is peak generating season and the ACs still aren't installed yet 

 

 

 

I've also noticed the solar panels keep my roof cooler, so it's a win/win. I'm only at $295 credit on my latest bill, but that will probably increase by a few more hundred come September.