New Windows

Milgard_logoA Couple weeks ago, we had new Milgard windows installed on our house. The windows that were in the house were standard, 1978, double glazed, aluminum windows. They weren’t terrible, but they weren’t great either. A couple had popped seals (moisture inside), and they would grow mold on the frames from condensation. While we fully realize that window upgrades RARELY pay for themselves in terms of energy savings, we did hate the mold and look of the other windows (plus the fact some had blown seals), we did go ahead and make the purchase1.

While the install took all day, the result after the fact has been great. The windows LOOK much better, and I’m fairly certain my allergies have been better (mold removal is always good). For my own interest sake, I’ve compiled info on the windows that you can  (if you care to) see here (PDF download). Information is mainly for my sake, and includes model of the window, size, features, and most importantly U-Value (inverse of R-value), SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient), and VT (Visual Transmittance) info.

Otherwise, this post is pretty much at an end (for now).

  1. plus, our utility company offers a 0% 5 year loan to cover tho costs []

A quick note about Heat pumps

xl15iLast week, I had my yearly service performed on my heat pump system. They come out and clean the coils, and check everything to make sure it’s working. This year, though, the tech said there was something questionable, in that the subcool was too high, and that there seemed to be too big a temperature change on each side of the liquid line filter drier (LLFD). So, they suggested a service tech come out, and take a look. Fine, though I wasn’t looking forward to the cost.

Knowing resources are out there, I posted on the hvac-talk forums here, and got some opinions before the tech came out. Alas, the useful bit I didn’t get until after the tech came out. The key bit being: you can’t accurately measure subcool and superheat when the heat pump is in heating mode. So if your maintenance people tell you the subheat or subcool are off, and it’s 40°F out, and your house is being heated, you can PROBABLY ignore them. Obviously if they’re WAY off, it could mean something, but by and large, they’re only relavant in cooling mode. That is all. =)

Add a valve to your fridge water!

We bought our house 5 years ago now, and have replaced all the terrible floor surfaces except the kitchen. This was largely due to lack of options, and also the fact that we didn’t like the idea of cold, hard, tile. I personally think hardwood in the kitchen is a bad idea (dings, divits, water damage, etc), and carpet is obviously right out. When, about 3 months ago, my wife found modern “luxury” peel and stick, grout-able, tile (Lowes page) she suddenly got very interested in replacing the flooring. The current floor was an “orange” rock looking sheet vinyl from the late 70′s, and had since become impossible to clean.

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