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PaperclipPerfector  1mo ago (text post)   26591 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of March 30, 2026

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I haven't bothered with solar for my house, I have the grid tie already. Maybe when the roof finally gives up.

re heat pumps, if you are a modern softie who runs the heat when it gets below 60 and the ac when it gets above 80, you will see returns in a couple years IF you install it yourself. I don't even know what they cost to install because they are so easy; only the really complicated multihead setups are hard enough I would consider paying someone to do it.

CAVEAT: I would install heads in at most two rooms of a house at most, one bedroom and one office. I feel cooling your whole house defeats the purpose of the efficiency gains.

The issue is getting electrical service to the unit, and getting ahold of an hvac tech that won't rob you blind for to charge it with refrigerant.

I know they sell precharged units somehow, but I don't trust it. Seems like magic.

Precharged units have a special fitting on either end of the lineset that allows them to stay sealed, even when disconnected. There is a higher failure rate, but whether that justifies paying what I'd charge you for side work is in the eye of the beholder and it definitely doesn't justify what a company would charge you. The bigger issue is that this is almost certainly going to be manufactured by an el cheapo manufacturer, so you're not buying the highest quality unit.

Electrical service shouldn't be difficult, if you're not comfortable running power you shouldn't be doing self install.

I would caution anyone running service not for the increased chance of failure, but the increased effect of failure. You fuck up installing the split? you're out a couple thousand and need to do the call of shame.

You fuck up installing 240v? Your house might burn down/you might get to have the penny fuse experience.

Best to shadow someone/get your electrician friend to walk you through it a couple times before fucking with the kills you juice.

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