Hallowell Acadia update

OK I have not posted on my blog for a while, but I figured I'd share the results of the Hallowell heat pumps.

For the 2 month period 05-Jan-2010 to 02-Mar-2010, I used a total of 6465 killowatts, for which NYSEG charged me $746.67. So that is 373.33, for the 2 coldest months of the year.

That covers all of my electric usage - lights, appliances, plasma tv, etc, an 80 gallon electric water heater, and the Hallowell system. I keep the temperature set at 68 all day, and 65 at night (1 am to 9 am).

I am extremely happy with that. I would estimate that my electric water heater accounts for about $80 per month. The lights, appliances, plasma tv, etc I am guessing to be $100-$120. Which would leave my Hallowell heating cost at around $183 per month for Jan and Feb.

If I had been heating my house with oil (natural gas not available here), I would have to believe I would have gone through a 275 gallon tank in 3 weeks or less. Thats how much usage I had at 2 prior houses, which were half the size of the new one, but less well insulated. So lets say 13 gallons of oil, for 57 days is 746 gallons. At a price of $2.40 a gallon, that would have cost me $1792 (or $896) for the same time period.

That sounds shocking to me? Anything wrong with my math? $183 for Hallowell, $896 for oil?

Here are my actual bills:

January Bill

February Bill


UPDATE: PLEASE READ MY OTHER POSTS ABOUT THE HALLOWELL ACADIA. I'm having compressor problems like many other Hallowell Acadia Owners...

Also if you deal/install/own a Hallowell Acadia, please join the Hallowell Acadia Google Group.
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Chandelier lifts

It's a major pain to change the light bulbs on a chandelier. So I was thinking about getting a motorized chandelier lift to lower the chandelier to floor level, change the bulbs, or clean the thing, and then hoist it back up. But searching around, I got sticker shock! Those things cost around $1000, just as much as the chandelier does!!! I would never pay that much.

Then I got to thinking: I dont need a fancy motorized one, with a switch at the bottom of the foyer. Why not get a simple, manual lift, that you can crank up/down yourself, from up in the attic? Something like that must exist, and it must be much much cheaper, right?

Well I can't find one anywhere. Please leave me a comment if you do.

OK, so they make all kinds of lifts and chain hoists for mechanical equipment. Stuff that can lift a half ton, and it only costs like $139. Can't someone adapt something like this for chandeliers?

southern-tool.com hoist


GardenWeb Post

Door Handlesets, Knobs, Levers

In order to save money, i've been searching the internet, ebay, craigslist, etc for bargains.

The best bang for the buck I have found on door knobs was on eBay - The Lockset Discounters.

I bought this handleset for my front door, for $37.07 including shipping and tax.

Kwikset Arlington Antique Brass Smartkey Handle+sgl-DB
Model number: 98001-122
Collection: Arlington
Function: Handleset + Sgl Cyl Deadbolt
Finish: Antique Brass
Latch: Round Corner Adjustable
Strike: Round Corner
Packaging: Clear-Pack
New/Used: New

It says the deadbolt meets Grade 1 security standards ANSI/BHMA A156.2, whatever that means.

I searched the internet and could not find this item for less than about $77.

I will most likely buy my interior door levers there also.