New England B.S. Thread

I took my truck into Lee last Summer for a servicing of the cooling system and wanted the transmission done as well. They said Toyota doesn't recommend changing the fluids at the mileage I was at, 50K. They were quoting around 100K. I was willing to pay to have this done, they've been great to work with and yet they told me not to waste my money. Yup, it's recorded on my service order.

 

I'm sure I'll run into the same thing. I just get paranoid about checking these things. Especially after going off road and going through water crossings.

 

I considered adding blown-in to our attic when we bought our current house, since the two layers of R-19 that were up there had compressed a bit and were probably only R-13. But I did some pricing research on it and found out that I could lay down the unfaced rolls of R-30 for less $$, so that's what I ended up going with instead. So now I've got probably somewhere in the neighborhood of R-56 in the attic. But, maybe the prices have come down on the blown-in stuff in the last couple of years

Thanks Murphman!
I go through an independent insurance agent who runs the numbers for me every spring to see what company will offer the best coverages for the lowest rate, but I'll make sure he checks out Markel's anyway.

Right now Progressive only costs me $100 on the nose per year for full coverage with zero deductibles, though, so they'll be a hard one to beat.

 

Here in MA you can call up MassSave and they do an energy audit on your house. Most people qualify for the blown in insulation credit and the state covers upwards of 70% of the cost for a contractor to come out and take care of it.

Granted, I priced out my house using the Lowes calculator, and it would cost about $300 to do it myself to go from approximately R-19 to R-60 (which I may end up doing), but not really sure how that would compare to the unfaced rolls. I have to cut some access holes in the closets because I don't have an attic - but seems like a good weekend project for the spring.

 

We had the energy audit done in the fall. In order for me to have them come in they want me to raise up the surface of the storage area up there in some elaborate manner. I figure if I do it that way I might as well do it all myself.

 

If you have the access, I would say stick with the lay in, unfaced insulation. That blown is stuff is great but collects dust and is a PITA if you have to do anything later on. The lay in is easier to make consistent as well and should only be as thick as the thinnest area will allow (with some exceptions). Uneven insulation can cause you problems also. To each their own, but in my opinion, I'll take lay in fiberglass insulation over blown in if the area is accessible.

 

Absolutely. If you are up there making all sorts of changes, may as well just place insulation and save the labor costs.

 

Yeah, we've got Efficiency Maine, which is basically the same thing. I didn't bother with them, though, because I already knew I wanted to add more insulation to the attic and reseal the doors, windows, outlets, etc. I got a tax credit for mine, too, but it was only 30%.

I'm always baffled when a builder doesn't leave access to an attic. Unless the house has cathedral ceilings (so obviously no attic space), it just doesn't make sense.

 

Thanks I figured it wouldn't .

 

8===D~~~~ (.)(.)

 

Seth what are you talking about???

 

Being immature

 

And really unproductive at the moment

 

I had a sealed transmission. No way am I gonna attempt that.

 

I knew what the pic was I just didn't get why you did it. One minute they are talking about home improvement and Air Bag lights the next minute your blowing a load??? Made me wonder.

 

Smiling Alien and Googly Eyes, obviously.

 

It was relevant, he was referring to dual air bags.

 

Exactly Mike

 

You mean funbags? LOL

 

Safety first obviously