wahleyed

@NathanBarga @TylerHilliard @slye @energysmartwv No sorry - the x post was from Andy in Louisville, KY, where he was being told he needed a hybrid set up. I believe that’s what he wound up purchasing.

@wahleyed @TylerHilliard @slye @energysmartwv Kentucky was never mentioned. Tyler is in Boston. Did you forget you said Lakewood CO?

Most HVAC contractors in America are trying to keep you in the 1990s. I had $15,000 cash to spend on a cold-climate heat pump. Nearly every contractor I contacted tried to talk me out of it or over-quote me an outrageous amount to deter me away. One guy spent 20 minutes explaining why variable-speed heat pumps are a scam. Another literally said he wouldn’t put one in his own house. Why? My guess: 1) They are ignorant of the latest technology 2) They don’t have the training to install/service the new systems 3) Their pockets get filled from big box old school HVAC manufacturers if they sell them Unfortunately, a new HVAC for most homeowners is very urgent so these contractors use this time crunch to overcharge or upsell inferior systems. Luckily, I bought a couple of $130 window AC units to hold me over for 2 weeks while I reached out to 15+ contractors. I received quotes ranging from $10,000 to over $24,000. Only 2 of the quotes included a modern cold-climate heat pump. After price matching and negotiations, I ultimately chose a Daikin Aurora Fit cold-climate inverter heat pump + 97% modulating gas furnace (true dual-fuel setup) Total cost after rebates = $13,000 This system usually goes for around $20,000. Here are the key takeaways I wish I had known before I started shopping: 1. Always demand a real Manual J load calculation. Don’t settle for a “rule of thumb” or register count. I had 3 different contractors give me 3 different sizes until one actually ran proper software. 2. True variable-speed inverter technology is worth it especially in a multi-level home. It runs longer at lower speeds, gives much better dehumidification, smoother temperatures, and is noticeably quieter. 3. Dual-fuel (heat pump + high-efficiency gas furnace) is often the smartest move in mixed climates (like my home in Louisville). The heat pump handles most of the year efficiently while the furnace only kicks in on the coldest days (if necessary) 4. Shop aggressively and negotiate hard. Buy yourself some time with some temporary/portable units. I got competing quotes and used them to drive the price down significantly. 5. Duct sealing, correct sizing/tonnage, and proper installation matter more than most people realize especially in older homes. 6. Have a detailed checklist to vet each contractor. An extremely helpful guide I had throughout the process was from @energysmartwv So why did I insist on cold climate heat pump? • Way better temperature balance upstairs (even without zoning) • Excellent dehumidification in humid summers • Significantly quieter operation • I’m expecting to save $60/month on electricity • Less reliance on gas and possibly eliminating the need altogether Modern cold-climate heat pumps are no longer experimental. They’re one of the smartest upgrades most homeowners can make right now. Do your homework to make sure you are getting the best system possible for your home. Don’t let old school contractors keep you in the past. Have you installed (or considered) a heat pump in a cold or mixed climate? Were the contractors helpful or did they try to talk you out of it?

@NathanBarga @TylerHilliard @slye @energysmartwv You literally said it was impossible that my system would work - it’s clearly not impossible. Never had a hiccup. And we’re talking about Louisville KY and their ‘extreme’ weather, right?

@wahleyed @TylerHilliard @slye @energysmartwv 18 yrs HVAC, 28 yrs electro-mechanical technician, BSME, EPA, ICC, even NATE. Installed and serviced 1000s of systems, 100s of heat pumps. My anecdotal experience uses BTU/h, Therms, kW/hrs, CFMs, AFUE, SEER, & inWC. Yours is "My house does fine".

@NathanBarga @TylerHilliard @slye @energysmartwv Same.

@wahleyed @TylerHilliard @slye @energysmartwv Right. Installed the Mitsubishi (h2i). Have been working with them since 2020. Even with the tighter homes that were built new, when temps got to sub-zero, even they couldn't keep up. And they are the best I've worked with. Stop trying to use your anecdotal experience as a rule.

@NathanBarga @TylerHilliard @slye @energysmartwv Sorry - in Lakewood Colorado.

@NathanBarga @TylerHilliard @slye @energysmartwv Wrong. 4 year old Mitsubishi HP - no heat strips, or gas back up - and zero problems the whole 4 year period. Stop trying to freak people out.

@mattyglesias That’s why I bought an ev instead. Why lug around a gas engine I’ll almost never use? The range on ev’s is plenty - even when I bought mine in 2018.

@Super70sSports One gum wrapper and the game of backseat basketball could begin.

I remember when adults smoked so fucking much they had to put ashtrays in car seats and we all thought it was perfectly normal.

@Noahpinion @YankeeGehrig4 @kimmyjongeats As someone who uses Tesla’s full self driving everyday, on an older hardware version (HW3 as they say), you need to experience it. They are figuring this out while others aren’t paying attention. I haven’t been in a Waymo - but they seem to be behind - certainly not in front.

@YankeeGehrig4 @kimmyjongeats Oh I will.

If Tesla doesn't win the robotaxi race, I think it's cooked.

@Teslarati Not sure what I’d do with it? The annoying chores don’t take that long - what about all the rest of the time? Maybe others have a lot more laundry than me…

🤖 If Optimus were available to purchase in 2026, would you buy one and have it assist you in your house and on your property?

@AlexiLalas Ha! He imagines he’s asked a difficult question.

In what way?

@wholemars Thought experiments are fun! You don’t even need to look at the large volume of data and studies to see actual effects of policy - you can cut to the chase and just say what you want to say.

The minimum wage makes any job worth less than the minimum wage illegal. If there was no downside to raising it, why not just raise the minimum wage to $1 million a year? Because it makes a job that’s only worth $200,000 a year illegal. Suppose a software salesman is able to generate $300,000 in sales for a company per year. Paying them $200,000 a year is still a good deal for the company, because they make $100,000 in profit. If the law says they must be paid $1 million a year, the company will lose $700,000 a year hiring them — so they won’t be hired at all. A higher minimum wage may raise the paycheck of those who have a job, but it will reduce the number of jobs available and increase unemployment. Labor is also a component of that cost of pretty much anything. Suppose McDonalds pays a worker $20 an hour, and they can make 20 burgers in an hour. McDonalds can sell the burgers for $2 and cover the cost of ingredients and labor. Now suppose the minimum wage is raised to $40 an hour. McDonalds can sell 20 burgers at $2 each and generate $40 to cover the labor, but they still have to pay for ingredients so they will lose money on every burger sold. If they lose money on every burger sold, they will go out of business. So they must raise prices to $4 a burger or more. The employee’s $20 an hour salary previously allowed them to buy 10 burgers for an hour of work. Now at the higher salary of $40 an hour, they can afford… 10 burgers for an hour of work. The prices went up, but they can’t actually buy anything more than they could before. You just caused inflation. Nothing hurts the poor more than economic illiteracy. People like this guy who think they are helping by setting a price floor on labor, but are actually causing more unemployment, hardship, and inflation if the price floor is set at a restrictive level. If you really want to help the poor, you have to understand how the economy works.

@Super70sSports Glancing at a nut and picking the right socket - 1st try.

What is your best talent? Could be curing cancer, could be Tetris. I’m not asking for importance. Just … what are you better at than anything else you do?

@roberttwomey00 @Super70sSports My first favorite Bronco.

Name a Denver Bronco. I’ll start:

@Christophmc1 @Super70sSports And on Monday nights, aka Rick Carlos! 😂

@Super70sSports Rich Karlis

@JustinWolfers They’re all wrestling to see who winds up under the bus.

Lutnick says he's relying on Bessent to get a deal done with China, but on Sunday Bessent said he didn't know whether or how often Trump has been calling Chinese President Xi, and Trump said he's calling, but Xi said he's not getting through. Is anyone working on this?

@gfun_eth @JoePompliano And scurried his out of there as fast as he could when Guzman got up. Typical.

@JoePompliano Suarez is the best at antagonizing the oposition.

This is a wild angle of the Brad Guzan shove from last night’s MLS match

@Gfilche Economics will get in the way. The policies Trump is promising will kill growth: mass deportations, tariffs, deficit expansion (tax cuts and spending increases).

@wholemars Have the feds ever had a formal statement on private launches? I didn't think so. It was cool, and covered by all the MSM, but if your schtick is butt hurt - lean in!

President Biden today issued the following statement congratulating SpaceX on today’s Starship launch:

@wholemars Obviously, its hard to prove a "but for Elon's tweets/image" Tesla sales would be higher, but anectdotaly I'd bet all of us Tesla owners and fans hear about it or get asked about getting over the idea of 'giving' Elon money. Looking backward at sales also doesn't prove anything.

This is why other EVs are selling. Because they are making deals at liquidation pricing. The narrative is that everyone hates Elon Musk’s tweets. But the reality is basic market forces like pricing are far stronger than politics

@IowaTeslaGuy @DBurkland @Tesla @Tesla_AI I'm so ready...use it everyday....

@DBurkland @Tesla @Tesla_AI

So happy to come home and see FSD v12.5 downloading on our HW3 Model Y Performance. So long wheel nag, you won’t be missed! @Tesla ⁦@Tesla_AI⁩