Chester Suggests An Installers List For Homeowners
March 29, 2008
Hi Boyd,
I think the AskBoyd page looks good. I think in time this thing ought to fly! My thoughts are future videos of poor workmanship and/or proper installation examples of certain phases of installing a system could be neat. (I loved the video of the fan capacitor just hanging, LOL).
Perhaps a list of installers that would assist homeowners in their area could slowly be developed. This list may have to be incognito to protect them from their peers, LOL! If and when you want, I would be happy to talk to the guy that helped me with my system and see if he would be available to help out homeowner’s in the Little Rock / Conway / Greenbrier / Maumelle area with an installation.
Take Care,
Chester in Little Rock
How to Install a Thermostat
March 28, 2008
Installing your own thermostat is easy!
In just a few easy steps you can install a brand new thermostat.
Thermostat Installation Instructions
Always read the manufacturer’s installation instructions prior to installing your thermostat. Manufacturer’s installation instructions might differ slightly for each model. Here are the basic steps:
1. Turn off the power supply to the thermostat. The power supply is usually located on the furnace as an on/off switch. If you can’t find it, turn off the power to the furnace at the home circuit panel inside the fuse box.
Cindy Like The Podcasts
March 23, 2008
Dear Boyd,
I applaud you for your website. I wish I could have seen this a long time ago. It would have helped us make better decisions about our air conditioning system. I was told later by another more honest contractor that I had been terribly lied to and overcharged. I know there are good and bad contractors of every kind out there.
I am sure that the good contractors appreciate your site and applaud it like me. I am equally sure that you get all kinds of negative comments and maybe even attacks from the contractors who are guilty of some of the very things you warn homeowners about at your site. As far as I am concerned those contractors who attack you are just waving their “I am a bad contractor, don’t do business with me” flag.
Keep it up. You are doing a good thing for people and families and I plan to share your site with all of my friends, coworkers and family.
Knowledge is always power for the consumer as you say on your podcasts.
Cindy from Georgia
The Lifetime Warranty Claim
March 19, 2008
The Lifetime Warranty Claim
So you are shopping for a new heating and air conditioning system? You have spent hours researching the internet, calling local dealers and asking family and friend for opinion and now you are more confused then ever. That’s ok. You should be doing the due diligence necessary to make sure you are doing the right thing. HVAC, even in the best of circumstances is expensive and not something we ever really plan on dealing with. It is usually a crisis management issue.
Do It Yourself Guide
March 19, 2008
If you’re tired of avoiding the long list of household repairs that haunt you, but don’t have the cash to pay for a professional, you’re in the right place!
If you are ready to begin knocking those weekend warrior fix-it projects off your list, you have just hit the nail on the head!
If you’re finally prepared to bring your home back up to code, it’s time to put on that tool belt and start hammering!
If you want to learn how to increase the resale of your home by thousands of dollars with simple and quick repairs you can do yourself, welcome to the workshop!
Find out more about this Handyman Guide Here
Contractor Dave Speaks Out
March 19, 2008
Boyd, that is impressive.
Your website reflects the attitude I have toward customers. If they want to do it, or help, then they should be allowed to.
I really do like the website and the way it is set up. It’s very easy to navigate. I watched one of the videos as well - good stuff.
As far as I can see, your website will be pushing customers my way by the process of elimination, so thank you!
The hourly pricing for installation you were talking about sounds good to me, I do that on a regular basis.
The light at the end of the tunnel has become brighter.
Dave – HVAC Contractor - Illinois
Michelle Likes The Honesty
March 18, 2008
Dear Boyd
I went to your www.askboyd.com website, totally cool. We civilians are at the mercy of the “experts” and I know I’ve been had on more than a few occasions. We got our air ducts cleaned for $800. Our house is big, 3700 sq ft, but I’m told that was a rip off.
Our dryer stopped heating, come to find out there was a birds nest in the vent to the outside. That was $500 because there were 2 bends in the vent. They saw me coming.
I applaud your stance on justice and honesty. You should be a link from consumer reports or something.
Michelle in Texas
Radiant Heating Book
March 18, 2008
Dear Home Owner:
You are thinking about getting radiant heating in your home. You’ve heard the pros & cons. Everybody you talk to has an opinion and a horror story.
Where can you find all the information you need to make a good decision, in one place, at a great price, without the pressure of a salesman breathing down your neck?
Programmable Thermostats
March 18, 2008
VisionPRO® Thermostats - Maximum Comfort Made Effortless
Honeywell’s VisionPRO® 8000 is effortless to use. Its intuitive logic and menu-driven programming respond to your choices and schedule for optimal comfort and energy savings. VisionPRO offers you top-of-the-line features like touchscreen interaction, a real-time clock and a large, easy-to-read backlit display.
If you want your home to feel as comfortable as it looks, then VisionPRO is the thermostat for you. You’ll enjoy the convenience, energy savings and consistent comfort for years to come.
Do-It-Yourself Thermostats
March 18, 2008
Lucky you. A hundred years ago, rich folks needed servants to rise before dawn and stoke the furnace so the house would be warm when the family got up. Now, you can adjust your home’s heating and cooling while you sleep with a programmable thermostat. It’s affordable, automatic, saves money and, unlike servants, it won’t quaff your cooking sherry or elope with the chauffeur.
It Yourself or Hire a Pro?
A heating contractor will charge between $150 and $225 to remove an existing thermostat and install a new programmable unit. A homeowner with basic electrical skills can do the job for $60 to $120, depending on the cost of the thermostat. The job should take a less then a couple of hours.
