We met with Rusty and the HVAC guy at noon for about 90-minutes total.
Once the HVAC guy did a walk-thru and jotted down some numbers, he thinks the original estimate was too low.
For now, the plan is to have a small unit for the basement, and either a big unit for upstairs or two medium units for proper zone coverage. If it is one big unit upstairs, he recommends a two-stage, which apparently means the motor doesn't kick into high gear unless it has to. Meaning if, for example, a thermostat timer kicks off and the temperature isn't that different from the current ambient temperature, the first stage will start up and "work less" to get the temp correct. Supposed to be more efficient.
And apparently higher seer ratings means more money, yet more efficiency. HVAC Man estimates the price difference would pay for itself in 5-6 years.
Mr. HVAC sells/services/recommends American Standard. They have Silver, Gold, and Platinum lines. He was not too hip to the Nest thermostats. Maybe it's an incompatibility issue, maybe he just doesn't know anything about them. But he did say they the thermostats that would come with ours are programmable, touchscreen, and all that. Perhaps more importantly, though, they extend the warranty of the systems. He thought from 5- to 10-years.
Aside from all that, some of the plumbing has already gone in. Mainly some of the white conduit, so nothing copper yet from what I can tell. And the master bath tub is here, as are both shower inserts (boys' bathroom and downstairs bathroom). They are supposed to be roughed in by the end of the day.
We also had to pick out where the hose bibs had to go. Look it up. I had to. Then get disappointed at what they are. Bibs? Nah.
As we were leaving, Rusty asked about the color of metal on the roof, so I think the shingles and metal will be going up in the next couple of weeks.
Obviously the roof means Rusty and his team will not be victim to the weather. And with the rain we have had already this year, I can only imagine May will bring a lot. The roof should be on just in time.
(Then we can move in, right?)
