What's Something on the Internet that Saved Your Day?

I was watering the plants Saturday night and noticed a strange "buzz/click" coming from the A/C. I didn't even realize something was wrong, as the furnace blower was working, and the house was cooler than outside. Yeah, no cold air.

Quick look online, and more than one source called it the "death buzz". Well, an emergency service call was out of the question, and with temps forecast to be in the 90's F this week, I was slightly concerned. More research and almost all attributed it to a bad capacitor.

Well, I found Home Depot carries them, so after a multimeter test confirmed the issue, replaced the capacitor. Then I decided that while it's off, I'll tear the dang thing apart to clean it, which was overdue. After putting everything back together, working like a charm.

I'm willing to bet that $25 part would have easily been a $400 service call. The internet can be a junkyard, but man, it sure saved me this time.

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MsSwan

They wanted $3500 to replace the blower motor, and my husband went online and found one for $150. Replaced it himself.

BrewCityBarFly · M

@MsSwan Good job. If one is willing to take the time and effort there is money to be saved.

Ontheroad · M

Same here - you tube has saved me many times when the inevitable something goes wrong at home.

My last save wasn't an emergency, but it did save me about $700 on a 4280kWh emergency power backup system. I was able to build one that cost about $700-$900 less than one I could buy.

BrewCityBarFly · M

@Ontheroad Nice work. I looked into building a backup power system run off solar panels. The back of my house faces south, so sun is not too much of an issue, and for the rare times I would use it...

Do you need to run the system once in a while to drain off the batteries?

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@BrewCityBarFly No, you don't use such a system only occasionally.

Usually, such a system is designed to augment the mains supply, and some even sell "surplus" electricity back via that, but whether so connected or independent, you keep it running all the time even when you are not drawing current from it.

You never "drain off" batteries. You keep at least some charge in them, though different battery types have their own charge/discharge needs and characteristics; and some types are damaged by full discharge.

RebelRaven · 51-55, F

YouTube is awesome, Hayes Manual on video. Video cook book, video how to just about anything. Plus being able to watch old music videos is great.

I love paying all my bills while still in bed.

BrewCityBarFly · M

@RebelRaven Ah, the old days would have been going through my old Time Life DIY or Better Homes books. Or going down a musical history rabbit hole.

Oh yeah, can't beat online banking. I was worried about a recent transaction double charging me. Well, the charge and reversal notifications were in my inbox by the time I got home.

GoFish · 41-45, F

yay education ftw 😅 was it a youtube info video?

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GoFish · 41-45, F

@BrewCityBarFly oh nice .. we had our ac worked on by a local guy at our old house.. we just have a wall unit now.. but he saved us lots of money too just charging us a minimal feel

BrewCityBarFly · M

@GoFish It's great when you find someone you can rely on. We had a place in my previous home that was expensive and could be adversarial when it came to warranty work. Found out our neighbor worked in HVAC and started using his place. They were awesome. Still using them in this place.

GoFish · 41-45, F

@BrewCityBarFly ah nice we just have a window unit now.. nobody bothers working on those.. sigh our previous brick house had central air

EldritchFox

They probably would of charged you $800 where I live for a weekend call. I used to install HVAC systems and it's not that complicated. You just saved yourself a lot of money.

BrewCityBarFly · M

@EldritchFox For sure. I call that cost avoidance. It doesn't add money to your pocket, but it keeps money in your pocket. Being able to do these things can certainly avoid spending extra for things one can do themselves (with the right tools and knowledge).

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