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Thread ID: 59003	2005-06-18 22:36:00	Heat Pumps	rny (6943)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
365074	2005-07-09 01:05:00	Joe: Thanks for sharing that with us. I, for one, am utterly fascinated with other people's lifestyles and how they live, whether here in our own country or in other countries. You would find things to be very different here in NZ with regards to home heating as, like Steve says, people's homes are generally much colder compared to northern hemisphere homes. I think that may be due to our pioneer people who were very tough and hardy souls when they arrived from Britain, etc only a couple of hundred years ago. Apart from the wealthy people's houses most of the homes were pretty small so a couple of fireplaces was probably sufficient to keep them reasonably comfortable. We don't have centrally heated houses here and it is only in more recent times that it has been compulsory to have insulation installed in new houses. When I say "recent" the houses that my father built 30+ years ago had insulation installed but I'm not sure whether it was compulsory at that time. The standards have become much higher in more recent times, however. There is a big difference in the climate between the south and north islands with it being the coldest down the bottom of the South Island and gradually getting warmer the further north you go. In mid-summer the reverse is often the case with some pretty high temperatures being reached at times down south. The north of the North Island is almost tropical - they wouldn't really know what cold means. :p Your "mobile home" sounds interesting - it is HUGE for something supposed to be "mobile"! Our definition of mobile is something you tow behind your car to take on holiday but I can't imagine you doing that with your home very often. :p	FoxyMX (5)
365075	2005-07-09 02:17:00	Our particular mobile home arrived behind two semi tractors, what you probably call lorries or lorrys . I have a pix of one of the typical 10-wheelers that are used to transport mobile homes here . ( . peterbilt . com/index_gal_mod_desc . asp?model=model378" target="_blank">www . peterbilt . com) The set up crew arrives before the 1/2's are delivered to prep the site and make sure the utilities are going to be attachable . Then the "A" side with the heavier objects, like the refrigerator, freezer, house heater and water heater (sometimes the floorplan allows the bathrooms to also be on the "heavy" side too) is brought onto the site . Ours did not have the master bath on that side and was on the "B" half . The reason they get the heavy side in first is that it is an easier shot to get it lined up as required and then just bring the light side as close as possible to it . The set up crew will use jacks and cables to drag the lighter side to the now stationary heavy side and then they make all the necessary electrical, gas, water and heating/air conditioning cross-overs . Oh yeah, the transport wheels and axles are removed, as they are not part of the package deal . But they are available when or if you decide to move the unit again from any of the companies that transport mobiles . The whole home, now one piece, is raised up about 3 feet (a meter?) and the piers and stemwalls are put under the frame . After the wall has set, the whole thing is lowered and then is earthquake strapped . They have very large self-boring screws that are power driven into the ground at a very obtuse angle and then the cables on them are attached to the frame and drawn very tight . The whole effect really makes the home pretty bullet-proof to earth movements after that . Next is the finish work on the interior walls, and since ours are plaster and tape, that went pretty fast . I am glad to not have the old wood verneer paneling to look at . White plaster walls and ceilings are nicer . The ceiling in the highest part is over 14 feet high, and at the lowest, 10 feet . This is a single-storied home, but they are making 2 and 3 storied homes too . Carpet is then installed (I used to do this as a job many years ago) and the interior doors are rehung as they were removed at the factory for transport . Curtains/drapes are hung, all the appliances are started for the first time and electrically tested . The plumbing is pressure tested and the sewer connections are finalized/finalised . The city or county inspector arrives and walks thru and sign off the papers stating the home is ready for people and then we moved in . The old days of square ceiling to wall joints are long gone as many homes have cathedral ceilings or at least some soffeting or sculptured effects to make nice shadows and textures . We have solar skylights in the bathrooms and the kitchen . We have a 60 gallon water heater, no air conditioning other than what we affectionately call a "swamp cooler" I described in my previous post . We have not felt we ever needed air conditioning here as the area is very dry (less than 30% humidity in the dampest season) . Normally, these homes come with a full set of appliances: dishwasher, oven, stove, microwave, garbage disposal, freezer, and furniture packs . We opted out of the furniture pack as we had our own stuff we wanted anyway . Drapes and carpets are included, as are bathroom fixtures and mirrors . We have a Japanese style stand-up garden tub with pulsating water jets in the master bath and a shower, a dual pullman (twin "his-n-her's sinks), adjustable intensity lighting also throughout the house, ceiling fans in every room except the guest bath and one of the small bedrooms . Outside we have a triple carport which is just a shelter over the cars on the driveway, and a 10' x 10' storage shed for whatever I want to put in it . We are set up in a mobile home park where we don't own the land, but do own the home . I have chainlink fenced our property and we are quite cozy here on a corner lot that is a little too small for my purposes, but sufficient to make me mad when I have to mow and trim the lawn . I installed electronically timed lawn irrigation and sprinklers, and carport lighting . There is a motion sensor light at each end of the house, and the dog has the run of all the way around the property such as it is . I suppose in the course of a week she gets a few miles in for exercise, but her bark is what we wanted, not the fact that she would eat any interlopers, leaving just their shoes and belt buckle . The home is movable, but one must really WANT to move it . It costs about US$3,000 to "un-set" the home and move it and reset it up at a new location . But the distance moved is chargeable by mile and that's times 2! Each half has it's own transport charges . Our exterior is wood and we have front and rear porches . . I am at a loss for the NZ version of that word, maybe it's the same . I have exterior security lighting, yard lights thru the garden and walkways, roses that are getting about 5 foot tall, and some California Golden Poppies that are not the drug-type . :xmouth: I have a small dog that is quite blonde . . . meaning that she is a little daffy . She can't sit still for a moment . Her bloodline includes Chow and Golden Retriever . Figger that out! We are owned by a cat with a bad attitude . I cannot pet or touch her as only my wife can . Did I mention that I don't like attitudes in animals? I will let her live . . . for now! (the cat, not my wife, lol) (NO! That's not right either . . I will not harm my cat) . . but my wife is . . . . . . . now I'm in trouble . . how can I correct that statement? Let me just say that they are both welcome to live as they see fit with little or no interference from me . . OK? (Phew . . . !) Is there anyone who would like to let me in by their writing about some of their properties and lifestyles? And, now I get it! You said NZ's were tough . . yeah, sure . . but your winter is our summer . . so if you say you are out running sans clothing in the winter . . . hahahah . . . I get it! Your seasons are reversed! Gotcha! :D	SurferJoe46 (51)
365076	2005-07-09 03:02:00	Steve_L: you said: I have stayed in American homes with the central gas heating that you mention and it is a dream . But Kiwis are tough - you can see barefoot kids outside in the winter, even adults, and school boys in shorts on freezing cold days . My son had a holiday in Phoenix and walked barefoot into a 7-11 store and the manager said he had to come back with shoes the next time! It is the law that no person may enter a store that sells food without shoes, and pants (male), and shoes shirt/blouse and pants/skirt for girls . It might be because the clerks get confused seeing so much skin . . or there really is a health issue . Some areas do not permit bathing suits (costumes? costoumes? NZ?) either, and others let string bikinis in, male or female! HAH! BUT SHOES ARE NOT AN OPTION!!!! Joe, what is the cost of natural gas where you are? Is it delivered by propane tank or via piped distribution? Almost all municipalities have underground and piped natural gas here . The actual gas comes from across the country . . . like from Colorado or Texas via huge pipelines at very low pressures . If we use propane or butane (butane is not that common), it is either delivered by tank truck and your tanks get recharged (for a very steep price as they can then charge DOT taxes on it because it traveled over the streets to arrive at your place) PLUS the delivery charge or you can take the tanks yourself to a filling station (much cheaper as you are then not getting the DOT tax imposed . (DOT = department of transportation) The DOT tax can be higher than the original price of the fuel too! Right now, you can get propane for about US$1 . 40 . 9/gallon . We use the decimaled tenths of a cent here on our fuel rates . . . it breaks the tax bracket a little, but not much lower . The DOT is not supposed to be charged (by law) if the gas is to be used for cooking and heating only . But few people are aware of that law, and the delivery driver will get very angry if you deduct the fee from the bill on him . Natural (city or municipal) gas rates are about US$0 . 08/cubic foot, after the monthly fee of about US$ 9 . 50, and after you have used the allotment of the first 30 cubic feet or so in the service charge agreement . Our electricity rates vary by peak usage over a 24 hour period . If you come into the home and flip on the tv, the puter and the a/c and the 5000 watt lights in the driveway, and both the refrigerator and the freezer should decide to come on at the same instant . . . . then you get a rate for the next 24 hours calculated at that peak . Again, few people know this . . but I do! Our trash, sewage and water fees are part of the park space rent which we pay for using their land to park our home . We have 24-hour armed security, pools, spas, tennis courts, use of the three clubhouses for social and special purpoese and entertainment, streetlights, card entry security gated community, paved streets and playgrounds . We also have the use of a very large pair of trash containers (size of boxcars) that the park provides for the big stuff like trees and old furniture and stuff like that . We have free cable system (over 400 channels of tv . . yuck!) and I am using the Verizon telephone DSL system, not wanting to use the cable system for my online stuff . Phone service is subcontracted by individual owners and we have a few different choices here . We can have Verizon, Pacific Bell, Southwestern Bell or I think another baby bell called "Uncle Fletcher's Telephone and Screen Door Factory And Mobile Putty Knife Sharpening Service" . :waughh: If one is so possessed, one may type in 913 S . Grand Street, San Jacinto, California, 92582, to see the plot of land on which I reside using Googlemaps at this url (http://maps . google . com/) . Zoom in and use the map shot, not the satellite and look at the Southwest corner of Cedar and Park Streets . Then switch to the photo shot to see the house better . I am in the house that is East-West facing and you can see the white top of the carport at the upper side of my house . If you look VERY VERY closely and use a little imagination, you will see a white top of my Chevy Blazer sticking out a little to the right of the carport cover . There was at that time, no other homes next to me . There are now .	SurferJoe46 (51)
365077	2005-07-09 03:58:00	Well, isn't that magic! I just gave your house a wave.	Laura (43)
365078	2005-07-09 04:29:00	TY Laura!	SurferJoe46 (51)
365079	2005-07-09 04:39:00	Joe I'm also intrigued with your mobile homes - wayyy more elaborate than I thought - and they look very cost effective. But what puzzles me when looking at some of the house plans is what's called a utility room off the kitchen. What's that small room usually used for? [edit] I figured it out - we call it a laundry ;)	Greg (193)
365080	2005-07-09 13:47:00	Thanks for that Joe, its fascinating . Really interesting about normal life in another country . The USA is very similar to NZ but the differences made possible by population size and natural resources is staggering . Firstly, let me say how wise you are to recognise that you are owned by a cat . And fortunate as I'm sure your wife will tell you . We like cats here on PF1 - well most of us . :D Secondly, there are Californian poppies growing outside the backdoor of the house I'm in at the moment . They were brought to NZ by the 49ers - chasing the next gold rush in Otago, New Zealand . They love the climate and now grow wild in Central Otago . Very hardy plants . Until now, I thought mobile homes were trailor homes and generally lived in by white trash . You have certainly turned that perception on its head! Your home sounds wonderful . I guess things have changed . I visited folk in trailor parks 20 years ago and the houses were fairly sad . Better than tenement slums nevertheless . NZ is a temperate country, surrounded by oceans, and lies on the Roaring Forties . Lots of fresh air . It is a beautiful country and we sometimes think we have a monopoly . But Aspen, Banf, Geneva are all places of equal beauty . What we also have is a small population - 4 million all up . Very few freeways, and only in cities . Japanese tourists who flock here feel uneasy in the open uninhabited spaces of the South Island . But then you are familiar with Arizona and New Mexico where the spaces are really wide open . Love it . We don't have much natural gas or oil . Fair amount of coal but oddly enough we import it too . Our houses have pitiful insulation, even the new ones . Eg . our house is 10 years old with R3 . 5 batts (fibreglass mats) in the ceiling . The ceiling is 9mm drywall . Your ceiling insulation at R56 is 15 times better . We have a lot to learn . Our house is double glazed . This is unusual despite the fact that I live at the cold end of NZ . We don't experience the extremes of climate that can be found in the US . Winter low would be -5C and summer high 32C . There are greater extremes but these figures are a fair average . Time for bed but I'm sure there are other people here who will be happy to expand on these matters .	Winston001 (3612)
365081	2005-07-09 21:49:00	Winston: Accept my admiration as a gardener if you get old-fashioned Californian poppies (escholtzia) to grow in Invercargill - without the dryness & height they get in Central. I've tried & failed in Dunedin. Surfer Joe: Your state's flower (which came here as Winston said above ) was known to me as a kid, but not by any botanical name. We called them "Johnnie-go-to-beds". because they close up when the sun goes. It wasn't until years later that I found out their proper name - and where they ccme from. They grew wild once on the hillsides around Alexandra...a beautiful display of gold & orange. Now those hillsides have been "developed" into prime sections with flash houses whose gardens display the plants which are currently in fashion.	Laura (43)
365082	2005-07-09 22:23:00	We have a dry river bed round here (north Canterbury)where in season you find 20 k's plus of the said Cal pop,absolutely beautiful. Are you saying they won't grow in your garden or your area?seems strange!	Cicero (40)
365083	2005-07-10 00:29:00	I haver the direct opposite problem here . . . I can't get them to go away for more hardy plants . Did you ever see them reseeding themselves? They get brown husked shells where the flowers once were, and in the hot sun, they just pop and shoot seeds everywhere . . . and therein lies the problem! I have them growing out in the expansion joints in the street here, the walkway cracks and between the bricks I laid as a retaining wall for my OTHER flowers . These poppies and their also overtaking-the-lawn/grass/sidewalk/trees/cars parked overnight the cute but dangerous mint plant are now overtaking everything! It's kinda nice on one hand that when I mow the lawn I get the fresh-cut fragrence of mint thrown into my face . . . but the fact that I have mint growing right in amongst the Tall Kentucky Fescue makes me angry . Whatever you do in NZ . . . remember this . . . the island is too small for you to allow mint to germinate there . You'll all be living in a jungle of mint and the homes and slow moving older people will be covered with it . Small trucks (ok . . lorries/lorrys) will disappear overnight and (do you have kangaroos there too?) they will be lost to the green invader . BEWARE OF THE MINT PLANT! IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE! :angry	SurferJoe46 (51)
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