Systems editor

Theo Ramsay

Writes the HVAC, plumbing, electrical and solar guides. Sizing first, permits second, payback third; the cheapest system quoted is rarely the cheapest system to run.

How this desk works

How Theo Ramsay costs a project

Mechanical work is where the quote and the invoice diverge most often, usually because the system was sized to the catalog instead of the house. Theo tracks what right-sizing costs up front, what a permit and inspection add, and how long a premium takes to come back on a utility bill. Payback periods here are stated in years, not in marketing language.

Every figure published under this byline is an indicative national bracket, reviewed against the sources listed in our How we price.

Published guides

Written by Theo Ramsay

Project library

HVAC System Replacement: Types, Sizing, Lifespan

Furnace and AC, heat pump, mini-split or geothermal: how each HVAC system works, how a load calculation sizes it, when to replace it and who to hire.

Read the guide
  1. Project library

    Solar Panels for Home: Types, Sizing and Lifespan

    How home solar panels work, which panel type suits your roof, how to size a system from your bills, and what permits, interconnection and upkeep involve.
  2. Project library

    Repiping a House: PEX, Copper, CPVC and Signs

    When a house needs repiping, how PEX, copper and CPVC compare on lifespan, trunk or manifold layouts, permits, and what happens on each day of the job.
  3. Project library

    Rewiring a House: Warning Signs, Scopes and Codes

    When a house needs rewiring, partial or full scope, knob-and-tube and aluminum wiring, panel capacity, permits, and how the work runs room by room.
  4. Project library

    Home Warranty: What It Covers and How It Works

    What a home warranty covers and what it never does, the terms that decide a claim, and how the major contracts compare.
  5. Project library

    Home Security Systems: How to Choose One

    How home security systems work, monitored or self-monitored, sensors or cameras, the plan terms to read and how to pick a provider.
  6. Cost guide

    How Much Does a New HVAC System Cost in 2026?

    What a heating and cooling system costs per ton and per house, by system type and quality tier, plus the ductwork and electrical lines that move a quote.
  7. Cost guide

    How Much Does Solar Cost in 2026?

    What residential solar costs per watt and per system in 2026, by panel type and quality tier, and what a battery or a service upgrade adds.
  8. Cost guide

    How Much Does It Cost to Repipe a House in 2026?

    What a whole-house repipe costs per fixture and per house, by pipe material and quality tier, plus the drywall and access lines that move a quote.
  9. Cost guide

    How Much Does It Cost to Rewire a House in 2026?

    What rewiring costs per square foot and per house, by scope and quality tier, plus what a 200 amp panel upgrade and the drywall repair add.
  10. Brand comparison

    American Home Shield vs Choice Home Warranty 2026

    The two contracts compared on what decides a claim: coverage caps, service call fees, what each plan excludes and where each one is sold.
  11. Brand comparison

    SimpliSafe vs Ring Alarm 2026: Which DIY System

    The two DIY systems compared on what decides the bill: monitoring tiers, what professional dispatch costs, contract terms and equipment.

The beat

Project libraries Theo Ramsay covers

Open the cost calculator