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 Costs & Planning Guides, Home Palais

What a new heating and cooling system costs by type and by size, how heat pumps compare with a furnace and AC, and how to read an HVAC quote.

Read the guide
  1. Project library

    Residential Solar Costs & Guides, Home Palais

    What residential solar costs per watt in 2026, now that the federal credit has ended, how panel types compare, and how to read a solar quote.
  2. Project library

    Plumbing Costs & Planning Guides, Home Palais

    What a whole-house repipe costs per fixture, how PEX compares with copper and CPVC, and how to read a plumbing quote. Independent guides, no lead forms.
  3. Project library

    Electrical Costs & Planning Guides, Home Palais

    What rewiring a house costs per square foot, what a panel upgrade adds, and how to read an electrical quote. Independent guides, no lead forms.
  4. Project library

    Home Warranty Guides & Comparisons, Home Palais

    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 Guides & Comparisons, Home Palais

    What a home security system really costs to own, the terms that decide the monthly bill, and how the major DIY systems compare.
  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