Home Repairs/HoneyDo List/Advice & Tips/etc.

[MD Buckeye]

I've been sitting on a Giani granite kit for over a year now....just because I don't want it to turn out stupid.

I don't think you'll be disappointed. My in-laws just did their countertops as well with the Marble kit & it looks great. Go for it.

 

[jebussmurf]

I don't know much about HVAC systems. I live in a condo and the HVAC unit is in the wall. Sometimes, when I turn on the air conditioner, I can hear water draining. I know that the condenser will produce water and I'm hoping that what I'm hearing is water draining properly and not leaking onto my ceiling. How can I check? The only thing I can see when I open the panel on the HVAC is an electrical panel and a way to replace the air filter. I'd rather not cut a hole in my ceiling just to check my paranoia (I've had other water leaks in my ceiling so I'm a bit sensitive to this issue), so any advice would be appreciated.

 

[bigdog3300]

I don't know much about HVAC systems. I live in a condo and the HVAC unit is in the wall. Sometimes, when I turn on the air conditioner, I can hear water draining. I know that the condenser will produce water and I'm hoping that what I'm hearing is water draining properly and not leaking onto my ceiling. How can I check? The only thing I can see when I open the panel on the HVAC is an electrical panel and a way to replace the air filter. I'd rather not cut a hole in my ceiling just to check my paranoia (I've had other water leaks in my ceiling so I'm a bit sensitive to this issue), so any advice would be appreciated.

It's likely just the condensation line you hear dripping but is there a panel where you can see the A coil? I had a problem recently where my A coil was filthy and causing it to freeze up which is no bueno.

If you were getting a decent leak onto your ceiling you'd see it start to stain quickly (assuming it's drywall and not plaster)

 

[jebussmurf]

It's likely just the condensation line you hear dripping but is there a panel where you can see the A coil? I had a problem recently where my A coil was filthy and causing it to freeze up which is no bueno.

If you were getting a decent leak onto your ceiling you'd see it start to stain quickly (assuming it's drywall and not plaster)

There's no staining which is why I feel I'm being paranoid. I don't see many panels in the system so I don't think I can see the A coil. I guess I'll just keep checking for stains and hope nothing clogged. Thanks for the response!

 

[buckeyebri]

There's no staining which is why I feel I'm being paranoid. I don't see many panels in the system so I don't think I can see the A coil. I guess I'll just keep checking for stains and hope nothing clogged. Thanks for the response!

Don't you have a Condo Association maintenance group you can call? I always thought that was one of the benefits of buying a condo????

 

[buckeyebri]

Anyone have any experience with water softener systems that you install yourself versus a system from Hague or Kinetico? I have installed one in the past when I had City water in Indy (and yes, you needed one still). My mom lives in Richland County and has well water and as like most of Ohio it is pretty hard and has iron in it. It is not doing a very good job with the iron anymore. Her current system is a Kinetico which is about 30 years old. Hague came out and looked at the system and said it would be about $1500 to replace with one of theirs. I could install a pretty high end GE or Whirlpool for about $500 myself. Any know if these other systems are worth the extra?

 

[Thump]

I have a Kinetico with a chlorinator and it wasn't cheap. Not sure those store bought ones can handle much hardness or iron content.

 

[Zippercat]

Anyone have any experience with water softener systems that you install yourself versus a system from Hague or Kinetico? I have installed one in the past when I had City water in Indy (and yes, you needed one still). My mom lives in Richland County and has well water and as like most of Ohio it is pretty hard and has iron in it. It is not doing a very good job with the iron anymore. Her current system is a Kinetico which is about 30 years old. Hague came out and looked at the system and said it would be about $1500 to replace with one of theirs. I could install a pretty high end GE or Whirlpool for about $500 myself. Any know if these other systems are worth the extra?

Had several different self-installed water softners over nearly 30 years at house on east side of greater Cleveland with VERY hard, high iron content water well. Best one by a large margin was Water Boss. Easy to install, low maintenance and best of all of them at iron removal. My Water Boss lasted over 10 years and was going strong when I sold the house. I heard the buyer's well inspector tell them that he thought the Water Boss was best on market. I believe they're now sold by Home Depot (mine came from Lowes, who no longer sells them).

 

[scarletmike]

Toilet fill valve on the guest bathroom toilet started constantly running last night just before I went to bed, and after a few quick adjustments and checks turned off the water to fix it this morning. I start taking the top of the valve apart to flush it out, and sure enough that is the culprit, a few pieces of debris stuck at the top of the valve. Of course, it wasn't going to be as simple as pop off the top, pop it back on. Oh no, couldn't be that simple. You see, the fill valve in the toilets are these pieces of crap, that for some inexplicable reason has a 2-part float that comes apart ridiculously easily. The top part raises a bit from the bottom "cup" triggering it to shut off, and while I was flushing out the valve it floated completely out of the bottom part of the float. This required me to take it completely out of the tank to get it back together and seated properly. Way too much work for what should be a really simple fix. There was lots of cursing, of course.

 

[Dryden]

Toilet fill valve on the guest bathroom toilet started constantly running last night just before I went to bed, and after a few quick adjustments and checks turned off the water to fix it this morning. I start taking the top of the valve apart to flush it out, and sure enough that is the culprit, a few pieces of debris stuck at the top of the valve. Of course, it wasn't going to be as simple as pop off the top, pop it back on. Oh no, couldn't be that simple. You see, the fill valve in the toilets are these pieces of crap, that for some inexplicable reason has a 2-part float that comes apart ridiculously easily. The top part raises a bit from the bottom "cup" triggering it to shut off, and while I was flushing out the valve it floated completely out of the bottom part of the float. This required me to take it completely out of the tank to get it back together and seated properly. Way too much work for what should be a really simple fix. There was lots of cursing, of course.

I just buy the bulk contractor packs from Lowes and completely replace the valves about every 7 or 8 years. My free time is too valuable to me to waste it fixing $8 parts that aren't designed to be user serviceable.

 

[AirForceBuck15]

Dayton Power and Light (DP&L) recently had a promotion with rebates to upgrade to a Nest 3rd generation smart learning thermostat (regularly $249, I paid $142) and I jumped on the deal because my thermostat was non-programmable. I have always been proactive in turning the old thermostat down, up or off if I was away from home for any period of time but I have always been interested in the learning aspect of Nest and of course the phone app functions. I discussed it with a local HVAC company and they said my all electric heat pump system was compatible with nest and it should be an easy install. I don't like messing with electrical but with a little help over the phone with the HVAC company I was able to install it successfully and so far I am happy with it. I don't think I will notice much of a savings because I was always so proactive but I hope with time I think I will be the most happy the learning aspect of it. I also think the app is nice to monitor the temp and humidity in the home when I am away and I will likely purchase the Nest smoke detector at some point which connects to the thermostat and app also.

 

[LostLassie]

Bought a new shower attachment that I wanted to install. I've done these before--easy breezy, right? Not so much.

Our bathroom was rehabed two years ago, so the current shower head is new. BUT, the I($*&$&$ POS WILL NOT turn for me. I've tried spraying into the threads with WD, I tried using a rubber jar gripper under the wrench, I even tried pouring boiling water over it, thinking the same principle that works for stuck jar lids might apply. Nothing.

I don't own a crescent wrench, but I'm not sure the investment would be worth it. Is that likely to help? Or, did I just waste my $$ on the new attachment?

Probably should be posting in the Pet Peeves thread, since they half-assed so much of the work they did here, but boy, puttin' on the shower head the stupid S.O.B.s apparently welded it.

(No. I do not deal well with frustration, especially of the being defied by inanimate objects variety.)

 

[Thump]

Bought a new shower attachment that I wanted to install. I've done these before--easy breezy, right? Not so much.

Our bathroom was rehabed two years ago, so the current shower head is new. BUT, the I($*&$&$ POS WILL NOT turn for me. I've tried spraying into the threads with WD, I tried using a rubber jar gripper under the wrench, I even tried pouring boiling water over it, thinking the same principle that works for stuck jar lids might apply. Nothing.

I don't own a crescent wrench, but I'm not sure the investment would be worth it. Is that likely to help? Or, did I just waste my $$ on the new attachment?

Probably should be posting in the Pet Peeves thread, since they half-assed so much of the work they did here, but boy, puttin' on the shower head the stupid S.O.B.s apparently welded it.

(No. I do not deal well with frustration, especially of the being defied by inanimate objects variety.)

Are they threaded differently?

Meaning does one have wider gaps between threads than another?

 

[LostLassie]

Are they threaded differently?

Meaning does one have wider gaps between threads than another?

? Are you asking about the replacement part? Because, it's the old shower head I can't budge. Although, it wouldn't surprise me if the bozos who did the work here mismatched the threads on the pipe and the nozzle.

I'm going to try the baggie & white vinegar soak, just in case there is some corrosion. Shouldn't be, in less than three years, but who knows.
I guess as a last resort I'll go buy a cheap adjustable wrench so I can really get a grip on it.

I hate things that don't work.

 

[The KSB]

Bought a new shower attachment that I wanted to install. I've done these before--easy breezy, right? Not so much.

Our bathroom was rehabed two years ago, so the current shower head is new. BUT, the I($*&$&$ POS WILL NOT turn for me. I've tried spraying into the threads with WD, I tried using a rubber jar gripper under the wrench, I even tried pouring boiling water over it, thinking the same principle that works for stuck jar lids might apply. Nothing.

I don't own a crescent wrench, but I'm not sure the investment would be worth it. Is that likely to help? Or, did I just waste my $$ on the new attachment?

Probably should be posting in the Pet Peeves thread, since they half-assed so much of the work they did here, but boy, puttin' on the shower head the stupid S.O.B.s apparently welded it.

(No. I do not deal well with frustration, especially of the being defied by inanimate objects variety.)

Without being there to see it it's hard to recommend a course of action. Judging by your lack of tools I don't know that I'd recommend getting a pipe wrench without a little instruction. There are a plethora of YouTube videos that will show you how to do it. Just watch a couple of those. If you're feeling confident after that either swing by harbor freight for an inexpensive pipe wrench or see if you have a friend that can lend you one. Here's a link to harbor freight. an 8" pipe wrench is $4. https://www.harborfreight.com/8-inch-steel-pipe-wrench-39641.html