Official home improvement/ remodel thread.

[TK-422]

I didn't get any other quotes but their prices were on par with what others who have recently had their AC replaced.

Lennox has 11 models ranging from 13 to 26 SEER. The cost significantly rises from 20 to the 26 SEER unit. We got the one below the top model.

They have single stage, dual stage and variable speeds. We chose the variable speed.

There are 10 models of heater. We again chose the second from the top. Two stage gas heater.

The AC package we chose was $4k off plus about another $2k from buying thru Coscto and using the Costco Visa card.

We could have paid less but would have gotten less or paid more to get more. This is a high quality brand that should last for years to come.

Our old unit still worked but it was a choice to replace it now while the costs are lower than to have to replace it in the middle of summer when everyone else is doing the same. Roland Air was the contractor that did the work and everything they did was precise and well done.

 

[leftyguns21]

i don't like to start new threads when one is active and relevant...

any plumbers on here?
I have a weird issue in my master bath. my toilet and 2 sinks drip after I take a shower. the sinks drip and the toilet drips at where the water line goes in to the tank. this just started recently too, I replaced the toilet around November with all new everything and haven't had any issues until now. it doesn't last long, they all stop dripping some time later. yesterday I turned one of the sinks on full blast and it sounded like pressure relieved and stopped dripping. what would taking a shower do to cause this? or is it coincidence.

 

[BluT4R]

Not a full time plumber, got friends that are. Do you have an expansion tank near your water heater? They absorb pressure differentials in your plumbing system. They can occur anytime you open a valve else where in the house.

I do not have one on one of my water heaters and it moans and groans, and will let faucets drip from time to time.

One possibility - Gregor

Looks like this
https://www.zoro.com/flexcon-expans...MI7dHqgqm_2gIVApJpCh2KfwdZEAQYAyABEgKqYPD_BwE

 

[AKmoney]

I didn't get any other quotes but their prices were on par with what others who have recently had their AC replaced.

Lennox has 11 models ranging from 13 to 26 SEER. The cost significantly rises from 20 to the 26 SEER unit. We got the one below the top model.

They have single stage, dual stage and variable speeds. We chose the variable speed.

There are 10 models of heater. We again chose the second from the top. Two stage gas heater.

The AC package we chose was $4k off plus about another $2k from buying thru Coscto and using the Costco Visa card.

We could have paid less but would have gotten less or paid more to get more. This is a high quality brand that should last for years to come.

Our old unit still worked but it was a choice to replace it now while the costs are lower than to have to replace it in the middle of summer when everyone else is doing the same. Roland Air was the contractor that did the work and everything they did was precise and well done.

Thanks for the info. I'm in the process of gathering information for this potential project. At the moment I'm not too interested in spending extra for more efficiency. The climate's pretty mild where I live and I only tend to use the system a few weeks out of the year.

 

[TK-422]

A year ago we had our back yard landscaped in flagstone with some goodies (Look back a page). This year it was time to make the front yard match the back.

Same contractor, same materials.

 

[NewguyNY]

Hey all. I know it’s been so long most of you won’t know who I am lol.
After finishing the last house I sold it and bought a new one with new projects.
First up was a kitchen. Here are before and afters.

Before.

Now.

I did all the work myself with exception of running the propane line for the range and installing the counter top.
As it sits now the pantries are painted and stocked. I’m building the doors for them and grouting the backsplash this weekend.

 

[leftyguns21]

dumb question

i live alone and i have 3 bathrooms but i only use one. how often should i be running the water in the extras. i usually go a few weeks and when i run the sink or shower i get a lot of black soot spewing out.

 

[NewguyNY]

dumb question



i live alone and i have 3 bathrooms but i only use one. how often should i be running the water in the extras. i usually go a few weeks and when i run the sink or shower i get a lot of black soot spewing out.

I’d take that as a sign that you’re going too long between uses. I’d flush the toilets and run all the faucets and shower heads once every day until they act normal. Then back off in frequency until you see how long you can go without messing with them.

 

[leftyguns21]

thanks [MENTION=113878]NewguyNY[/MENTION] , i run them for awhile when i actually do run them. usually until i stop seeing the black soot. i feel like its a waste of water just running them to run them but i dont want to ruin them and have to replace anything either. i need to just rotate using bathrooms

 

[TK-422]

thanks [MENTION=113878]NewguyNY[/MENTION] , i run them for awhile when i actually do run them. usually until i stop seeing the black soot. i feel like its a waste of water just running them to run them but i dont want to ruin them and have to replace anything either. i need to just rotate using bathrooms

Haha I never used the shower in our guest bathroom. It's a tub/shower. I used the tub once in a while but never bothered to flip it to the shower.

A few years ago we had a guest staying over and he was in there a very long time. The valve was seized and he was using a bowl that was in there and the bathtub faucet to take his shower. We let him use our shower after we found out.

I had to cut a big hole in the drywall in our bedroom to replace the shower/bath valves from behind and re-plumb it. It is the older 3 hole hot - valve - cold system.

 

[invaderjim]

Now that's a fridge! I could live in there.

Beautiful remodel though, really like the cabinet color.

 

[leftyguns21]

leaky toilet issue, sort of.
I installed a brand new toilet in my master bath. all new hardware with a braided line. every now and then I would notice a puddle under the tank near the water supply line. I wouldn't see any evidence of water though on the line or tank and it isn't every day. today I think I may have figured it out, I was running the washing machine (it is on the back wall of my bathroom) and cleaning my bathroom so lots of water running. I could see condensation where the supply line connects to the tank, is there such a thing of "too much" water or pressure causing the leak?

 

[TK-422]

leaky toilet issue, sort of.
I installed a brand new toilet in my master bath. all new hardware with a braided line. every now and then I would notice a puddle under the tank near the water supply line. I wouldn't see any evidence of water though on the line or tank and it isn't every day. today I think I may have figured it out, I was running the washing machine (it is on the back wall of my bathroom) and cleaning my bathroom so lots of water running. I could see condensation where the supply line connects to the tank, is there such a thing of "too much" water or pressure causing the leak?

I would think more likely from your description someone is leaning against the tank and it's causing a leak between the tank and the bowl. There is usually a large o ring and three bolts with smaller o rings that with pressure applied could cause a leak. I would check that first.

 

[leftyguns21]

I would think more likely from your description someone is leaning against the tank and it's causing a leak between the tank and the bowl. There is usually a large o ring and three bolts with smaller o rings that with pressure applied could cause a leak. I would check that first.

I have one of the new design toilets, there are no bolts or rings connecting the tank to the bowl. pretty cool design actually, the bolts are on the outside now of the tank. and it uses a piston type inside so no more ball and chains inside.
the leak is most definitely coming from the water supply line on the tank side. it is a very minimal drip and only when lots of water is being ran in the house.

I think ill replace it this weekend and see if that helps

 

[leftyguns21]

replacing a toilet is easy. little messy but overall very easy. in my master bath I replaced with a bigger and taller one with better flushing. I had considered doing a bidet and looking back, I wish I did.

I replaced the water supply line and it fixed the condensation issue I was having. while I am trapped at home I replaced the water supply line in my other 2 bathrooms too. even though they are never used you should replace every 5 or so years. I also replaced the capacitor on my furnace. furnace is about 14years old and the part is only $12. took me longer to move my cleaning supplies than to actually replace the part.

next project will be to replace the plumbing underneath my kitchen sink. get all new clean pipes

 

[Ed_C]

replacing a toilet is easy. little messy but overall very easy. in my master bath I replaced with a bigger and taller one with better flushing. I had considered doing a bidet and looking back, I wish I did.

I replaced the water supply line and it fixed the condensation issue I was having. while I am trapped at home I replaced the water supply line in my other 2 bathrooms too. even though they are never used you should replace every 5 or so years. I also replaced the capacitor on my furnace. furnace is about 14years old and the part is only $12. took me longer to move my cleaning supplies than to actually replace the part.

next project will be to replace the plumbing underneath my kitchen sink. get all new clean pipes

The capacitor on my parents' central air seems to go bad every few years, but they have a protection plan for their appliances through the utility company. Might be a common issue with this certain setup because the last two guys they sent would leave the old one for the next person to service

 

[foxtrot]

We did our backyard last summer. just found this thread and figured i’d share. Found out the trees were all dying shortly after moving in, there were 32 95’+ tall cottonwoods including 5 in the neighbors yard. they bordered the entire yard, plus one directly behind the house. I did everything myself with help of some friend and neighbors, besides the concrete. was a big learning experience, and we still have a little more to do (planting some more trees/ snow plants). The trees left in the middle of the yard are: Cherry, two apple, and a pear.

Before:
Untitled by Brad Tencer, on Flickr

Untitled by Brad Tencer, on Flickr

Untitled by Brad Tencer, on Flickr

Untitled by Brad Tencer, on Flickr

Untitled by Brad Tencer, on Flickr

During:
Untitled by Brad Tencer, on Flickr

Untitled by Brad Tencer, on Flickr

Untitled by Brad Tencer, on Flickr

Untitled by Brad Tencer, on Flickr

Untitled by Brad Tencer, on Flickr

Untitled by Brad Tencer, on Flickr

Untitled by Brad Tencer, on Flickr

Untitled by Brad Tencer, on Flickr

Current/mostly finished:
IMG_0009 by Brad Tencer, on Flickr

 

[patkelly4370]

We built a barn and horse stable last summer.
Chicken coop and chickens (chicks) this week.
Next will be a greenhouse.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[Ed_C]

Some idiot kept pouring cooking oil down the kitchen drain after frying stuff instead of into a container for disposal. Wouldn't you know it, the damn sink now takes overnight to fully drain, even with drano :nono:

The "sludge" I had to clean out of the under sink plumbing looked like greasy black dirt plus layers of just straight grease, smells amazing too :dizzy:

Those pipes and elbows are PVC and was put together in several pieces so everything was totally cleaned out. Unfortunately there's still some crap clogging up the metal drain pipe going into the wall, the coat hanger I poked in there must not go deep enough so next step is a snake before calling a pro.

PS idiot wasn't me, cousin and her husband rent from me. He may be a brilliant mathematician but lacks quite a bit of common sense. He poured the drano too.

 

[leftyguns21]

Some idiot kept pouring cooking oil down the kitchen drain after frying stuff instead of into a container for disposal. Wouldn't you know it, the damn sink now takes overnight to fully drain, even with drano :nono:

The "sludge" I had to clean out of the under sink plumbing looked like greasy black dirt plus layers of just straight grease, smells amazing too :dizzy:

Those pipes and elbows are PVC and was put together in several pieces so everything was totally cleaned out. Unfortunately there's still some crap clogging up the metal drain pipe going into the wall, the coat hanger I poked in there must not go deep enough so next step is a snake before calling a pro.

PS idiot wasn't me, cousin and her husband rent from me. He may be a brilliant mathematician but lacks quite a bit of common sense. He poured the drano too.

have you tried vinegar and baking soda mixed with boiling hot water? cheap and better than draino. the baking soda cleans really well and expands once the vinegar hits it. then boiling water finishes up the job. I do this in all my bathroom drains every couple months


Natural Drain Cleaner - Vinegar and Baking Soda