Home Improvement Thread

Postby **meow** » Mon Dec 04, 2017 9:15 pm

The can light in our shower is acting up. You flip the switch and sometimes it comes on right away. Sometimes it takes two minutes. Sometimes it doesn’t turn on at all. Sometimes it turns on for a second then turns out. I’m a terrible electrician. What is a guess about what my problem is here. Bad switch?

Postby **mac5155** » Mon Dec 04, 2017 9:38 pm

My guess is being that it's a bathroom light the can may not have been UL rated and the moisture has gotten to it.

Postby **meow** » Mon Dec 04, 2017 9:45 pm

It doesn't seem like it. There is a gasket inside that is still in good shape. No corrosion or anything

Postby **robbiestoupe** » Tue Dec 05, 2017 8:51 am

Is there a ballast with the light? Could be the ballast.

Postby **mac5155** » Mon Dec 11, 2017 5:04 pm

So we were told that the area that we are building in is a low pressure water area. Couple that with the fact that our house is nearly 700 feet off the road and up a grade, we were told that we will most likely have low water pressure. To alleviate that, I put in 2" water lines but still only a 3/4" meter socket - mainly due to the increased cost associated with a 1" meter. We were also told that we could install a pressure booster system in the basement to boost pressure. Does anyone have one of these, and are they relatively inexpensive? I think I'd be happy with anything > $1,000.

Postby **nocera** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 7:19 pm

What’s the best (and quickest/cheapest) way to insulate an old/poorly installed door? Living room is freezing thanks to the front door.

Postby **Nuge** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 7:48 pm

Anyone here have vinyl flooring? Seems like the perfect floor to put in my basement. I'm trying to figure out what (if any) type of underlayment to use with it.

Postby **mac5155** » Wed Dec 13, 2017 9:47 pm

What’s the best (and quickest/cheapest) way to insulate an old/poorly installed door? Living room is freezing thanks to the front door.

Around the jamb or the bottom? They make kits to do either.

Postby **mac5155** » Wed Dec 13, 2017 9:47 pm

Anyone here have vinyl flooring? Seems like the perfect floor to put in my basement. I'm trying to figure out what (if any) type of underlayment to use with it.

I did peel n stick tile in the bathroom over the old stuff.

Postby **AuthorTony** » Wed Dec 13, 2017 10:05 pm

Any feedback on Harbor Freight tools? This winter I'd like to install tongue and groove pine on the bedroom ceilings so I'm in the market for an air compressor and nailer. Their prices are great, of course, but is the quality/durability awful?

Postby **Silentom** » Wed Dec 13, 2017 10:12 pm

The way I look at is, how often am I going to use it? For home reno stuff, I'd say it's fine.

A professional contractor avoids it, though.

Postby **NTP66** » Thu Dec 14, 2017 7:28 am

What Tom said. If you think there's a chance you'll use the compressor for other tasks, like changing the wheels on your car, get a better compressor. I have this 6g Porter Cable, and love it.

Postby **mac5155** » Thu Dec 14, 2017 1:41 pm

Any feedback on Harbor Freight tools? This winter I'd like to install tongue and groove pine on the bedroom ceilings so I'm in the market for an air compressor and nailer. Their prices are great, of course, but is the quality/durability awful?

https://m.lowes.com/pd/Bostitch-6-Gallo ... d/50396512

Grab a $40 off $200 coupon from slick deals. I have this set and it is great.

Postby **Juice** » Thu Dec 14, 2017 2:21 pm

So we were told that the area that we are building in is a low pressure water area. Couple that with the fact that our house is nearly 700 feet off the road and up a grade, we were told that we will most likely have low water pressure. To alleviate that, I put in 2" water lines but still only a 3/4" meter socket - mainly due to the increased cost associated with a 1" meter. We were also told that we could install a pressure booster system in the basement to boost pressure. Does anyone have one of these, and are they relatively inexpensive? I think I'd be happy with anything > $1,000.

I don't think a 2" line does anything except deliver more volume...? Please tell me you didn't put 2" water lines for 700ft where you could have used 3/4 or 1"

Postby **mac5155** » Thu Dec 14, 2017 3:20 pm

So we were told that the area that we are building in is a low pressure water area. Couple that with the fact that our house is nearly 700 feet off the road and up a grade, we were told that we will most likely have low water pressure. To alleviate that, I put in 2" water lines but still only a 3/4" meter socket - mainly due to the increased cost associated with a 1" meter. We were also told that we could install a pressure booster system in the basement to boost pressure. Does anyone have one of these, and are they relatively inexpensive? I think I'd be happy with anything > $1,000.
I don't think a 2" line does anything except deliver more volume...? Please tell me you didn't put 2" water lines for 700ft where you could have used 3/4 or 1"

Correct... More volume. I was hoping the 2 inch line would help with volume issues when multiple fixtures are on.

Edit
I should add, I didn't do 2 inch line because of the low pressure. I planned on doing 2 inch for volume reasons as I would like to expand at some point with an outbuilding or two.

Postby **CBear3** » Thu Dec 14, 2017 3:51 pm

Any feedback on Harbor Freight tools? This winter I'd like to install tongue and groove pine on the bedroom ceilings so I'm in the market for an air compressor and nailer. Their prices are great, of course, but is the quality/durability awful?

How close is your Harbor Freight, and do you mind returning product in the middle of your job?
We used a set of HF pneumatic metal snips building the "racecar." We went through three of them just cutting sheet metal for the dash and some assorted covers. They accepted them with a smile and handed us a brand new pair every time, but at an hour round trip it doubled the time it should have taken to do the job.

Postby **AuthorTony** » Thu Dec 14, 2017 4:22 pm

Thanks for the feedback, everyone! I really like that set up mac posted and think I'll go with that rather than rolling the dice with HF, especially since the price difference isn't dramatic.

Postby **robbiestoupe** » Thu Dec 14, 2017 4:55 pm

So we were told that the area that we are building in is a low pressure water area. Couple that with the fact that our house is nearly 700 feet off the road and up a grade, we were told that we will most likely have low water pressure. To alleviate that, I put in 2" water lines but still only a 3/4" meter socket - mainly due to the increased cost associated with a 1" meter. We were also told that we could install a pressure booster system in the basement to boost pressure. Does anyone have one of these, and are they relatively inexpensive? I think I'd be happy with anything > $1,000.
I don't think a 2" line does anything except deliver more volume...? Please tell me you didn't put 2" water lines for 700ft where you could have used 3/4 or 1"
Correct... More volume. I was hoping the 2 inch line would help with volume issues when multiple fixtures are on.

Edit
I should add, I didn't do 2 inch line because of the low pressure. I planned on doing 2 inch for volume reasons as I would like to expand at some point with an outbuilding or two.

Hate to say this, but that 2" line will do nothing for you. Once the water hits the 3/4 metered line, you're now getting max flow on a 3/4" pipe.

Unless you're talking about expanding before the meter and adding a second meter, then by all means.

Postby **mac5155** » Thu Dec 14, 2017 5:04 pm

The 2 inch line will supply more volume of water, no?

Postby **robbiestoupe** » Thu Dec 14, 2017 7:10 pm

It will up until it is choked down at the 3/4 line.

Postby **mac5155** » Thu Dec 14, 2017 7:24 pm

It will up until it is choked down at the 3/4 line.

Oh, right... The 3/4 is the meter at the road. There's like 60psi at the road

Postby **robbiestoupe** » Thu Dec 14, 2017 8:31 pm

Gotcha. Still, having a 2" line doesn't really gain you much. You will still be regulating that down to 40-45 psi at some point. Which goes back to your original issue. If the water at the meter is 60 psi, and you have a 700 ft run to your house, as long as that run is relatively straight, you won't lose too much pressure.

Now, are you worried about low flow or low pressure? I'm guessing low pressure. If that's the case, you should be fine.

Postby **mac5155** » Thu Dec 14, 2017 8:52 pm

I want to be able to shower while the wife's washing clothes and not notice a difference. And also enough to run to an out building

The water authority is the one that suggested a 2 inch line. I just took them at face value. It was a few hundred dollar upgrade... Nothing in the grand scheme.

Postby **robbiestoupe** » Thu Dec 14, 2017 11:03 pm

I guess it's not a bad idea. You effectively have a 700 ft x 2" reservoir.

Postby **mac5155** » Thu Dec 14, 2017 11:12 pm

That was my thought also.