Home Improvement Thread

Post by **Dickie Dunn** » Tue Nov 30, 2021 10:16 am

NTP66 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 30, 2021 10:03 am
Dickie Dunn wrote: ↑Tue Nov 30, 2021 10:01 am We actually went ahead with solar and had panels installed last week. Will overproduce to 115% of our current electrical needs, 26% federal tax rebate, whatever the hell the state tax rebates are, market rate for selling back to Penn Power, and locked in at the same price as our current electric bill. Too good to pass up.

We also have a comparatively small system as the back of our house gets hammered with direct sun and all of our panels are on the back roof and aren’t visible from the street. If it was a situation where we would have random solar panels all over the roof I would probably want a better deal.
Tesla or somebody else? And did you get batteries?

Palmetto. Guy in our development is a sales guy so he’s been working the neighborhood. No batteries. From everyone I looked at that seems to be a Tesla only thing. My parents neighbor got Tesla panels and a powerwall and have maintenance workers there once a week. No idea what’s going on with it.

Post by **NTP66** » Tue Nov 30, 2021 10:16 am

Yeah, I read a lot of bad stuff about Tesla panels, which turned me off again.

Post by **count2infinity** » Tue Nov 30, 2021 10:39 am

count2infinity wrote: ↑Tue Nov 30, 2021 10:05 am After my long ordeal with getting a front door, they're finally here on this snowy morning doing the install...

Cant wait to be done with this. The old door is currently out and they're installing the new one as I type this.

Uh oh... I can overhear them talking. "Well, there's nothing we can do... we can't put the old door on, it's all beat up." To be continued.

Post by **NTP66** » Tue Nov 30, 2021 10:40 am

wtf kinda janky door do you have, c2i?

Post by **dodint** » Tue Nov 30, 2021 10:43 am

count2infinity wrote: ↑Tue Nov 30, 2021 10:39 am "Well, there's nothing we can do... we can't put the old door on, it's all beat up." To be continued.

Post by **count2infinity** » Tue Nov 30, 2021 10:50 am

So the rough opening of the door frame area is about an inch short of standard size. The door company had to cut the door 1" shorter to make it fit into the the area. We also shelled out the extra cash to allow the sidelights to open up and vent since we wanted the ability to vent the front door without a screen door. When the door company cut the sidelights, I'm guessing they did it at the very end after the whole thing was installed, and they must have cut the 1" from the wrong side because the 3 locking mechanisms to keep the sidelights closed are all off by 1". They can't lock. So we're going to have to wedge the sidelights shut until the door company can make new sidelights with the locking mechanisms in the correct location.

Not a super big issue, just a PITA.

Post by **willeyeam** » Tue Nov 30, 2021 6:15 pm

on the detached garage reno - gonna need a new door (not a garage door, just the entry door). old one is metal and rusty, just needs replaced. 90% of the ones I'm seeing are prehung - which seems like a huge pain and undertaking to take out the old frame and do this.. any issues with buying the slab doors that aren't pre-hung and using the old framing?

Post by **meow** » Tue Nov 30, 2021 6:18 pm

c2i has a door guy

Post by **NTP66** » Tue Nov 30, 2021 7:16 pm

willeyeam wrote: ↑Tue Nov 30, 2021 6:15 pm on the detached garage reno - gonna need a new door (not a garage door, just the entry door). old one is metal and rusty, just needs replaced. 90% of the ones I'm seeing are prehung - which seems like a huge pain and undertaking to take out the old frame and do this.. any issues with buying the slab doors that aren't pre-hung and using the old framing?

I don’t see why not. Wood or fiberglass can be cut to fit if you want to avoid metal and rusting. Might want to check on code requirements in your township first. I have no idea if you’re required to have a metal door or not.

Post by **count2infinity** » Fri Dec 03, 2021 5:16 pm

Just over 12 weeks ago, I ordered a bedroom set. They gave me an 8-12 week lead time. I emailed today for an update. Mid March is their best guess. Ugh.

Post by **shafnutz05** » Fri Dec 03, 2021 5:19 pm

For those of you with a standard fridge/freezer combo with the ice maker and bin...

All of a sudden, the ice at the back of the bin is congealing together, like it's melting a little when it first drops in. Anyone have any ideas? 2/3 of the ice that comes out is a solid chunk

Post by **meow** » Fri Dec 03, 2021 5:55 pm

Not that exact issue, but similar. I had to dive into our ice machine the other day because the tray the cubes form in was one giant block. I chiseled it all away and left the maker off for a day. Haven’t had an issue since.

Post by **DigitalGypsy66** » Fri Dec 03, 2021 5:58 pm

Our 20 year old Kenmore does that periodically. Every time it happens, we start looking at new refrigerators...and then it self corrects.

It seems to stem from a couple of things: the door not sealing properly from a box/food impeding the seal or the air vents are blocked.

Post by **meow** » Fri Dec 03, 2021 6:29 pm

I bet that was our issue.

Post by **AuthorTony** » Sat Dec 04, 2021 3:08 pm

Can anyone recommend some good wireless security cameras. My dogs go crazy most evenings barking and carrying on and I'd like to put some cameras around the property to see what's out there. I know I could go with trail cameras, but would prefer to go a different route if possible. I'll need 2 or 3 and would prefer to stay under $500 all in.

Post by **RonnieFranchise** » Sat Dec 04, 2021 3:25 pm

count2infinity wrote: ↑Tue Nov 30, 2021 10:05 am After my long ordeal with getting a front door, they're finally here on this snowy morning doing the install...

Cant wait to be done with this. The old door is currently out and they're installing the new one as I type this.

We hired a friend of mine who's a carpenter to strip and refinish our original mid 50's era entry door. It's a process but really pleased with how it's turning out. We had to remove and replace it 4 days in a row- those things are freaking heavy and awkward.

Post by **mac5155** » Sat Dec 04, 2021 3:45 pm

AuthorTony wrote: ↑Sat Dec 04, 2021 3:08 pm Can anyone recommend some good wireless security cameras. My dogs go crazy most evenings barking and carrying on and I'd like to put some cameras around the property to see what's out there. I know I could go with trail cameras, but would prefer to go a different route if possible. I'll need 2 or 3 and would prefer to stay under $500 all in.

My brother in law likes his Blink cameras.

Post by **Dickie Dunn** » Sat Dec 04, 2021 3:55 pm

AuthorTony wrote: ↑Sat Dec 04, 2021 3:08 pm Can anyone recommend some good wireless security cameras. My dogs go crazy most evenings barking and carrying on and I'd like to put some cameras around the property to see what's out there. I know I could go with trail cameras, but would prefer to go a different route if possible. I'll need 2 or 3 and would prefer to stay under $500 all in.

This is the neighborhood favorite.

Post by **NTP66** » Sat Dec 04, 2021 4:08 pm

Blink quality is trash, IMO. I’d probably look at Arlo first if I were in the market.

Post by **mac5155** » Sat Dec 04, 2021 4:18 pm

Didn't know wyze made battery cams. I have a wyze for a baby monitor and love it. Arlo baby monitor was trash. Maybe the regular cameras are better.

Post by **NTP66** » Sat Dec 04, 2021 4:27 pm

Wyze had a pretty big security breach a few years ago, IIRC.

Post by **MalkinIsMyHomeboy** » Mon Dec 13, 2021 4:37 pm

the hot water pressure in my whole house is low. the heat works but it's just weak and takes a bit to heat up. anything an idiot like me can try try out or should I be calling a plumber?

Post by **blackjack68** » Mon Dec 13, 2021 4:43 pm

Have you drained the hot water heater recently?

Post by **meow** » Mon Dec 13, 2021 5:12 pm

Call a damn plumber

Post by **shafnutz05** » Mon Dec 13, 2021 5:32 pm

blackjack68 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 13, 2021 4:43 pm Have you drained the hot water heater recently?

This is a thing?