This Old #%&@*$ House

Okay. Maybe my wife misunderstood. I'm not too skilled with house stuff so it seemed like it should, but I didn't know how to question that without looking at it. I'll check it tonight. I need to understand, I think, how a heat pump even works. I'm sure I would logically know where the filter is at that point.

The reason this even came up is because I smelled dust in the house when I walked past one of the intakes, so I feel like it needs to be changed or the ductwork needs to be cleaned out.

I found out that my system will actually shut off the flame/AC while leaving the fan running if it can't pull enough air through the filter. That means if I let it go too long between filter changes, the HVAC gets super inefficient. I think I change it every two months, and it's fine.

Of course, mine's annoying because when it was installed, the HVAC guys made it slightly too short to easily fit the filter, so getting it in is a massive pain.

Yeah I think we do every two months on our AC filter, but have done more/less frequently when the system is/not running a lot.

Sometimes there's so much cat hair...

If I don't change the filter every month, it impacts how hard and long the unit runs and so our electric bill. This has been the same for every single place I've lived in my adult life. We had some huge bills in one place for a couple months and then realized nobody changed the filter... more than one time... in the same house... the same year... with the owner living in the house too... and two just out of school architects living there... and I was one of them...

mrtomaytohead wrote:

If I don't change the filter every month, it impacts how hard and long the unit runs

Today's OOCT

I may have mentioned this here before, but I learned the importance of changing your filters the hard way this summer. We hadn't changed ours in a good 6+ months, a/c coil in the attic froze, primary drain line clogged, filled the secondary drain pan, backup drain line clogged, and we acquired a lovely new sepia tone marbled treatment on most of our entryway ceiling overnight. If we hadn't caught it for a couple more hours we would likely have been in open-concept living room-attic territory. Change your filters regularly, and make sure you've got a float switch installed on any drain pans that might overflow and cause damage.

benign1 wrote:

I may have mentioned this here before, but I learned the importance of changing your filters the hard way this summer. We hadn't changed ours in a good 6+ months, a/c coil in the attic froze, primary drain line clogged, filled the secondary drain pan, backup drain line clogged, and we acquired a lovely new sepia tone marbled treatment on most of our entryway ceiling overnight. If we hadn't caught it for a couple more hours we would likely have been in open-concept living room-attic territory. Change your filters regularly, and make sure you've got a float switch installed on any drain pans that might overflow and cause damage.

This.

Speaking of the float switch, it's the thing that saved the AC at our beach house (I rent, not own) this summer. The drain line got clogged by sand and all the condensate backed up in the drain pan.

@ DS: Let us know what you found out, filter-wise.

Does anyone here have an installed sprinkler system? Not necessarily in ground. I don't want to waste a bunch of money. We just got moved in and I don't want to spend much time watering.

I don't, but wish I did. A coworker had it done and it cost him around $2000. It also depends on how many zones you have to put in and I guess the further away from the water source, you have to add pumps or you get reduced water pressure.

The gas company redid some lines back in June, and planted seed, which turned into mostly weeds that we had to water. Now though, the city decided that wasn't good enough, so they ripped it all out down to the soil Tuesday afternoon. Then it rained and has been raining off and on since. Great, its being watered, but its still soil, so I have a very muddy yard, driveway and gutter.

Before the rain:
IMAGE(https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20842181_10214919728213753_6495392233861148530_n.jpg?oh=5df75e68ec3b8ba9fd46a6692f77ebbf&oe=59ED260D)

IMAGE(https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20799271_10214919728453759_7531241640089467148_n.jpg?oh=c5feab0d9f7ae68078e9dee313533d38&oe=5A36DEE8)

IMAGE(https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20770320_10214919728813768_1656502836175107343_n.jpg?oh=431bc517efb7f2bac8f73e20a7041d4b&oe=5A365D78)

I keep thinking about getting an irrigation system installed. With the soil we have (super sandy), any moisture evaporates quickly in sunny areas, so the grass in those areas winds up being really patchy. I think the only way I'll get any kind of decent lawn is to water regularly, and if I'm getting a sprinkler system, it doesn't make sense not to do something about the lawn itself, which probably means digging out, topsoil, and likely sod.

But I can't imagine we get out for less than $10k at that point, so I just live with my patchy weed field, and hope that the patchy areas eventually grow in.

On filters, my thermostat has a timer that pops up reminding me to change the filter. You can set it based on calendar time and fan blow hours, and it will tell you whenever either is passed. Very handy.

I have been working with my SO's dad since Sunday and everyday after I get off work I change clothes and get to work on finishing our basement. I am worn out, but it's nice seeing the framed basement actually have walls coming up, lights going in and doors being installed. I drilled the holes and ran wire for the newly placed sockets and light switches, that alone brought the initial cost down from $3300 to $1100, since we did a lot of the heavy lifting!

I am so ready to have our art studio/office and separate media room!

I will post pics as we get close to being done.

cartoonin wrote:

I will post pics as we get close to being done.

We like in progress pics, too!

-BEP

My town's water has had a problem with PFOA contamination in the last year from a nearby plastics company. Because of this, I'm looking into installing a whole house 3 stage water filtration system. While I'm installing this new system, I'm going to convert all of the water lines in the basement from the meter up to where they begin to feed the upper two floors with PEX. It seems like an intermediate job. I've never worked with PEX before, but my father installs radon removal systems in water systems as a job, so he's familiar.

Anyone else convert to PEX lately? I'm wondering if I should install a distribution system like a manabloc or if I should just use T joints.

Suggestions for garage water and snow melt management? (A big issue is cars drying indoors in winter or if it is down pouring the run off from the cars after they are in the stall.

Garage already has enough water damage from decades of run off, snow, and other things. I have looked at some large grooved mats to put down, I need to put a new weather strip in the garage door so I can keep water out as well. My driveway is also problematic as it is flat with virtually no good grading to keep water and snow away.

Suggestions?

astralplaydoh wrote:

My town's water has had a problem with PFOA contamination in the last year from a nearby plastics company. Because of this, I'm looking into installing a whole house 3 stage water filtration system. While I'm installing this new system, I'm going to convert all of the water lines in the basement from the meter up to where they begin to feed the upper two floors with PEX. It seems like an intermediate job. I've never worked with PEX before, but my father installs radon removal systems in water systems as a job, so he's familiar.

Anyone else convert to PEX lately? I'm wondering if I should install a distribution system like a manabloc or if I should just use T joints.

My advice is to just make sure the joints are somewhere you can get to fairly easily (not behind drywall).

Chaz wrote:

I keep thinking about getting an irrigation system installed. With the soil we have (super sandy), any moisture evaporates quickly in sunny areas, so the grass in those areas winds up being really patchy. I think the only way I'll get any kind of decent lawn is to water regularly, and if I'm getting a sprinkler system, it doesn't make sense not to do something about the lawn itself, which probably means digging out, topsoil, and likely sod.

But I can't imagine we get out for less than $10k at that point, so I just live with my patchy weed field, and hope that the patchy areas eventually grow in.

Yikes. I don't want to spend that much. I was thinking the kind you can string along the perimeter or something. I don't know. In Oregon it rains so much that you're only really trying to keep everything alive during the summer.

DSGamer wrote:

Yikes. I don't want to spend that much. I was thinking the kind you can string along the perimeter or something. I don't know. In Oregon it rains so much that you're only really trying to keep everything alive during the summer.

My solution to this problem: Let my grass die and my yard be a battleground between moss and dandelions.

I've got a big yard. Probably a half acre or so would need to get dealt with.

I may also be over-estimating the cost so I don't get an estimate. If I got one and it was $5k, might convince myself to say "Yeah, that's reasonable".

DSGamer wrote:
Chaz wrote:

I keep thinking about getting an irrigation system installed. With the soil we have (super sandy), any moisture evaporates quickly in sunny areas, so the grass in those areas winds up being really patchy. I think the only way I'll get any kind of decent lawn is to water regularly, and if I'm getting a sprinkler system, it doesn't make sense not to do something about the lawn itself, which probably means digging out, topsoil, and likely sod.

But I can't imagine we get out for less than $10k at that point, so I just live with my patchy weed field, and hope that the patchy areas eventually grow in.

Yikes. I don't want to spend that much. I was thinking the kind you can string along the perimeter or something. I don't know. In Oregon it rains so much that you're only really trying to keep everything alive during the summer.

If you want to go with the poor man's sprinker system (depending on the size of your lawn), you can just get a few of those stake sprinklers that have hose attachments on them in addition to a few hoses. Stake them into the ground so that you can get the best coverage, and then viola! I mean, you still have to turn the nozzle on and off yourself, but that's how I did it at our old house. I think there are even some timers you can hook up to your outdoor faucet.

Drawback is that you have visible hoses, but you're also not dropping $1000s for the irrigation system.

Jonman wrote:
DSGamer wrote:

Yikes. I don't want to spend that much. I was thinking the kind you can string along the perimeter or something. I don't know. In Oregon it rains so much that you're only really trying to keep everything alive during the summer.

My solution to this problem: Let my grass die and my yard be a battleground between moss and dandelions. :)

That's basically my lawn as well.

Yes, and don't run it without a filter!

rant time

We rented our house out for almost two years, came back in July and our AC/Furnace was broken because they never changed the filter. The coils became so caked and the fan was trying too hard to push air past those coils it just screwed up everything. We spent about $600 on an HVAC guy to fix everything and our AC unit still struggles to keep the house cool on hot days.

Also our renters destroyed everything else in the house. We've patched close to 300 holes ranging in size from a medium screw being ripped out of the drywall to 2 foot diameter holes where they put in extra air ducts to cool their marijuana grow in our basement (without approval).

IMAGE(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4208/35311126566_36d372c53a_b.jpg)

They flooded the basement multiple times, I guess while doing their marijuana growing. We had to replace the lower walls and baseboards after finding mold behind them.

We had to replace a damaged drain in the basement, the drain was below the bath tub so we had to pull that out, re-do all the tiling (which needed it anyway) and install a new drain and bath tub.

A few months before we came back they were raided by the police including FBI. The cops bashed in my front door. I had to replace part of the wall, the entire casing and door. It was a very, very nice steel door with glass inlay.

The entire basement and living room upstairs is done and re-painted. I'm now moving to bedrooms, patching remaining holes and painting.

We found all kinds of illicit and disgusting things in the back yard. Burnt spoons and other drug related items. Trash piled up on the side of the house, I guess they stopped paying for trash pickup. A dead snake rotting on the ground. They took bricks from my brand new retaining wall and made a fire pit out of them.

And of course since they were raided by the police they failed to pay the last 4 months of rent.

So yeah, we're almost back to normal in our home and I'm not sure I'll rent anything out again.

Thank you for reading my rant.

EDIT: Once things are back to normal I'll schedule a new GWJ WyndCon. All Goodjers are invited, the last two Slap and Tickle events we did were very successful.

Daaaaaamn man. That's crazy. I'm glad you're almost back to normal.

mrwynd wrote:

Yes, and don't run it without a filter!

rant time

We rented our house out for almost two years, came back in July and our AC/Furnace was broken because they never changed the filter. The coils became so caked and the fan was trying too hard to push air past those coils it just screwed up everything. We spent about $600 on an HVAC guy to fix everything and our AC unit still struggles to keep the house cool on hot days.

Also our renters destroyed everything else in the house. We've patched close to 300 holes ranging in size from a medium screw being ripped out of the drywall to 2 foot diameter holes where they put in extra air ducts to cool their marijuana grow in our basement (without approval).

IMAGE(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4208/35311126566_36d372c53a_b.jpg)

They flooded the basement multiple times, I guess while doing their marijuana growing. We had to replace the lower walls and baseboards after finding mold behind them.

We had to replace a damaged drain in the basement, the drain was below the bath tub so we had to pull that out, re-do all the tiling (which needed it anyway) and install a new drain and bath tub.

A few months before we came back they were raided by the police including FBI. The cops bashed in my front door. I had to replace part of the wall, the entire casing and door. It was a very, very nice steel door with glass inlay.

The entire basement and living room upstairs is done and re-painted. I'm now moving to bedrooms, patching remaining holes and painting.

We found all kinds of illicit and disgusting things in the back yard. Burnt spoons and other drug related items. Trash piled up on the side of the house, I guess they stopped paying for trash pickup. A dead snake rotting on the ground. They took bricks from my brand new retaining wall and made a fire pit out of them.

And of course since they were raided by the police they failed to pay the last 4 months of rent.

So yeah, we're almost back to normal in our home and I'm not sure I'll rent anything out again.

Thank you for reading my rant.

EDIT: Once things are back to normal I'll schedule a new GWJ WyndCon. All Goodjers are invited, the last two Slap and Tickle events we did were very successful.

So when can I expect my security deposit back?

Agent 86 wrote:
mrwynd wrote:

Yes, and don't run it without a filter!

rant time

We rented our house out for almost two years, came back in July and our AC/Furnace was broken because they never changed the filter. The coils became so caked and the fan was trying too hard to push air past those coils it just screwed up everything. We spent about $600 on an HVAC guy to fix everything and our AC unit still struggles to keep the house cool on hot days.

Also our renters destroyed everything else in the house. We've patched close to 300 holes ranging in size from a medium screw being ripped out of the drywall to 2 foot diameter holes where they put in extra air ducts to cool their marijuana grow in our basement (without approval).

IMAGE(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4208/35311126566_36d372c53a_b.jpg)

They flooded the basement multiple times, I guess while doing their marijuana growing. We had to replace the lower walls and baseboards after finding mold behind them.

We had to replace a damaged drain in the basement, the drain was below the bath tub so we had to pull that out, re-do all the tiling (which needed it anyway) and install a new drain and bath tub.

A few months before we came back they were raided by the police including FBI. The cops bashed in my front door. I had to replace part of the wall, the entire casing and door. It was a very, very nice steel door with glass inlay.

The entire basement and living room upstairs is done and re-painted. I'm now moving to bedrooms, patching remaining holes and painting.

We found all kinds of illicit and disgusting things in the back yard. Burnt spoons and other drug related items. Trash piled up on the side of the house, I guess they stopped paying for trash pickup. A dead snake rotting on the ground. They took bricks from my brand new retaining wall and made a fire pit out of them.

And of course since they were raided by the police they failed to pay the last 4 months of rent.

So yeah, we're almost back to normal in our home and I'm not sure I'll rent anything out again.

Thank you for reading my rant.

EDIT: Once things are back to normal I'll schedule a new GWJ WyndCon. All Goodjers are invited, the last two Slap and Tickle events we did were very successful.

So when can I expect my security deposit back?

Well you accept payment in f*ckyous?

Jonman wrote:
Agent 86 wrote:
mrwynd wrote:

Yes, and don't run it without a filter!

rant time

We rented our house out for almost two years, came back in July and our AC/Furnace was broken because they never changed the filter. The coils became so caked and the fan was trying too hard to push air past those coils it just screwed up everything. We spent about $600 on an HVAC guy to fix everything and our AC unit still struggles to keep the house cool on hot days.

Also our renters destroyed everything else in the house. We've patched close to 300 holes ranging in size from a medium screw being ripped out of the drywall to 2 foot diameter holes where they put in extra air ducts to cool their marijuana grow in our basement (without approval).

IMAGE(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4208/35311126566_36d372c53a_b.jpg)

They flooded the basement multiple times, I guess while doing their marijuana growing. We had to replace the lower walls and baseboards after finding mold behind them.

We had to replace a damaged drain in the basement, the drain was below the bath tub so we had to pull that out, re-do all the tiling (which needed it anyway) and install a new drain and bath tub.

A few months before we came back they were raided by the police including FBI. The cops bashed in my front door. I had to replace part of the wall, the entire casing and door. It was a very, very nice steel door with glass inlay.

The entire basement and living room upstairs is done and re-painted. I'm now moving to bedrooms, patching remaining holes and painting.

We found all kinds of illicit and disgusting things in the back yard. Burnt spoons and other drug related items. Trash piled up on the side of the house, I guess they stopped paying for trash pickup. A dead snake rotting on the ground. They took bricks from my brand new retaining wall and made a fire pit out of them.

And of course since they were raided by the police they failed to pay the last 4 months of rent.

So yeah, we're almost back to normal in our home and I'm not sure I'll rent anything out again.

Thank you for reading my rant.

EDIT: Once things are back to normal I'll schedule a new GWJ WyndCon. All Goodjers are invited, the last two Slap and Tickle events we did were very successful.

So when can I expect my security deposit back?

Well you accept payment in f*ckyous?

IFUs? Do not attempt to cash in.

Woweewowowow! That is seriously f*cked up.

Man that is the stuff of nightmares. That's one more story for the "never reget selling my old place instead of renting it" pile.

There's more, like they cut out my $300 sump pump to pump water somewhere else. It had sucked up so much of something and didn't work anymore. We found out when it rained, drained through a hole in the foundation wall they made to hide electrical and flooding basement with no pump. There's plenty more too but I'm going to enjoy my Saturday, well, actually, I'm going to patch and paint the walls in my daughters room.

mrwynd wrote:

There's more, like they cut out my $300 sump pump to pump water somewhere else. It had sucked up so much of something and didn't work anymore. We found out when it rained, drained through a hole in the foundation wall they made to hide electrical and flooding basement with no pump. There's plenty more too but I'm going to enjoy my Saturday, well, actually, I'm going to patch and paint the walls in my daughters room.

Jeebus man. I'd say "Can you sue to recover some money?" but it sounds unlikely that you'll get anything back