Home Buyin/Maintenance Thread - Where most of us are 30ish but act 47. Oh, and fuck home inspectors

Discussion in 'The Mainboard' started by Swim Cantore, May 4, 2015.

  1. goblue31602

    goblue31602 Well-Known Member
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    Extenders will extend the signal, but they don't improve speed and if I remember correctly, they can cut into your speed because of the way it re-broadcasts the signal.

    They work ok for web browsing if you have a big house, or areas with no signal, but for streaming, etc I haven't found any that are good.
     
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  2. HuskerInMiami

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    I'm running an HDMI from a laptop to my TV. And the Laptop is connected via cable to the router.
     
  3. LSU90

    LSU90 Well-Known Member

    Probably a longshot but I went to install the new ecobee thermostat at a home I purchased recently and came across an odd wiring situation which has led me to believe that I may have a "communicating AC system". The system is a Lennox that was put in the home in 2018. From what I could gather, no aftermarket thermostats will work with it unless I do some serious workarounds because Lennox makes it to where everything is proprietary and you can only use their product. Has anyone ever dealt with this issue on a Lennox system or another system while trying to install an Ecobee, Nest, etc.? What are my options? The home currently has the Lennox icomfort wifi but it does not have geofencing and other smart features that I desire. If I wanted to upgrade the thermostat to the Lennox S30 smart thermostat would it be a plug and play or need professional installation still?
     
  4. Houndster

    Houndster Well-Known Member
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    Why aren’t you using a Roku or Apple TV or just plugging the Ethernet directly into the TV?
     
  5. texasraider

    texasraider thanks
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    My house came with those icomfort pieces of shit but I was able to install ecobee’s no problem.

    honeywell manufactures those icomforts so maybe reach out to them?
     
  6. LSU90

    LSU90 Well-Known Member

    I don't think its the fact that its a lennox. Its that the system is a "communicating" system which really fucks with how 3rd party thermostats can work with it. Was your system a "communicating" system? It would have had an i+ and i- wire.
     
  7. texasraider

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    Mine did not
     
  8. LSU90

    LSU90 Well-Known Member

    Fucking horseshit "proprietary" system so you basically have to buy their product. The smart thermostat Lennox offers that has similar capabilities as ecobee and nest is $600, requires professional installation, and I'm sure is dogshit. Really putting a hamper on my smart home endeavors.
     
  9. Det. Frank Bullitt

    Det. Frank Bullitt God Bless Texas
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  10. MoJo

    MoJo It bees that way sometimes...
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    Not sure what your issues are but plumbing doesn't scare me anymore after discovering shark-bite fittings.

    My house was plumbed with polybutylene which was discontinued/banned after excessive amounts of failures at the fittings. Soon after I moved in mine started giving out so I converted everything to pex. I essentially made a valve header for both hot and cold water supplies so I can take out individual areas and the rest of the house still has water. There are a few spots with copper piping but shark-bite makes adapters that just snap on, no more sweating. They are more expensive solution but totally worth the money imo..
     
  11. Russellin4885

    Russellin4885 Well-Known Member
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    How easy is it to make a T connection to copper to run a pex line off of. My house is copper but the back of my house does't have water and it drives me crazy. Was thinking of just running a pex line to get the job done.
     
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  12. goblue31602

    goblue31602 Well-Known Member
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  13. MoJo

    MoJo It bees that way sometimes...
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    2nd what goblue31602 said, it's super easy and you'll have a variety of ways to do it.

    If you're in doubt go to a hardware store and tell them what you want to do, they should be able to help you if you don't figure it out yourself on YouTube, just make sure you have the correct sizes
     
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  14. goblue31602

    goblue31602 Well-Known Member
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    Yes, plumbing projects seem daunting, especially when you had to sweat pipe, but with the new fittings it's not nearly as big of a deal. Obviously an issue causing a leak is a giant headache, but the fittings are pretty simple.
     
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  15. goblue31602

    goblue31602 Well-Known Member
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    I will add to this that I haven't done it in a while, without doing any research, it's possible you'll need a copper to PEX tee, or maybe you can just use a regular one, I don't remember. Just about any old guy you run into in a plumbing section will know what you need.
     
  16. Louis Holth

    Louis Holth but we also just might be those motherfuckers
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    Oh I’ve got shark bite fittings in my plumbing emergency bag. They’re a great product. I’m still going to sweat on fittings when I can. Just makes me feel better. I also have a PB house and have started to convert over to PEX little by little. PEX is awesome and it’s so easy to work with, even for a novice plumber.
     
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  17. HuskerInMiami

    HuskerInMiami Well-Known Member
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    Couldn't reach it and I was the only one home the day I set it up. I have since been too lazy and forgot that that would be easier (ethernet directly to TV).

    The Roku/FireStick make you do it through wifi so I figured it'd be slower.
     
  18. HuskerInMiami

    HuskerInMiami Well-Known Member
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    TV is a 70+" Vizio we bought a few years ago. Nothing special. We use YouTube TV now.
     
  19. HuskerInMiami

    HuskerInMiami Well-Known Member
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  20. WillySaliba

    WillySaliba Well-Known Member
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    Did you look for any third party conversion kits? Or possibly call ecobee, they might know another way around.
     
  21. Houndster

    Houndster Well-Known Member
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    You can plug an Ethernet into a Roku Premiere
     
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  22. Imurhuckleberry

    Imurhuckleberry Avid spectator of windmill warriors
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    Hey yall. Been working to get the upstairs furnace to work for a few days. At first even the fan wouldn't work but after cleaning some connectors and changing the system from Auto to on that's resolved. Its a 20 year old system with an electric pilot light. When the system is in auto I'll hear the switch click on the wall thermostat but don't hear anything thing from the furnace and the fan doesn't start. I'm assuming the electric pilot is pezio electric so expecting to hear that tick sound. Have verified that there is gas to the thermal coupler. Kind of at a loss as to what to do next other that breakdown and call a professional.

    Any thoughts/experience?
     
  23. WillySaliba

    WillySaliba Well-Known Member
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    Dealing with gas and electric I would call a professional.
     
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  24. Louis Holth

    Louis Holth but we also just might be those motherfuckers
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    I think you’ve done your best. I’d call a professional. I did the same thing yesterday. My main breaker is giving me issues and it turns out half my box is faulty, so I’m having that replaced next week.
     
  25. Imurhuckleberry

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    May have to but I suspect it's a simple issue
     
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  26. goblue31602

    goblue31602 Well-Known Member
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    Have you watched your furnace? Is it possible that it's kicking your heat on, but not sensing a flame, and therefore not kicking your fan on? It's pretty common for your fire eye to get dirty, and if it's a typical one, you can clean it with a piece of sandpaper.
     
  27. Houndster

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    Had the same issue last month (same age furnace) and there were cracks in the heat exchanges. Replaced the whole damn thing
     
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  28. Det. Frank Bullitt

    Det. Frank Bullitt God Bless Texas
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    There was a known issue the other day for YTTV with extensive buffering for an unknown reason. I would assume it has been resolved in the last 48 hours. Is it still happening?
     
  29. ned's head

    ned's head Well-Known Member
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    May be a long shot, but does your existing setup interface with any smart hub (smart things, home assistant, etc)? If so, you may be able to back into smart home features
     
  30. LSU90

    LSU90 Well-Known Member

    Unfortunately no. It does not work with any of that.
     
  31. HuskerInMiami

    HuskerInMiami Well-Known Member
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    First year putting up Christmas lights. Bought 3 packs of LED lights. Check them all before putting up. Install and it’s finally dark out. Turn them on and first and 3rd strand work. Middle strand is dim on end 5 bulbs and middle 40 have zero light coming from them. What would cause this? I checked fuse and tightened all bulbs just now on the roof.
     
  32. goblue31602

    goblue31602 Well-Known Member
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    Could be a couple things. Check the fuses in them, maybe one got fried? Also, they're supposed to be wired in parallel so that they don't work like old christmas lights where if one goes out, either half or the entire strand goes out, but I have had an entire strand not work, pull one light OUT, and then it all works again. Lights are finicky and the bane of my existence every December.

    You could also try to return them if you want.
     
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  33. Bruce Bowen

    Bruce Bowen Well-Known Member
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    Day 10 of renovations. I'm back at work so pops is riding solo now. Ts and Ps he can wrap up by Friday but still a ways to go with the full bath. Half bath/laundry getting close to wrapping up:
    upload_2019-12-2_10-45-56.png

    upload_2019-12-2_10-46-42.png
     
  34. LeVar Burton

    LeVar Burton Knee deep in a dynasty, ROLL TIDE!
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    I need two recessed lighting kits for my kitchen and over the bar area. Where is the best place to get them? How difficult are they to install?
     
  35. Funshot Residue

    Funshot Residue Mammoth Stabber
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    Lowe's, HD, or an electrical warehouse should all have them. Buy the remodel kits as opposed to new construction style. If wires exist already, it's a cinch. Cut the hole, hook up the wires, pop the fixture in. If you have to pull wires, you're in for a little more fun.
     
  36. WillySaliba

    WillySaliba Well-Known Member
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    Homeowner fact number #164838 I did not know but just learned which won’t be applicable for over half of you but may save your life one day.

    Had a new sidewalk and front porch poured concrete this summer. What a process and skill, I was fascinated. In any event, I just learned today you should not apply salt the first winter on new concrete. Something in there breaks down the compounds and ruins shit. Would have never ever thought about that but thank the lord for my FIL who called me today at 1130 to tell me. He was a builder for a few years, I did my research (because he’s a bullshitter) and he was right. More on that comment could be expanded upon in the FIL thread but maybe tomorrow.

    Have a good evening gentleman.
     
  37. BuckeyeRiot

    BuckeyeRiot Team Nicki
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    Hey my new house I haven’t even made payment 1 out of 360 payments on needs a new roof due to wind damage! :killme:
     
  38. Duck70

    Duck70 Let's just do it and be legends, man
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    Samsung refrigerators are the ones that suck right?
     
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  39. texasraider

    texasraider thanks
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    I’m convinced they all suck these days
     
  40. ned's head

    ned's head Well-Known Member
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    Yes.
     
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  41. theregionsitter

    theregionsitter Well-Known Member
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    Samsung appliances in general are trash for reliability
     
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  42. Matt Foley

    Matt Foley RIP EARL
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    No issues in almost 3 years fwiw
     
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  43. Bruce Bowen

    Bruce Bowen Well-Known Member
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    Seller sold me hers for $200. No clue how old but a year in no issues.
     
  44. Rabid

    Rabid Fan of: DQ Treats
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    Standard level GE suck as well.
     
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  45. Baron

    Baron Well-Known Member
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    Wife wants to hang something over the fireplace in our new house i.e. like a wreath, picture, etc.. What's the best way to go about this? I've never fucked with brick before.
     
  46. goblue31602

    goblue31602 Well-Known Member
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    I've used a concrete anchor drilled into the mortar for a flag pole before. Anchor sounds overwhelming, but you can get small ones. I got a small Tapcon one and just followed instructions.
     
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  47. Bo Pelinis

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    I have that Whirlpool after having a very expensive Samsung that crapped out in less than a year and a GE that lasted 6. Seems nice so far and hopefully fewer bells and whistles means less shit that can break.
     
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  48. goblue31602

    goblue31602 Well-Known Member
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    My wife wanted the wifi fridge with the touchscreen. I immediately shut it down, that's just more shit that will break.

    We did end up with a Samsung because they warrantied the hell out of the compressor, so we gave it a shot. We've had it 4 years and it's been solid.
     
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  49. Bo Pelinis

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    We went with the 3 door Samsung partially because of the compressor warranty and the ice machine broke twice in the first 10 months and the middle drawer went from a variable option drawer to a freezer. Was not please but luckily got warrantied by Samsung and they had already discontinued the model so we got all our money back to buy something else. Went with something $1,000 cheaper because fridges apparently suck balls as a general rule after a lot of research.
     
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