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. billdozer

    billdozer Well-Known Member
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    Because you have to heat and cool 13 ft ceilings and 150 year old houses aren't exactly models of efficiency. The formal dining room still has them, but everything else was lowered.
     
  2. One Two

    One Two Hot Dog Vibes
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    Are the fireplaces functional?
     
  3. billdozer

    billdozer Well-Known Member
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    Most have been blocked off. Coal fireplaces are much shallower than wood/gas fireplaces. Only 1 is left unblocked.
     
  4. One Two

    One Two Hot Dog Vibes
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    Yeah. My house built around 1930 and has the coal burning fireplace and coal burner in the basement so it’s a double flu chimney and I am trying to find someone to get up to speed that won’t charge an arm and a leg. It fits the wood burning dimensions just need a flu vent installed and have it sealed and repaired at the top
     
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  5. billdozer

    billdozer Well-Known Member
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    They have 2 chimneys and each has multiple fireplaces connected. The living room and dining room back up to each other and there are ones in the rooms on the 2nd floor too.
     
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  6. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    For the crawlspace obviously
     
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  7. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    For the crawlspace obviously
    Might have replied to the wrong thread
     
  8. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    What's some of the 7k stuff?

    Almost anyone they sell it to are going to want it done if it's critical. My house was closing in on 70 years and I covered $5,000 of stuff
     
  9. Jorts

    Jorts "Ask about my Mortgage Services"
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    I probably understated the cost some. Problem is they just dropped the price $20k, and we got it for $11k under that + $10k in. Seller concessions.
    • Pretty much all the windows need to be fixed/replaced. None of them open on the bedrooms upstairs.
    • Detached Garage needs a new roof
    • HVAC needs to be serviced
    • Damper needed in chimney
    • Section of electrical, in downstairs living area needs to be upgraded
    Gonna counter with everything but the garage roof & damper get fixed / replaced.

    We’ll likely tear down the garage & put up something larger. The damper isn’t an expensive fix & will merely improve HVAC efficiency. Mostly concerned with safety items.
     
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  10. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    I'd bet those windows are just painted shut. All of mine were. It's a super easy fix, just run an utility knife in the gaps and they'll pop open. Hopefully
     
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  11. Jorts

    Jorts "Ask about my Mortgage Services"
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    Not quite that simple, but certainly part of the equation.
     
  12. HuskerInMiami

    HuskerInMiami Well-Known Member
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    Looks good. I need to redo a section of my fence.

    Tip: Paint your shed. Ours looked similar to yours and after painting it, it looks light years better.
     
  13. texasraider

    texasraider thanks
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    by done do you mean it will be done after you stain the fence?
     
  14. CF3234

    CF3234 Fan of: Bandwagons
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    Plumbing to the valves is done. Did the programming as well. It’s got spa and massage features. That should be fun.

    sorry. Don’t know why it keeps uploading sideways.
    D1AECB94-5FF3-4C99-AD48-7AC296407F3A.jpeg
     
  15. infected donkey

    infected donkey Arkansas Razorbacks
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    Bought a whole home surge protection system. Went with Siemens First surge since their warranty is best out of all of them, 10 year ,$100,000.




    Will be installing Friday when I can open the main supply breaker to the house and not be rushed to wire it in/cut out Sheetrock to install it.
     
  16. Oranjello

    Oranjello Well-Known Member
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    Anyone got any good ideas about what to do with the following air conditioning problem? About to call a tech

    At 3:30 this morning, I woke up to my power blinking for no apparent reason. Went back to sleep. Woke up at 6:45 for work, and noticed it was warm. Checked temp and it was 76. Didn’t think anything of it and went to work. Got home at 6:30 and it was 83F with the a/c running (set in accordance with a Nest schedule). Turn ac off, wait a few minutes, and back on. Been running for an hour now, and it’s still saying it’s 83F. The ac is pushing air but it’s not cold air. Usual cold spots in the house also aren’t cold. Any thoughts?

    oh and home warranty lapses tomorrow. Closed on 7/1/19 and didn’t renew
     
  17. goblue31602

    goblue31602 Well-Known Member
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    Is your consdensing unit by any chance frozen over?
     
  18. Oranjello

    Oranjello Well-Known Member
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    I don’t see any ice. The outdoor unit is not running, though. I just turned everything off and changed air filters (which Nest told me to do last week). Any idea on what I could do to fix?
     
  19. dirtybert

    dirtybert Well-Known Member

    Sounds very similar to a nest problem I had. Shortly after a power outage my nest took a dump. Wouldn’t switch the reversing valve anymore. So the unit was heating when it thought it was cooling. A normal thermostat has a safety mechanism that doesn’t allow this to happen. It’s apparently a fairly known issue with nest that they won’t own up to. I have a post somewhere in this thread with more details about the issue.
     
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  20. goblue31602

    goblue31602 Well-Known Member
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    Reversing valve means you have a heat pump right? I guess it would depend on if Oranjello has a heat pump or a split system with a gas/electric furnace.

    If your condensing unit isn't frozen over, see if the duct just past your furnace seems to be abnormally cold or sweating. Your A-coil can also freeze over and prevent air from flowing through it and cooling down. Like, the duct essentially right at your furnace, you should see where your refrigerant lines go in and out, it would be right there.
     
  21. dirtybert

    dirtybert Well-Known Member

    Correct. Mine is a heat pump. Yea, I skipped that part due to my Nest hatred. Any chance I get to take a shot at Nest, I’m quick to do it.
     
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  22. Oranjello

    Oranjello Well-Known Member
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    No it doesn’t appear to be but I admit I’m having to google half the things you’re saying. While I was looking at it, something kicked on and it sounded like it was running. Go to thermostat and it’s still off and no air being circulated. Outdoor unit also not running. Wtf
     
  23. pperc

    pperc Well-Known Member
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    My electronics on one of my thermostats(not nest) went crazy after some electricity surge issues Recently. Same thing. Would blow but no cold air/or hot hair. You need to call a technician most likely to diagnose.
     
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  24. Oranjello

    Oranjello Well-Known Member
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    Sweet. My boss and secretary both recently had AC issues and it took days to get someone out. Going without AC in June/July in Alabama is lovely
     
  25. Oranjello

    Oranjello Well-Known Member
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    Do I run any risk of damaging the system by turning the AC back on? Internet says the dirty air filter can cause unit to freeze, so I’ve changed the filter but am hesitant to turn it back on since I’d rather not fuck it and and have to replace the whole thing.
     
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  26. pperc

    pperc Well-Known Member
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    Wasn’t for mine but who knows
     
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  27. WillySaliba

    WillySaliba Well-Known Member
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    If it’s frozen like mine was one time it took quite a while to thaw out. Longer than I thought at least.

    Also we lost the main controller board on ours last year and it was about a grand to replace.
     
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  28. Oranjello

    Oranjello Well-Known Member
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    About how long?

    I tried starting it and my wife said the outdoor unit made a noise like it was trying to start but couldn’t. I also flipped the breaker. Perhaps I’ll let it be for the night and try again in the morning before calling someone.
     
  29. GRG

    GRG Herbie Hancock
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    Could be a capacitor, those go bad, especially if the unit outside isn’t actually running but air is blowing inside. Replaced about a month ago.
     
  30. milquetoast

    milquetoast Firm Security
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    Hopefully the compressor isn't shot. If it's not running and the air handler is...yeesh.

    How old is the system?
     
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  31. pperc

    pperc Well-Known Member
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    do you get your units services once or twice a year?
     
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  32. Oranjello

    Oranjello Well-Known Member
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    Yeah, I tried this trick and the fan in the outdoor unit spun on its own for about 30 seconds at a slow speed, and then stopped spinning. Based on that My buddy says he thinks it’s a compressor motor. System was manufactured in December 2015


    Day after tomorrow will be 1 full year of ownership. Def not
     
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  33. goblue31602

    goblue31602 Well-Known Member
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    Edit: dammit you already looked. Compressor motor isn't as fun of a fix.
     
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  34. Oranjello

    Oranjello Well-Known Member
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    That video I linked above is for fixing the capacitor. I tried jumpstarting the fan by pushing it with a stick (as the video instructs), and while it spun for ~30 seconds on its own it eventually stopped. That led a buddy to conclude it’s probably the compressor motor

    Damn you edited that quickly
     
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  35. Oranjello

    Oranjello Well-Known Member
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    What’s less fun about it? Approximate cost?
     
  36. goblue31602

    goblue31602 Well-Known Member
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    Yes, capacitors are cheap and easy af to fix. Motors aren't hard to replace, but definitely more labor intensive and expensive.
     
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  37. Oranjello

    Oranjello Well-Known Member
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    Hopefully with model # information, an educated guess, and an early phone call tomorrow and they’ll be able to fix it before July 4th
     
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  38. Barves2125

    Barves2125 "Ready to drive the Ferarri" - Reuben Foster
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    Oranjello I've got a buddy who lives in our neighborhood that is an HVAC tech for one of the big companies here but I forget which one. He does commercial stuff for them but does some residential on the side. I'm happy to holler at him in the morning and see if he'd be willing to come by and check it out for you at some point tomorrow. I know 3 people who have had him do exactly that at their houses and they've all been pleased. At the very least he'll be able to give you some honest answers and not try to sell you on anything. Just let me know if you want me to holler at him.
     
  39. Oranjello

    Oranjello Well-Known Member
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    Texted you. Thank you
     
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  40. THF

    THF BITE THE NUTS, THUMB IN THE ASS!
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    Nah I have had this problem. Doesn’t sound like the compressor is running.


    So I had this same issue. Happened with a power surge when a lizard stepped across the capacitor outside. It wasn't the Nest that got fucked, it was the base plate that the Nest attaches to.

    I would call the warranty company and have them come out. You need to be careful turning on the compressor if it runs. The warranty tech may take a day or so to get scheduled so if you can get online and request one. You can probably cancel later if you figure it out.

    There was also a relay in the handler which blew another time with the power issue. It would turn the handler on but the compressor wouldn’t get activated.

    Oh it could also be the condenser fan. Warranty company will cover that but it’s about a 400 dollar fix.

    Is your compressor running R22 or 416 Freon?
     
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  41. Oranjello

    Oranjello Well-Known Member
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    Anyone got any AC window unit recs? If
    My warranty lapses tomorrow and based on past experience it’s not worth the $80 service call. I’d rather just pay someone directly so that the quality of their services are tied to the person paying them (me).

    I’ve turned the AC off for the night, turned the heater on (set to 64) and have the fan running. Still at about 83 degrees and 60% humidity inside.

    I believe it’s running R-410a Freon but this is a whole new world of lingo to me.

    But as you allude, compressor capacity may be an issue and hopefully that’s it. Fingers crossed
     
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  42. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    Measure your window opening then head to home depot and buy whatever window unit they have that will fit.
    I still have mine on standby from when our AC went out a few years ago
    I actually consider putting it back in the bedroom this time of year when its humid af and when I could just run it at night and turn off the main ac
    It would bring our room down super cold
     
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  43. DollarBillHokie

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    My master bathroom door is sticking at the top of the frame and is really difficult to open. Any suggestions on how to fix?
     
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  44. CF3234

    CF3234 Fan of: Bandwagons
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    Live in a high humidity area? Sounds like it expanded.
     
  45. One Two

    One Two Hot Dog Vibes
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    Oranjello if Barves2125 guy can’t help I know someone as well (assuming they are different people lol)
     
  46. Born Again Lefty

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    Give this a shot

     
  47. kentucky_dawg

    kentucky_dawg Fan of: Georgia
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    :ahh: that was so satisfying to watch
     
  48. WillySaliba

    WillySaliba Well-Known Member
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    What a magician.
     
  49. Snakes

    Snakes clumsy interloper
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    I have found slightly tightening or loosening the hinges to make it fit is a good temporary fix. you could also use a 1' piece of 2x4 for bracing and beat the frame with a rubber mallet. to expand it slightly.
     
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  50. Snakes

    Snakes clumsy interloper
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    Financing recommendations for a remodel??? We just bought a house and want to add on a small addition. Basically just add a little sq/ft to the master and add a walk in closet and master bath. Looking at around 300 sq/ft and I want to borrow about $50K to get it done.

    Should I look into a Heloc? I put $65K down on it, not sure how that affects it. Or just try to get a traditional home improvement loan? Last one I got was only for 10K so not sure what my options are to go something significantly larger.