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. THF

    THF BITE THE NUTS, THUMB IN THE ASS!
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    Just crack the door open when it’s finished to let it air out and I am sure the smell will clear up.
     
  2. Matt Foley

    Matt Foley RIP EARL
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    Garage door opener died on me around noon today. Made a quick decision to go with one of the wall-mounted smart openers. This thing is awesome. Whisper quiet and continues the trend of everything in this house being “smart”.
     
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  3. PAHokie

    PAHokie Can't a bitch living say I bought her Michael Kors
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    Hmm I would think if you have a regular thermostat that you can switch it with the smart ones. My system had two zones on one unit and has a controller that turns on each based on each levels thermostat. I was able to just switch out the thermostat with no extra steps.
     
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  4. a.tramp

    a.tramp Insubordinate and churlish
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    This. There is most likely a multi-wired communication cable. It is most likely just a matter of following the wiring diagrams for the thermostat and unit. It will be low voltage so no risk of any sort of shocking. Do kill power to the unit though while messing with the communication though and double and triple check your work so you do not blow out a low voltage fuse or short a low voltage circuit if fuse is not present.

    Worst case scenario, if you have an older unit, is that there might no be enough wires to speak with the new thermostat so a new comm cable or additional comm cable would need to be pulled.
     
  5. joe-

    joe- yesterday is a hard word for me
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    Worst case scenario, if you have an older unit, is that there might no be enough wires to speak with the new thermostat so a new comm cable or additional comm cable would need to be pulled.[/QUOTE]
    I pulled the thermostat off the wall and there are only 3 wires going into it instead of the usual 4+

    just the wires labeled 1, 2, 3 are connected to the thermostat

    2C4D7C39-0005-49BB-9EB1-4244BEAC2585.jpeg 76189BC6-F5A9-4B7F-99E8-0514FA910E28.jpeg
     
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  6. a.tramp

    a.tramp Insubordinate and churlish
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    Idk, that looks like more than 3 wires to me.
     
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  7. joe-

    joe- yesterday is a hard word for me
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    that’s the control panel on the furnace
     
  8. a.tramp

    a.tramp Insubordinate and churlish
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    Got it. You said you pulled the thermostat off and then showed pictures of the furnace control. I was confused.
     
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  9. leroi

    leroi -
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    my hot water heater is 22 years old, so i reckon i ought to replace it. i was thinking of going with one of these natural gas tankless deals, anyone have experience w these?
     
  10. joe-

    joe- yesterday is a hard word for me
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    I’m high as balls but this mistake is your fault regardless

    the wires in the panel labeled 1, 2 and 3 are the only ones that connect to the actual thermostat
     
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  11. texasraider

    texasraider thanks
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    @lechnard
     
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  12. a.tramp

    a.tramp Insubordinate and churlish
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    hipsterjoe my guess would be that is some sort of an interface and that the 3 wire communication is a streamlined version of what is usually sent to a thermostat location. So in other words, many more wires would need to go to the thermostat location (like all the other wires connected there)

    But, much more info would be needed to point you in the right direction.
     
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  13. leroi

    leroi -
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    are there ppl who specialize in hot water heater installations or does any sort of plumber do it

    what's a good or shitty brand and how do i even get a handle on how to determine that
     
  14. a.tramp

    a.tramp Insubordinate and churlish
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    plumber or HVAC company, venting is really critical.

    most companies like the brands they like and are hesitant to go with something different than their choice so find the company you like and roll with them and their recommendation.
     
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  15. southlick

    southlick "Better Than You"
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    Make sure and check for rebates via your local utilities.
     
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  16. Funshot Residue

    Funshot Residue Mammoth Stabber
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    Also when you start calling plumbers, it's just a water heater. Rinnai (Rin-I) is a well respected brand in tankless. Google some reviews, find a local installer for the brand you're favoring, and have them come out and work up a quote.
     
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  17. PAHokie

    PAHokie Can't a bitch living say I bought her Michael Kors
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    I lean towards this being similar to my set up. If the thermostat itself is just like a typical one then you should be able to just replace the thermostat with any smart one. The smart thermostats aren’t sending any extra information to the units then a regular one.
     
  18. IV

    IV Freedom is the right of all sentient beings
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  19. Russellin4885

    Russellin4885 Well-Known Member
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    I would say it's worth looking into heat pump water heaters. The up front cost is pretty high but depending on how many years your in your house, how much water you use, the pay back period can be pretty quick.
     
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  20. Boo MFer!

    Boo MFer! No longer a cog in some powerhouse machine
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    They still have some clean-up and landscaping to do, plus hooking up the gas for the fire pit, but I love how this turned out.

    1D75F718-700A-42A6-84F6-57C057002A31.jpeg
     
  21. dump

    dump TMB’s premier expert on women’s CBB
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    perfect for all of your wifes suitors to use
     
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  22. Boo MFer!

    Boo MFer! No longer a cog in some powerhouse machine
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    Fuck off. They come through the front door like men of honor.
     
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  23. Snakes

    Snakes clumsy interloper
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    what is a good rate to expect on a home improvement loan? we are thinking around $75K
     
  24. Boo MFer!

    Boo MFer! No longer a cog in some powerhouse machine
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    Jorts
     
  25. comrade static

    comrade static i love french fries
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    If you are doing a home equity loan, I would ball park that around 4.5-6% fixed.

    If it is a home equity line of credit it will be in the same range but a variable rate.

    Your other option is to do a cash out refi which will most likely have you somewhere in the 2.5-3.5% range but you’ll have about 5-10k in closing costs and you can’t take out cash higher than 80% of the value of your home.

    You can find local banks that will lend 90-100% of your home value on a home equity product
     
    #25325 comrade static, Oct 28, 2020
    Last edited: Oct 28, 2020
  26. Russellin4885

    Russellin4885 Well-Known Member
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    About to do a cash out refinance myself. Going with the option with lowest closing cost, will be a rate of 3.75% and $1700 in closing cost.
     
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  27. Baron

    Baron Well-Known Member
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    I hope my basement doesn't flood today, expected 2-4 inches here in Cincy. #Ohio State Buckeyes
     
  28. Boom TittyMilk

    Boom TittyMilk User Formerly known as Big R
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    [​IMG]

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    Some unexpected chores this morning. Thankful it missed my shed
     
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  29. BuckeyeRiot

    BuckeyeRiot Team Nicki
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    I had 8” in the basement of my new home on Labor day. We got 5” of rain in an hour. I’m also now doing $20k of grading and drainage in the backyard to mitigate the situation.
    [​IMG]
     
  30. Boo MFer!

    Boo MFer! No longer a cog in some powerhouse machine
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    Yeah, but enough about your sex life! Lol got ‘em.
     
  31. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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  32. Boom TittyMilk

    Boom TittyMilk User Formerly known as Big R
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    It’s got electricity and heat
     
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  33. SkilleyBinner

    SkilleyBinner Well-Known Member
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    Inspector question for the board..we are in the process of building a home and part of the package with the builder includes an inspector coming to check at different stages. How many of you have also hired your own independent inspector? And at what stages did you have them come out to check?
     
  34. goblue31602

    goblue31602 Well-Known Member
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    I'm going through this right now, our builder only did the inspections required for permit, but are open to anyone hiring their own. I went a little overboard and had a structural engineer come out and check the concrete forms when they poured the foundation walls, and i'll have him come again to look at the structure now that we have a fully framed house. Then I'm having a reputable home inspection company come take a look just prior to drywall (when you'll likely have a walkthrough anyway, you'd do it the day before that), and then another inspection right before closing on the house.
     
  35. Boo MFer!

    Boo MFer! No longer a cog in some powerhouse machine
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    Pre-drywall, prior to closing and before your warranty is up.
     
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  36. SkilleyBinner

    SkilleyBinner Well-Known Member
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    Thanks. This is exactly what I was looking for. We have the foundation going in end of next week and I want another pair of eyes on that. Do you mind sharing the price for the structural engineer? I am going to start calling around and curious on ballpark amount.
     
  37. goblue31602

    goblue31602 Well-Known Member
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    My engineer was $400 for the inspection and report. It was just good to know that they were doing everything within their power to limit settling and foundation issues.
     
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  38. Funshot Residue

    Funshot Residue Mammoth Stabber
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    FIgure $100/hr for any engineering. I don't think all houses/sites need this step, but some certainly do. I'll also say that as a GC, local inspectors vary widely in quality/thoroughness even within the same county. Not a bad idea to double check the key areas. From my side, I would also be prepared to charge an owner for something that met or exceeded code, but the 3rd party wanted changed. It says in our contract package what code cycle we are expected to work to.
     
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  39. goblue31602

    goblue31602 Well-Known Member
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    Yeah especially with a track builder such as ours, it was probably overkill, but I'm an engineer and I overkill everything. The plan is for this to be our "forever home" so a few extra inspections just to give us the peace of mind that we did everything we could to make sure nothing too bad happened to the house later on was kind of our mindset.

    But I definitely advise an inspection before drywall and another before closing. It's the only time you'll ever have to inspect the guts of your house.
     
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  40. Funshot Residue

    Funshot Residue Mammoth Stabber
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    100% concur. In the event that we do trim behind framers who don't work for us, I stipulate a walk through before drywall. And that's for aesthetic reasons.
     
  41. devine

    devine hi, i am user devine
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    Best sites/stores for affordable couches that I don’t have to put together myself?
     
  42. Boo MFer!

    Boo MFer! No longer a cog in some powerhouse machine
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    What’s your budget?
     
  43. devine

    devine hi, i am user devine
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    I should have clarified more than just saying affordable

    it’s for our sun room, so not our main couch, so I was hoping less than $1k
     
  44. Boo MFer!

    Boo MFer! No longer a cog in some powerhouse machine
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    Yikes. Goodwill? Salvation Army?

    No, but I’m sure you can get something in that range from any of the big chains.
     
  45. a.tramp

    a.tramp Insubordinate and churlish
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    NFM
     
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  46. Houndster

    Houndster Well-Known Member
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    Wayfair
     
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  47. Boo MFer!

    Boo MFer! No longer a cog in some powerhouse machine
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  48. ButchCassidy

    ButchCassidy Well-Known Member
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    Big Lots, you poor.
     
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  49. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    Pottery Barn