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. Funshot Residue

    Funshot Residue Mammoth Stabber
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    Y'all gonna have to cool it with the braced wall panel talk this early in the morning, now I gotta go change my pants.
     
  2. PAHokie

    PAHokie Can't a bitch living say I bought her Michael Kors
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    I’m a Structural Engineer, do building design for a wide range of project types. Not sure what all would be involved with a seismic retrofit, but shear walls are legit.
     
  3. Rabid

    Rabid Fan of: DQ Treats
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    Sorry, I missed this. $25 rent per month and 12 months in a year. The rate is annual so you need the rent to be annual as well.
     
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  4. ButchCassidy

    ButchCassidy Well-Known Member
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    We decided to get Choice Home Warranty because everything in our house is aging. Just replaced the water pressure tank (not covered) and then our oven just stopped working. Have an in-wall Hotpoint, probably from 1970. They just offered us a $329 gift card to Lowes. It's $90/month for the plan, and was like $95 to have the tech out to tell us it needs to replaced. He did tell me to haggle with them and threaten to leave, lol.

    I tried briefly searching the other day, and couldn't come close to figuring out how much it would be worth/what we should ask for.

    Probably have to replace with a 24" in wall oven, cheapest one at Lowes is $550 without installation.

    So basically, how the hell do I judge the value of a broken oven from the 70s? Wife wants to cancel the warranty, but I'm sure as soon as we do our furnace or something will go out.
     
    #34254 ButchCassidy, Oct 4, 2022
    Last edited: Oct 4, 2022
  5. colonel_forbin

    colonel_forbin Well-Known Member
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    Look at your policy and see if it only covers the cash value of what's damaged, which includes depreciation, or if it covers the cost to replace what's damaged.

    If only the former, then $329 for a broken oven from the 1970s is a steal.
     
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  6. Doc Louis

    Doc Louis Well-Known Member
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    Not if you include inflation and time value of money in that calculation
     
  7. Name P. Redacted

    Name P. Redacted I have no money and I'm also gay
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    Imagine if they had bought Apple stock instead
     
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  8. Doc Louis

    Doc Louis Well-Known Member
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    or invested in bitcoin back then
     
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  9. NC Wolfpack

    NC Wolfpack Go Pack Go
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    Had a warranty for 5 years, used twice. Only once was worth it. Canceled and 2-3 months later, HVAC shit the bed. Honestly, still glad I canceled.
     
  10. NDfanPSUgrad

    NDfanPSUgrad Well-Known Member
    Penn State Nittany LionsNotre Dame Fighting Irish

    Does anyone know if I have a Fujitsu Halycon mini split system if I can change out the wall controls with a smart thermostat?

    The issue I have is partly a shitty contractor. He didn’t believe me when I said the two units had to be on for me to get the one in my office to cool with air conditioning. It works fine now that I need heat but my research tells me it’s probably some issue with the communication wires and maybe a bad thermostat. He can’t get me a replacement yet and I see they are probably $200+. I’d rather just replace it with something more functional.
     
  11. Stone Cold Steve Austin

    Stone Cold Steve Austin Tickler Extraordinaire
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    Has anyone ever had an air purifier/UV light recommended to them by your A/C guy?

    He took a picture of the ductwork:
    C84090C8-1086-4D03-8446-4EAFD4938120.jpeg

    And recommended that we install this:
    B2271D70-59B6-48BA-9CED-75A5E27E5A74.jpeg

    I like the guys we use but also wanted to make sure that this wasn’t a scam
     
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  12. Stone Cold Steve Austin

    Stone Cold Steve Austin Tickler Extraordinaire
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    He said that our duct work was old and might be destroyed if they cleaned it.
     
  13. IV

    IV Freedom is the right of all sentient beings
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    I’d ask more questions about replacement and the costs involved vs the bandaid he’s presenting

    no idea if it’s a scam though
     
  14. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    You can research and find all kinds of info on what UV lights in ducts can actually do.

    Going off that picture alone I would say your ductwork is just a little dusty. Nothing about a uv light would help that.

    If you have allergy issues or have some odors, a uv light can help that stuff, if you believe in them.

    Personally I'm pretty skeptical about the benefits of uv in moving air.
     
  15. Simon Templar

    Simon Templar Well-Known Member
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    We make UV lights for hospitals and I think the air stuff is absolute bullshit if that helps. The time it takes to kills different pathogens and molds in moving air would take an astronomical light source to be done with any real kind of efficacy imo.
     
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  16. NDfanPSUgrad

    NDfanPSUgrad Well-Known Member
    Penn State Nittany LionsNotre Dame Fighting Irish

    That picture reminded me of this recent purchase. Handy little camera that has helped me look behind a wall above my AC unit.

    Wireless Endoscope, DEPSTECH...
     
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  17. AptosDuck

    AptosDuck Pedantic Hausfrau
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    good for DIY colonoscopies, too
     
  18. NDfanPSUgrad

    NDfanPSUgrad Well-Known Member
    Penn State Nittany LionsNotre Dame Fighting Irish

    There were clear instructions where you should not put it on the box.
     
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  19. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    And?
     
  20. NDfanPSUgrad

    NDfanPSUgrad Well-Known Member
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    Just pictures of nose and ear and toilet if I remember correctly.
     
  21. Oranjello

    Oranjello Well-Known Member
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    This thing looks sweet. I browse TMB in Safari but mostly use Chrome. So I clicked the link on TMB, opened the page in Safari, copied the URL, and pasted it into Chrome (where I'm logged into Amazon) and... it was $5 cheaper on Amazon. I knew Amazon used dynamic pricing, but I don't think I've ever seen a $5 difference literally seconds apart

    Safari:

    upload_2022-10-6_16-25-54.png


    Chrome:

    upload_2022-10-6_16-26-37.png
     
  22. IV

    IV Freedom is the right of all sentient beings
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    That’s legit nuts
     
  23. ButchCassidy

    ButchCassidy Well-Known Member
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    Wait, what? I usually use the Amazon app.
     
  24. PAHokie

    PAHokie Can't a bitch living say I bought her Michael Kors
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    Oh that’s wild. It is cheaper in the app then the webpage.
     
  25. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    I never even considered comparing prices on Amazon v Amazon on different devices
     
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  26. C Yank

    C Yank #WalkOnCoach
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    It’s more than likely a cache issue. I can assure you amazon does not price different by device/browser.
     
  27. Name P. Redacted

    Name P. Redacted I have no money and I'm also gay
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    That’s exactly what Amazon wants us to think
     
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  28. C Yank

    C Yank #WalkOnCoach
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    Well I work there so. I will say they may price differently based on your location though.
     
  29. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    Like a guy stocking the warehouse would know that
     
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  30. C Yank

    C Yank #WalkOnCoach
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    BF8E2A2F-297B-4D53-8BD6-C6205CFEA869.gif
     
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  31. pperc

    pperc Well-Known Member
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    Amazon AI chat is getting good
     
  32. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    Cross posting in the recent purchase thread but any suggestions on a chair mat for low ply carpets? I purchased one that was decently recommended but it's the plastic and it feels like my chair (and my fatass) is still sinking into it. I'm leaning towards the glass versions but didn't know if anyone had any thoughts/guidance.
     
  33. Name P. Redacted

    Name P. Redacted I have no money and I'm also gay
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    Kansas State WildcatsSeattle Kraken

    there's thick plastic ones you can get that are similar to glass. I recommend you go that route.
     
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  34. infected donkey

    infected donkey Arkansas Razorbacks
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    went this route for our house, I have a glass mat in my office (hardwood), wife has a thick as fuck plastic mat in her office. (carpet) fyi for hers we went through 2 types to find one that would work with that type of carpet surface.
     
  35. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    Do you remember when you got it or which one it was?

    This is the one I purchased that I don't think is any good:
    OFM Office Chair Mat for Carpet – Plastic Floor Mat for Office Chair (46” x 60”)
    https://a.co/ikRjyfl
     
  36. infected donkey

    infected donkey Arkansas Razorbacks
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  37. infected donkey

    infected donkey Arkansas Razorbacks
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  38. One Two

    One Two Hot Dog Vibes
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    I hate the foggers/sprays bc they indiscriminately kill other bugs including beneficial ones.

    I just do the common deterrents like citronella candles when outside on the deck or patio and off spray when doing yard work.
     
  39. ned's head

    ned's head Well-Known Member
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    Depends on how much space you're covering.

     
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  40. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    I've used their hose end yard spray (same stuff I think) several times.
    It definitely works well, but only for a few days.
    So I only use that stuff like right before we are having company or a gathering.

    I bought one of those big thermocell things almost a month ago and it's been running on my patio 24 hours a day since.
    It sure catches a shit house load of bugs, but I am not sure I can tell the difference in amount of mosquitoes around
     
  41. ned's head

    ned's head Well-Known Member
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  42. Funshot Residue

    Funshot Residue Mammoth Stabber
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  43. Det. Frank Bullitt

    Det. Frank Bullitt God Bless Texas
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    Yeah - should be influential but def not gospel.

    I came across a much better report like this last week but that tab is open on another computer. If I remember I'll post it, as it was broken down by region and the methodology/drill down was better.
     
  44. PAHokie

    PAHokie Can't a bitch living say I bought her Michael Kors
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    It sure the thread for it, but just got an email from Roku that they are getting into smart home stuff, interesting. However it all looks exactly like WYZE stuff. So did they partner or are they just using the same manufacturers and ripping it off?
     
  45. WillySaliba

    WillySaliba Well-Known Member
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    It's Wyze, they partnered up.
     
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  46. southlick

    southlick "Better Than You"
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  47. Imurhuckleberry

    Imurhuckleberry Avid spectator of windmill warriors
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    Are we all kind of on hold in re smart devices until Matter is sorted and proves solid? Was looking at some of the Amazon offers but don’t want to put out the money until everything is good.
     
  48. Imurhuckleberry

    Imurhuckleberry Avid spectator of windmill warriors
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    Washer and Dryer question (maybe consumer reports?)

    may our home that we air bnb the choke point on our turns is laundry. Our washing machine isn’t terribly old but it’s extremely slow because it uses less water. We have space for a second laundry room so we’re thinking of getting the second set upstairs. Don’t want to go full industrial but would love to be able to wash 12 full size towels in less than an hour. Any recommendations y’all?
     
  49. Tommy Jefferson

    Tommy Jefferson Well-Known Member
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    Buy a second set of linens to swap out when cleaning the place.

    or make your guests bring their own linens