Questions tagged [maintenance]
Preventing things from becoming damaged, broken or unusable.
144
questions
1
vote
1answer
25 views
Getting rid of ants in exterior wall
While doing maintenance on an exterior wall near an inside corner, I pulled off rotted cedar shingles and the backing underneath to find scurrying black ants. They were small, not like I imagine ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
Help me identify: Mold or fungus or Moss?
I live in a rental house and I see this growing on roof.
What is it: is it moss mold or some fungus/algae?
Should i be worried for my health?
The clear line where it grows is likely because it has ...
1
vote
1answer
31 views
Can I drill access holes so that I can change a front load washer door seal without unstacking dryer
I have a GE front-load washer (wcvh6800j1ww) with a dryer mounted on top. I need to change the door seal, and the default instructions (linked below) involve removing the top and control panel in ...
0
votes
0answers
29 views
Shocked O3 pool system with calcium hypochlorte, but free chlorine at 0. Is this expected? Cause for concern?
My understanding is that swimming pool water should be kept at around 1-3ppm free chlorine level. However 1.5 days after shocking small 2000 gallon pool with 2 pounds of 56% calcium hypochlorite (good ...
0
votes
3answers
56 views
What should I use to cover shower framing behind tile in a bathroom?
I have this repair I have to do at work. I have an idea on what to do but I am not entire sure. My thoughts are to start with installing a wood board than drywall mud and than tile. Of course there ...
3
votes
1answer
34 views
How to properly refinish & maintain exterior siding behind circuit panel
I have a cabin in a four season climate.
The exterior siding is western bevel cedar (horizontal, overlapping boards).
The circuit panel is located on the exterior of the house, mounted against the ...
1
vote
1answer
45 views
Snow blower : 0w30 or 5w30 [closed]
My snow blower manual recommends 0w30 oil but every store recommends 5w30.
Which would be better for the longevity of my snow blower and why?
0
votes
2answers
34 views
Lennox gas furnace maintenance
I bought brand new Lennox HE natural gas furnace 3 years back. It has been running perfectly. My dealer recommends to do a preventive maintenance because of 3 years time span. I regularly change the ...
0
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2answers
374 views
Filling the gap between deck boards
We have two gumtrees over a largish deck - 10 x 4 m with 120mm Merbau. I had 80mm before it was redone. The gumnuts and sticks and leaves are a total pain! The trees are nice but all year they make a ...
0
votes
1answer
103 views
Filling a Viessmann Vitodens 100W that has dropped to minimum pressure
I have a Viessmann Vitodens 100-W that heats my house, and I presume delivers hot water too.
I must confess I have been negligent, and never had it serviced. The unit is 8 years old. I will get it ...
3
votes
2answers
71 views
Cleaning electric heaters
I own a home heated with the wall mounted wall heaters that need to be cleaned every year. The way it's recommended to clean them is just simply remove the cover and vacuum out to the insides, if not ...
0
votes
0answers
117 views
What is the best way to ensure new air conditioning units stay level?
We live in Northern Illinois (-20F in Winter + 1-2 ft snow to 100F summer) and have two a/c units which are now 30 years old and it is time to replace them.
They are located on the north side of our ...
0
votes
2answers
106 views
Why does an air-conditioner need maintenance and a fridge does not?
Does anyone know why an air-conditioner needs regular maintenance while a fridge doesn't?
1
vote
0answers
32 views
stats on *total* cost of high-efficiency boiler?
Not trying to start a subjective debate here, just looking for some objective statistics.
I get that high-efficiency boilers are much more efficient, and will save big bucks over their lifetime in ...
-1
votes
1answer
111 views
Caulking wood panels at bottom of bay window configuration
A contractor doing some other work around the house noticed a small section of wood on the panel of the bay window in this picture was starting to soften. He recommended caulking the bottom to keep ...
0
votes
1answer
45 views
Fastening stone stair treads to a CMU base in a removable manner
I'm designing a very, very low set of landscape stairs (really more like a wide stoop) to transition two areas of my yard. My plan is to pour a concrete base slab, build a core with CMUs on top of ...
1
vote
2answers
43 views
HVAC Preventative Maintenance
Is it necessary to add bleach or vinegar monthly to HVAC line when system is not in use, mainly when air conditioning and heat are not necessary.
0
votes
2answers
2k views
Clean or replace aerators in Kohler 1261404-VS spray head?
I have a Kohler pull-down kitchen faucet with a Kohler 1261404-VS spray head. Recently the water stopped flowing as strongly through it. We had a similar issue with some bathroom faucets, and ...
1
vote
1answer
50 views
Tell if hardwood floor is oiled or laquered
From what I understand on the internet, there are two main types of finishing for hardwood floor, oiling and lacquering / painting, and the two kinds require different maintenance.
I have a bedroom ...
1
vote
1answer
410 views
Where is the lint filter?
For months now, my washer/dryer combo has become less and less effective at actually drying anything I put in it.
I've gotten the advice from some friends to check (regularly) and clean the lint ...
0
votes
2answers
345 views
is this due to termites? any idea what's causing the wood to turn to sawdust?
Pics below.
I had this gouge on some wood paneling. The area inside the gouge seemed to be crumbling, and there was always a pool of sawdust below it. I covered it up with some caulk (brown caulk). ...
0
votes
1answer
263 views
How to further disassemble cordless drill/driver chuck?
I've completely disassembled cordless drill/driver Black&Decker EGBL188 H1 10mm, except this chuck, as seen in the pictures.
I've tried pulling out the plastic piece: I've put the chuck facing up ...
16
votes
2answers
3k views
What kind of nut is this
what is the name of this nut, I need to find a way to loosen it .
From the top
4
votes
2answers
473 views
Do I really need to replace the anode rod?
Whenever I look online for information relating to anode rods in a water heater, they most often say they should be replaced regularly (4-5 years). However, every single plumber I have talked to has ...
1
vote
1answer
666 views
Why is my tablesaw whining?
I have a Craftsman 113.298031 tablesaw. Recently it has started making a whining sound and the blade is easily bogged down. Previously the blade bogged down without the noise and I had to tighten ...
1
vote
2answers
140 views
Burning Rubber Smell From Drill Press Belts
After 20+ years my drill press finally ate a belt. Before the belt failed there was a burning rubber smell. Now after replacing both belts, the smell is still there.
I don't see anything obvious and ...
0
votes
1answer
82 views
Once a person has bought a house (not new build) what are things to be done to maintain the house? [closed]
When we buy a car, we have to check its oil and coolant level and periodically change its filters. Different parts of the car need to be changed as the car ages since some parts have longer lifespan ...
0
votes
2answers
128 views
What problems will I face with this all glass stairwell?
So i'm planning to build my own house and i have hired an architect to design it. So today they shown me the sketch up model and the floor plan. 1 thing really bother me, where i have concern that the ...
0
votes
0answers
27 views
Servicing 2 stroke line trimmer
I have a 4 year old 2 stroke line trimmer (Husqvarna 524L) which is working beautifully but has never been taken back to the store for a service. I have washed the filters a couple of times, but done ...
0
votes
1answer
776 views
Main circuit breaker keeps tripping
my main circuit breaker keeps tripping randomly. I have hired an electrical servicing company, they have rewired the Water heater system and installed separate circuit breaker (thinking it could have ...
1
vote
1answer
107 views
Is there a way to remove rust from behind a shower fixture?
I have rust starting from seemingly behind a shower fixture. Possibly something I did, but possibly some rust that was bound to happen eventually.
What's the first step in a situation like this? It ...
1
vote
0answers
57 views
What's this exterior wall treatment and how should I paint it?
I need to paint the exterior walls of this house, but I am not sure what is the material of the walls.
I know this type of houses came from Finland to to south of Argentina because they are excellent ...
2
votes
3answers
1k views
Restoring steel casement windows
I’m dealing with some 1930’s era steel casement windows, Tudor revival style, that are in reasonably good shape for the most part. They need some maintenance and would like some suggestions for how ...
1
vote
2answers
1k views
Where do you put the oil when oiling a fan?
I know some fan motors have ports to oil but many do not (bathroom exhaust fan, bathroom heater fan, regular house fan, etc). How do you oil the ones that do not have ports?
Specifically, where do you ...
1
vote
3answers
424 views
Should a chainsaw go dull so quickly?
I recently moved to a new home which had a lot of felled trees which needed to be bucked up into logs. I bought a 14" Husqvarna 967158004 to accomplish this.
The shop I bought it from gave me a ...
18
votes
6answers
13k views
How can I stop a toilet seat from rapidly loosening?
The seat on my toilet always works itself loose. It has plastic thumb-screw-style nuts that tighten on to bolts on the underside of the toilet. The left nut works itself loose over the course of a ...
0
votes
1answer
73 views
AC \ Heatpump radiator corrosion
The example, from another posting, shows radiator corrosion. My heat pump's radiator is so corroded that it is unable to radiate heat and now the heat pump must be replaced. What preventative ...
0
votes
1answer
757 views
How to secure privacy lattice to top of existing fence gate?
I want to fix some privacy lattice installed along the fences at a property I maintain. Most of the lattice installed along the actual FENCE is solid - I’m assuming because the bottoms of the lattice ...
2
votes
1answer
148 views
Mystery of misbehaving hose bibs and missing shutoffs
My father recently passed away, and I'm working on getting his house ready for sale. For the most part, Dad kept up with preventive maintenance, but obviously things slipped a little in the last year ...
2
votes
2answers
204 views
When buying a rental home after many years of our occupancy, is a home inspection still necessary? [closed]
I lived in a rental home for around 8 years and am currently negotiating the cash purchase of it. Because I've lived here for so long and (this is my first home purchase),I'm very familiar with the ...
2
votes
5answers
5k views
How can I clean these small, enclosed gutters on a mobile home patio?
My friend owns a mobile home that has a patio over the front porch. There is a thin gutter system running along the length of the house & porch, terminating over the porch area. The gutter system ...
0
votes
3answers
50 views
Through-wall AC troubleshooting
The AC produces cool air for a short period and then ceases to produces cold air after 10-20 minutes. It will repeat this cycle if turned off for ~1.5 hours
What can be concluded from the ...
0
votes
2answers
3k views
Outdoor faucet's indoor shutoff valve not working - OK to drip water out of faucet through winter?
We have an outdoor faucet on the side of the house with a shutoff valve that no longer appears functional. (Thankfully, the house's main water valve does shut off water, but many other valves appear ...
0
votes
1answer
2k views
What amount of moisture is acceptable in a mostly dry concrete basement?
My basement is generally very dry but I want to know how much moisture is too much, to better prioritize when I need to reduce it.
The basement is mostly concrete floors and walls with exposed wood ...
4
votes
1answer
225 views
Flushing a water heater
I replaced my water heater 2 years ago, this weekend I plan on flushing it. I have read steps anywhere from turn off the gas and stop the water line, to just open the spigot at the bottom and fill up ...
0
votes
1answer
1k views
Is this 'Ant Killer' effective to kill carpet moth? [closed]
I've noticed a few moth flying around a carpeted area as well as some possibly larvae. I already have this ant killer powder and wondering if it would be effective for the moth and other insects?
The ...
0
votes
1answer
823 views
How do you drain a carburetor?
Chainsaw manufacturers recommend "draining the carburetor" before putting the chainsaw into storage for a period of disuse. This would seem to be a good idea as otherwise the fuel could damage the ...
0
votes
0answers
49 views
Smell coming from clean bathrooms in apartment, possibly drains?
I am renting an apartment in the Midwest United States and I have noticed that during a change in the seasons that a rotten smell seems to be coming from the two bathrooms in my 2nd story apartment.
...
0
votes
0answers
562 views
Pressure flushing a hot water heater when it's below the main drain of the house
Our water heater (30 gal State gas tank, '04 edition) is quite overdue for a flush at bare minimum. I was planning on doing a pressure flush with the hot side closed off, the gas valve set to "pilot",...
1
vote
1answer
147 views
What is the most efficient process for replacing water heater T&P relief valve and flushing water heater?
A home built in 2007 will come under new ownership. It is unknown whether previous owners maintained the water heater properly. Home inspector said that the water heater temperature and pressure (T&...