Questions tagged [maintenance]
Preventing things from becoming damaged, broken or unusable.
134
questions
3
votes
2answers
65 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
31 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
93 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
28 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
64 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
34 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
1k 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
40 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
226 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
290 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
158 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
3
votes
2answers
207 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
419 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
92 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
78 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
125 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
16 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
519 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
49 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
52 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
690 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 ...
0
votes
2answers
821 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 ...
1
vote
3answers
229 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
5answers
8k 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
63 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
617 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
122 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
201 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
3k 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
48 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
1k 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
219 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
808 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
649 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
47 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
532 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
143 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&...
0
votes
1answer
96 views
Low-profile clear cover for a basement window
I'm looking to protect some wooden exterior basement window casing so that I don't have to re-paint it so regularly.
I've seen window well covers like so:
...which could be useful except that this ...
1
vote
1answer
54 views
Is it ok to have a rise in an air compressors drain valve?
The designer of my compressor unfortunately didn't put a whole lot of thought into where to put the drain valve on it. It's on the back, and the compressor is against the wall, in a corner, usually ...
2
votes
1answer
176 views
Fixing a toilet deceptively complicated, where did I go wrong?
I have a toilet which was both running and leaking and I tried to fix it myself.
I replaced the fill valve, the flush valve and the main gasket, all with items from Home Depot. Home Depot had one ...
8
votes
7answers
13k views
How NOT to use a power drill. What are common mistakes that should be avoided? [closed]
While I know how to operate a power drill in general (by the manual, so to say), I am wondering which things I should avoid of doing to it, in order to get the best out of the drill. I want to know ...
1
vote
1answer
4k views
What type of Anode rod should I get for my water heater?
It's time to replace my anode rod and I'm not sure what type I should get (Magnesium, Aluminum, Combination, or Powered). I have a well and use a water softener. I have a high iron content (orange ...
3
votes
2answers
3k views
Why is my furnace leaking, and what is it leaking?
I have a Honeywell Beckett oil burner/furnace that is less than 8 years old. We've lived in our home for 6 years now, and it has been running like a champ the whole time (no problems whatsoever). Most ...
0
votes
2answers
4k views
How to prevent tree stump from decaying
Not sure if this is the right place to ask this question. I have a very large eucaliptos tree. I have recently been told by at least two tree surgeons that the tree is dying and should be taken down....
14
votes
8answers
43k views
Should I run the tap while dumping boiling water?
It seems to be common advice to run the cold water while dumping boiling water down the drain (for example, when draining pasta). A variety of reasons are cited for this, one of which is that it is ...
1
vote
2answers
2k views
A/C tune-up: “Condenser fan motor drawing high amperage”
A local A/C company was offering a deal on a home heating/cooling "check-up". I've never worked with this particular company before, and I've had some bad experiences in the past (different home, ...
3
votes
2answers
7k views
Why should I replace the starter every time I replace a fluorescent tube?
Many fluorescent tube guides recommend replacing the bimetallic strip starter every time the tube is replaced; however, no one seems to provide a specific reason why it needs replacing. Presumably you ...
