drjoek's homeowners tips.

[drjoek]

Not everyone here is a young single person living the life. I thought it would be a good idea to share some tips that you and I might have to help with the adventure that is being a home owner. These things are helpful for anyone.
Feel free to pitch in with any tip that might be of assistance.
My first tip.

Yesterday I did one of my semi annual jobs.
Vacuuming out the refrigerator compressor
If you do this once or twice a year you will save the life of the fridge and also lower your electric bill the refrigerator is one of the biggest energy hogs and this is a good way to cut down on its appetite.

How to Clean Refrigerator Coils
It is very important to clean condenser coils on forced-air refrigerators, such as side-by-side and built-in models, at least twice a year. (If you have a refrigerator with the black coils mounted on the back, these coils don't require semiannual cleaning.)

Here's how to do it:

1) Pull the refrigerator away from the wall, and unplug it. Or, if it's a built-in model, turn off its circuit breaker.




2) Remove the cover panel to reveal the coils. On most models, the kick plate or top trim plate simply lifts off. You may have to remove a few screws to remove a back cover.

3) With a long, narrow nozzle on your vacuum, clean out all of the dust and debris. (At an appliance parts store, you can buy a special long-handled brush that looks somewhat like a bottle brush for this job.)

4) Replace the cover, and then plug the electrical cord back in or turn the circuit back on.
As a rule, refrigerators are the most dependable of all large appliances. Even so, they do fail to do their jobs adequately on occasion, and when they do, the results can be disastrous because expensive food can spoil in a hurry.

Though most problems call for a repairperson, there are a few simple repairs you can handle yourself by checking the power, controls, condenser coils, and other parts outside of your refrigerator's sealed, hermetic system.

Remember that the best way to lengthen the life of a refrigerator is to clean the condenser coils once a year—or more frequently if they get dirty.

[lleeder]

Remove screws? I'm no Bob Villa that ain't happening.

[Nothing Sound]

Holy shit. And people tell me that I have no life.

[joethebartender]

Did you clean off the vacuum when you were done? Or did you just stick it back in a patient's mouth?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2264/2223883497_90c92f200a.jpg?v=0

[~Katja~]

I guess after 5 years it's time to vacuum the compressor.. huh

[Sinestro]

1. Leave the toilet seat down.

2. Always place stuff back where you got it.

3. Don't throw away stuff without asking first.

4. You can't win in the end, so why bother.

[lleeder]

I vacuum out every appliance. TV,microwave ,toaster, computer,ipod, vacuum

[drjoek]

Holy shit. And people tell me that I have no life.

I've never claimed otherwise.:bye:
I have also had to replace the compressor on a 5 year old Sub Zero fridge. Fucking expensive so thats why I vacuum it out NOW

[Judge Smails]

Here's what I do:

1. Wait till something breaks or otherwise stops working.

2. Call repair guy / home improvement guy / plumber etc. etc.

3. Pay out the ass for whatever they ask for.

[drjoek]

Here's what I do:

1. Wait till something breaks or otherwise stops working.

2. Call repair guy / home improvement guy / plumber etc. etc.

3. Pay out the ass for whatever they ask for.

Well this wil be the thread for you!

[Nothing Sound]

The only time I might vacuum is if I spill something on the
floor and even then I wait a few days to see if she'll get it first.

[Nothing Sound]

I have also had to replace the compressor on a 5 year old Sub Zero fridge. Fucking expensive so thats why I vacuum it out NOW

I would just buy another fridge.

[A.J.]

If nothing else, I should at least dust behind the refrigerator. It's been a while for that.

[Lil oc]

Have a glade plug in in every room. Actually replace the smelly thingies when they're empty.

[ecobag2]

Something tells me a dentistry thread really would have been good for you.

It would have served me better than this one.

But on the other hand - I can offer advice in this thread.

Thanks Doc.

[lleeder]

The only time I might vacuum is if I spill something on the
floor and even then I wait a few days to see if she'll get it first.

Why not wipe up a spill?

[~Katja~]

I would just buy another fridge.

you have thousands laying around?

[ecobag2]

Know your shut off points. If you're unsure of what they are - check with your utility companies. (i.e. water company, furnace service person, gas company, your Uncle Bob)

Usually if you have gas coming in to your home or condo you have a gas water heater, gas stove and/or gas dryer. Know how to shut the gas off for anything if you smell a leak. Then call for service.

You'll likely have water coming into the house. Know where the main shutoff coming into the house is. If you're unsure ask someone from the water company to come show it for you and leave a tag on it. Anytime you think something water-related's broken and your house/condo's about to flood - go straight to the shut off till you can figure out what's up. No harm done if you killed the water for no reason - you can just turn it back on again.

If you burn fuel oil (diesel) in your furnace - know where the burner kill switch is. Usually marked out by a red switch plate and looks just like a light switch. If there's a fire (or any problem you think's related to the furnace) - and it's safe to go for that switch, throw it. It may keep your place from burning to the ground.

[lleeder]

Whats the best way to paint top to bottom, bottom to top, left to right, right to left, or in a circular pattern?

[ecobag2]

Whats the best way to paint top to bottom, bottom to top, left to right, right to left, or in a circular pattern?

Depends on if you have an upcoming match with Cobra Kai.

If so Up and Down. Snap wrist with each stroke.

I'd recommend training on the outside of an entire house.

[~Katja~]

Whats the best way to paint top to bottom, bottom to top, left to right, right to left, or in a circular pattern?

you start with overlapping V's and then cover the second and third from top to bottom...
and when painting satin or eggshell finish complete a wall, else it will show lines where you left off

[razorboy]

I installed a solar panel for my hot water system a few days ago. That was fun.

[~Katja~]

I installed a solar panel for my hot water system a few days ago. That was fun.

how hard is that to do? my house runs entirely on electric and I was thinking of going with solar panels.

[Judge Smails]

I installed a solar panel for my hot water system a few days ago. That was fun.

how hard is that to do? my house runs entirely on electric and I was thinking of going with solar panels.

My house had solar panels for hot water when I moved in. Last year I added a solar heater for the pool. Cost me $4K for the system and installation. Again, that's how I roll - there's no problem or project too big for me to throw some money at. I have a very "Green" house in more ways than one.

[~Katja~]

My house had solar panels for hot water when I moved in. Last year I added a solar heater for the pool. Cost me $4K for the system and installation. Again, that's how I roll - there's no problem or project too big for me to throw some money at. I have a very "Green" house in more ways than one.

hope it's not mold.. a little bleach will take care of that ;)


I wonder how much it would cost me to have solar installed, I know NJ gives a tax rebate for it, wonder if PA does too... as much as my electric bill is manageable, going green on that would be much preferred.

[razorboy]

how hard is that to do? my house runs entirely on electric and I was thinking of going with solar panels.

It was pretty complicated by my estimation. I had my Dad come over to help me and he is far more mechanically inclined than me. I'm relatively useless outside of reparing cars or mixing boards. I used my current HW tank and after mounting the roof kit and the panel it was a matter of draining the existing system and adding some vents and valves on the roof. We used a conversion kit so the tank reverts to electric when necessary. It took about two on and off beer interrupted half days and cost a little more than $1500 all told.

[albo60s]

Always turn the water to the hoses off when not in use.
We came home one day last summer & immediatly heard this whoooooshing sound coming from the basement. It was the water running full tilt because the hose had burst & was flooding the garden. The hose had an anuerism like bulge that had burst under the water pressure. The bill was quite a bit higher that quarter!!!
Glad it wasn't a hose on the washing machine, that would have been much worse.

[Whiskeyportal]

My water main was cracked during hurricane Ike when a tree fell over and hit it. I had no idea until someone from the water company came by and showed me my water meter. Bastards gave me a thousand dollar water bill, and expect me to pay it. Sums of bitches.

[Nothing Sound]

The only time I might vacuum is if I spill something on the
floor and even then I wait a few days to see if she'll get it first.

Why not wipe up a spill?


On the carpet. If I spill something on the carpet I'll wait for her to vacuum it up.
Most of the time she will or if she doesn't notice it'll eventually just work its way in.

[drjoek]

This weeks tip
Smoke Detector Safety.

A good rule of thumb to remember with smoke detectors is to change the batteries at daylight savings time, twice a year. If your smoke detector starts chirping or beeping off and on, it's time to change the batteries.


Test your smoke detector once a month.

Buy a few extra batteries when you purchase your detector so that you always have some on hand. It's easy to put this important, life-saving task on hold.

Replace all smoke detectors after 10 years.

You may want to consider purchasing a combination smoke/carbon monoxide detector, which costs more money but is well worth it.

Avoid getting any paint or dust on your smoke detector.

[Freitag]

edit n/m

[joethebartender]

While you're at it; why not replace the batteries in any other lifesaving devices you may have about the house?

http://z.about.com/d/sexuality/1/5/j/2/soft_rubber_vibrators.jpg

[drjoek]

While you're at it; why not replace the batteries in any other lifesaving devices you may have about the house?

http://z.about.com/d/sexuality/1/5/j/2/soft_rubber_vibrators.jpg

I think the Mrs runs those batteries down a little more often.

[SatCam]

how often should I replace my toothbrush?

[Fez4PrezN2008]

I found out that its probably a good idea to vacuum out or snake out your dryer vent tunnel once every 8 or 9 years or when your dryer catches on fire, whichever happens first. :sad:

[drjoek]

I found out that its probably a good idea to vacuum out or snake out your dryer vent tunnel once every 8 or 9 years or when your dryer catches on fire, whichever happens first. :sad:

Funny thing was that was going to be my tip for next week. I actually do it once a year w/ a chimmney sweep because we have a real twisty dryer vent. It makes the dryer run alot more efficiently dries clothes faster and prevents fires as you have already learned.

[drjoek]

how often should I replace my toothbrush?

Every 6-8 weeks is a good idea or as soon as the bristles start to curl.

[Fez4PrezN2008]

Funny thing was that was going to be my tip for next week. I actually do it once a year w/ a chimmney sweep because we have a real twisty dryer vent. It makes the dryer run alot more efficiently dries clothes faster and prevents fires as you have already learned.
Once a year is a little ambitious don't you think? I like to go by this mnemonic - If you smell the smoke, it's time to poke.

[drjoek]

Once a year is a little ambitious don't you think? I like to go by this mnemonic - If you smell the smoke, it's time to poke.

Ours , being bent and crooked gets clogged so we just have the guy do it when he cleans our chimmney. Ive always been a preventive maintenace guy, clean the septic tank every year, oil change every 3000 miles

[ToiletCrusher]

If you really want this thread to take off, you should follow in snoogans' footsteps.

[drjoek]

Take care of your fucking house you pussys!!!

[ToiletCrusher]

Take care of your fucking house you pussys!!!

attaboy!

[Snoogans]

Take care of your fucking house you pussys!!!

hoo hoo

[Mullenax]

:help: I need a homeowner tip, what's the first step in locating a leak in the roof?
We got our first ceiling water stain. No standing water up there, but it looks like it's been patched around before. The roof is supposed to have another eight years left (according to our homeowners inspection of about a year ago).

[drjoek]

bump for mexi
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