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<title>Home Repair &#x26; Improvement forum - dslreports.com community</title>
<link>http://www.dslreports.com/forum/homerepair</link>
<description>Home Repair &#x26; Improvement forum current topics</description>
<language>en</language>
<copyright>Copyright 2007, dslreports.com</copyright>
<pubDate>Thu, 26 Nov 2009 06:23:55 EDT</pubDate>
<lastBuildDate>Thu, 26 Nov 2009 06:23:55 EDT</lastBuildDate>

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<item>
<title>water heater question</title>
<link>http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23363742</link>
<description><![CDATA[I bought a new water heater about 2 months ago and installed it myself.  It is working but yesterday I noticed that the plastic sleeves around the water inlets and the anode rod seem to be melting on the sides that are by the heat stack in the middle.  I will try to get some pictures but does anyone know if this is normal?
Thanks,
JH]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23363742</guid>
<pubDate>2009-11-19 08:46:14</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Water bill surprise--- Advice requested!</title>
<link>http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23251906</link>
<description><![CDATA[Just some background info:  I'm a single guy atm living in a home.

Bought house in Nov. 07.    The city places Water, Sewer, Stormwater, Trash all on the same bill.   The rate you pay for sewer and stormwater is taken from five year average of December, January and February usage.

Since I've lived in the city, both prior to buying this house, and since moving in, my water usage is normally under 1,000 gallons a month.    With my propensity to take long showers, and since I have my own washer and dryer now (ahh, the luxury!) occasionally the bill will be for 2 units (under 2000 gallons.)  

That's been the history.

With the August bill this year, the bill was for 3 units.   I think that's happened 2 or 3 times in 15 or so years,  probably simply to do with when the meter was read, about to roll over, etc.

Anyway, I wasn't concerned.

Then last month's bill came.   8,000 gallons.   Whoa.   Now that's just not right.   Never used close to that amount.     However, there was a lot of bad weather, very rainy, etc and the meter pit could have been full of water,  so I figured this might just be a mistaken reading or over-estimated reading.   It's happened before, but on the following month, the error is self correcting.   I set the bill aside and told myself to watch the next bill to make sure I got my "adjustment" (Probably negative usage.)

Then wham.   Bill was waiting in mailbox today.   I open it.

11,000 gallons.   Sorry, there's just no way.    This is 5-6 times normal usage, and I haven't done anything different, had any houseguests, filled any swimming pools, etc etc!

I just completed an inspection of my home.   No dripping faucets inside or out.   No dripping tub or sink faucets,  Laundry lines look good.  The master bathroom toilet looks like occasionally it might be running a very little.   I'll address this issue,  but even if it's wasting a little water, it's not 10,000 gallons.   It would have to be leaking 13+ gallons an hour to make a bill like that.

I have a tankless hot water heater, and the lines look good no sign of a leak.

Also, walking the outside of the house and the lawn, I can't find any "wet spots" or places where water is running/leaking anywhere, indicating a possible leaking pipe.

Any advice people?  Anything I can try?  Could it be something else?   I'm kind of stuck on how to proceed, and I don't want such usage going into December and pushing up the rate for Sewer, Stormwater, etc for the rest of the year!

Help?

 
--
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini
]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23251906</guid>
<pubDate>2009-10-27 22:23:28</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>Tankless water heaters?</title>
<link>http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23340071</link>
<description><![CDATA[Howdy guys,

Done a bunch of reading on the internet and wondering if anyone here is experienced with tankless hot water heaters and cares to share their opinion.

I've read a few common problems: Minimum flow issues and being too far away from the source of use.

We would be buying a natural gas model.  If I did purchase one I will get my father down here this winter to install it - something he is completely capable of doing.

I guess my question is - do the better models (Natural Gas) really provide 'unlimited hot water'?  If I place the tankless water heater where the old tank water heater is besides having to wait for the water to arrive at the tap are there any other problems?

Thanks guys!]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23340071</guid>
<pubDate>2009-11-14 08:21:36</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>Floor outlet plugs</title>
<link>http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23397562</link>
<description><![CDATA[We just did a great room renovation and I messed up on the outlet location install.  Instead of it being underneath the sofa's, it is now under the area rug.  I am concerned about the plugs being above ground therefore being stepped on.  Is it possible to have the plugs set just below the wood floor top???  My husband had it right, I got it wrong.  I wished I would have listened to him this time.  :)  Can anyone recommend a fix to this issue.  Your help would be greatly appreciated.]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23397562</guid>
<pubDate>2009-11-26 00:11:06</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>Looking to buy our first home.</title>
<link>http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23394938</link>
<description><![CDATA[Hey all. I didn't know which forum to use so I decided to use this one, since I am technically wanting to fix my house problem :)

My wife and I are looking to purchase our first home. We are living in an apartment and are desperately wanting to get out of here. (We're in our mid 20s). I have a solid job and make a decent amount of money.

Aside from browsing for houses on the internet, what are some other great tips one can use to help find their perfect new home? Can I simply call up a real estate agent and ask them to help me find a house? Not sure how this all works as I've never really had to do anything like this before.

Also, what are some things I should look for. Stuff that may not be obvious. I know to check on things like, date on furnace, roof, shingles, which appliances, location, taxes, etc - anything I'm urgent that I'm missing here?

Loans, what are good interest rates in Canada right now? Anything to be cautious of, I've never had to take a huge loan before.

Your help will be greatly appreciated :)

Thanks all.  :D]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23394938</guid>
<pubDate>2009-11-25 13:58:59</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>[Rant] my primer got moldy</title>
<link>http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23391883</link>
<description><![CDATA[I finished drywalling my walk in closet, and just to make sure I have everything to continue,  I checked my leftover bucket (about 1/3) of wallboard primer.  !@#$%%^&*~$%@!  Black blotches and speckles on the wall, floating things on the top of the fluid....   :( 

I guess now I have to ask the store to mix in some fungicide when I buy some primer again. 

Is there any difference between primers I can get in Lowes, HD, or Parker Paint to make it worthwhile to go with one or the other?

TIA
--
And the winner is:]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23391883</guid>
<pubDate>2009-11-24 22:20:11</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>Just saw something dangerous: part deux</title>
<link>http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23376684</link>
<description><![CDATA[Just saw something dangerous: part deux

Remember my recent post regarding the dangerous electrical work on This Old House?

Tonight I was watching "Ask This Old House", a spinoff of the original show. On tonight's show, they were installing a television antenna. I could not believe all the code violations and mistakes. All I can say is WOW.

The antenna ground is REQUIRED to be bonded to the buildings electrical system (not optional). The "ground rod" they used was not appropriate or sufficient. The grounding method utilized was unacceptable. No ground block or arrestor was installed (preferably outside the building).

I would consider the installation, as demonstrated, not only unprofessional - but dangerous.
--
Looks like Reverend Wright got his wish - God Damn America.
Nancy Pelosi - House Minority Leader 2010
Harry Reid - Senate Minority Leader 2010]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23376684</guid>
<pubDate>2009-11-21 20:23:13</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>USA made drywall problems.</title>
<link>http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23396653</link>
<description><![CDATA[An interesting article here. It talks about how many homeowners with homes built using American drywall are seeing similar problems as the Chinese drywall.

 quote:"We've got a huge problem here, and we just need help," said George Brincku, 48, who bought his southwest Florida house in 2004 and almost immediately began noticing the odd smell, the corrosion of wires and headaches.

When he saw reports about Chinese drywall, he assumed that was the problem with his house - until he called the contractor who installed it.

"I have all 100 percent American-made drywall," Brincku said.

(http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=11574013)

--
"On a motorcycle, you're penetrating distance right along with the machine. In a car you're just a spectator; the windshield's like a TV." ~ Kenny "Von Dutch" Howard]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23396653</guid>
<pubDate>2009-11-25 20:17:16</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>Which to get for fridge water line, plastic, steel or copper</title>
<link>http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23383608</link>
<description><![CDATA[I'm about to purchase a new refrigerator / freezer. The thread for that is here - http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r23375496-HouseHome-I-was-looking-for-a-fridge-at-my-local-Sears-and-

I'm posting on this forum, as I don't know what to do about the water supply to the new fridge. 

The fridge will probably come from BestBuy, I believe it comes with a plastic water line. I'll definitely want to replace my current line as its about 10 years old and plastic.

What is a better line, plastic, stainless steel or copper?

The Bestbuy stainless steel water line is here - http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Smart+Choice+-+Stainless+Steel+Waterline+Installation+Kit/6682191.p?id=1083713275050 I'm sort of leaning toward it. I like a flexible line, and I'm uncertain, but don't think stainless steel corrodes much.

The copper line is here - http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Smart+Choice+-+20%26quot%3B+Icemaker+Installation+Kit/2631566.p?skuId=2631566&productCategoryId=abcat0916007&id=1051826150836 ut also looks nice. I'm not committed to either, just the stainless looks nicer to me when I saw them at the store.

Does anyone have some experience they'd care to share?

The fridge in question is a Samsung RFG299AARS and is here at the BestBuy site - http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung+-+28.5+Cu.+Ft.+French+Door+Refrigerator+with+Thru-the-Door+Ice+and+Water+-+Stainless-Steel/8971525.p?skuId=8971525&productCategoryId=abcat0901004&id=1217030495357

If anyone has experience with these refrigerators, in particular my concern is the ice maker, we use well water and our pressure is a bit low, I'd appreciate any constructive comments.

Thanks in advance for your help..

P.S. I'm not a self install person, installing this by myself or with a friend is out of the question.
--
"People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use."]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23383608</guid>
<pubDate>2009-11-23 13:39:15</pubDate>
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