The Home Improvement Thread

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by timun

It's more to do with your hot water temperature keeping pretty much constant, because your heater has the recovery capacity to keep up with how quickly you're using it.

It could be that you take relatively mild showers/baths, or keep the time length of your bath/showers relatively short.

Just 2 of us with a 50 gallon, so never run out. I've got it turned up on the hotter end, and no, my wife does not take short showers.

[kevman]

Thermostatic for the win! Easily worth the extra $100 or whatever they are when you're changing out your valve. As a bonus there is no setting and checking the water temperature before you hop in the shower.

Pro tip: You can adjust the "safety" stop to be the exact temperature you like. That way you can turn it up to the stop, your wife can push the button in to turn it up to the scalding max, and you essentially each have your own setting.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by timun

It's more to do with your hot water temperature keeping pretty much constant, because your heater has the recovery capacity to keep up with how quickly you're using it.

It could be that you take relatively mild showers/baths, or keep the time length of your bath/showers relatively short.

I didn't realize there was a difference between thermostatic value vs pressure balancing value.

Is this why it's such a PITA to find someone to install the thermostatic value? Would it be easier to ask around about pressure balancing valves instead?

[timun]

Thermostatic valves are just more expensive and a little rarer as a result. Like I said earlier, could be that the residential contractors you've talked to don't often procure them and are having a tough time buying them.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by timun

Thermostatic valves are just more expensive and a little rarer as a result. Like I said earlier, could be that the residential contractors you've talked to don't often procure them and are having a tough time buying them.

I think they just had completely no clue what they were and conservatively didn't want to be involved with learning how to do it.

I mean, someone with no idea what a thermostatic valve is... it kinda sounds like it relates to pressure in an explosive way I guess?

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

I think they just had completely no clue what they were and conservatively didn't want to be involved with learning how to do it.

I mean, someone with no idea what a thermostatic valve is... it kinda sounds like it relates to pressure in an explosive way I guess?

I wouldn’t use a plumber that didn’t know the difference between a thermostatic and pressure balancing valve.

[Ducay]

Thread reminded me that I was going to look into swapping out my pressure balancing trim for a thermostatic a couple years ago. I went with a Hansgrohe valve iBox when we redid this bathroom and would recommend that to all - basically you plumb that box in, and then the trim and mixing valve itself are separate and can be changed out very easily. A few companies have similar offerings now.

So for me to swap out pressure balancing for thermostatic is a matter of a couple screws, no actual plumbing work, but mostly shelling out the added cost for the new valve.

Thermostatic are ~$500 vs $150 for pressure bal (for this brand) so illustrates the cost diff and why many plumbers rarely deal with them. They're niche since the safety side can be covered off with much cheaper pressure balancing.

[The Fisher Account]

I started noticing a pretty loud buzzing noise coming from a white pipe (has gas vent written on it) going into a box thingy on top of my water heater.

Who do I call to fix this? Plumber or furnace guy?

[Ducay]

Either or. HVAC companies (using certified plumbers) and plumbers both install hot water tanks. I would either go through a larger plumber shop (Pete, etc) that have dedicated teams or an HVAC company that deals in that brand of water heater & repairs.

Its more of an HVAC issue so I'd aim that route first, as your mom+pop plumber may or may not be as familiar with that side of things

[Wormius]

Anything good for cleaning the exterior side of windows? Just water or is there something better that isn’t going to kill our plants?

[Brendone]

I find dawn dish soap works really well.

[Looch City]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Anything good for cleaning the exterior side of windows? Just water or is there something better that isn’t going to kill our plants?

I’ve used this Windex one before for hard to reach windows: https://www.homedepot.ca/product/win...-ml/1000100816

Doesn’t get sparkling clean but it gets like maybe 75% of the way there.

[InglewoodFan]

Originally Posted by Brendone

I find dawn dish soap works really well.

Yep - Dawn, water, and a bit of vinegar to keep the streaking down. I use a long handled squeegee thing that catches the drips to keep it off window sills and plants. https://www.oceansales.ca/collection...de-cleaner-kit

[flamesrule_kipper34]

Our place has existing Control4 infrastructure (wiring, speakers throughout), however, no equipment.

We want to make our home more 'smart' (install mesh networking system to ensure entire home has full networking bandwidth smart thermostats, lighting, audio speakers already installed, potentially also consider: doorbell cameras (front and back), security system is already installed but not actively monitored), garage door opener/electrical heater in garage).

Curious what options we have here and what people have done (including what professionals they've gone with to help them). Control4 seems nice, especially since it was once in here but worried about the cost. Any ideas/thoughts from others?

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

I wouldn’t use a plumber that didn’t know the difference between a thermostatic and pressure balancing valve.

Agreed. So I was kinda surprised at the amount of plumbers that were suddenly eliminated. I didn't think I was asking for a service that was super complex.

Originally Posted by Ducay

Thread reminded me that I was going to look into swapping out my pressure balancing trim for a thermostatic a couple years ago. I went with a Hansgrohe valve iBox when we redid this bathroom and would recommend that to all - basically you plumb that box in, and then the trim and mixing valve itself are separate and can be changed out very easily. A few companies have similar offerings now.

So for me to swap out pressure balancing for thermostatic is a matter of a couple screws, no actual plumbing work, but mostly shelling out the added cost for the new valve.

Thermostatic are ~$500 vs $150 for pressure bal (for this brand) so illustrates the cost diff and why many plumbers rarely deal with them. They're niche since the safety side can be covered off with much cheaper pressure balancing.

One of the struggles I'm having right now is figuring out where there might be some duplicate work situations.

I wonder whether it's possible to do thermostatic/pressure valves with grey pipe replacement before bathroom reno/refresh, or if there's some type of cost savings to do both simultaneously. Doing both might allow me to better pair thermostatic/pressure valves to a new shower/bath etc.)

I'm additionally considering changing the ceiling from a popcorn look and potentially replacing some flooring/carpet so also wondering if it makes it easier for better access for grey pipe work that isn't as big of a deal to hide/blend if doing the entire space vs a small one... but then that goes into a pretty significant reno that I was more hoping to do over a period of time (for stuff that I don't have to move out of the house for) rather than all at once and I probably have to move out with kids for several months.

Hmm...

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by InglewoodFan

Yep - Dawn, water, and a bit of vinegar to keep the streaking down. I use a long handled squeegee thing that catches the drips to keep it off window sills and plants. https://www.oceansales.ca/collection...de-cleaner-kit

We use the Karcher window vacuum. Seems like it would be a waste or not work or something, but it actually works perfect. Never a single drop on our sills or down our siding.

[Ironhorse]

Any recommendations for sourcing backyard patio stone packages? Are there other options besides Lowes or HD? My wife would like one of those round ones. Can’t afford to pay someone to build it, so we would be doing the digging and install.

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

Any recommendations for sourcing backyard patio stone packages? Are there other options besides Lowes or HD? My wife would like one of those round ones. Can’t afford to pay someone to build it, so we would be doing the digging and install.

From Burnco

[Fuzz]

I find they go on sale at different stores at different times. Check Rona as well. I've never got a "package". I just get the base rock and sand from Bluegrass.

[DoubleF]

I'd also check some smaller hardware stores and potentially some nursery/landscaping companies in the smaller towns too to see if someone might have something you'd like that they're actually hoping to just get rid of. They might even be happy to be paid to deliver the stuff too for a win/win situation.

I did this with one company a few years ago. They were more than happy to do a large order for me to reach a quantity discount from the seller and delivered to my doorstep for cheap on their way back from picking up the order in Calgary.

Additionally, they might not have the product on hand, but if your order is large enough or be combined with theirs, the orders could piggy back on each other when they put in an order and create a win/win scenario.