The Home Improvement Thread

[Titan2]

Originally Posted by corsihockeyleague

hey, at least the exterior will be temporarily blue while they put on the membrane.

[Bill Bumface]

I'm looking to redo a shower and was originally going to try cheap out and get a plastic 2 piece, but now I'm considering Corian or similar as we have a weird size (34" neo-angle).

My goals are no caulking (or minimal caulking) and something that will last.

I see customshowerbases.com and a couple other local places as local options to source custom fabrication. Other places (only in the US that I've found so far) sell pre-fab panels and bases.

Anyone with experience, alternatives or rough prices for this type of thing?

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Putting on the torch down portion of the roof (the rest is metal) and membrane currently, and some pictures from inside. Framing basically done, about $15k over budget... should be able to recover some of that later.

[Wormius]

For the sparkies - AFCIs and microwaves. What to do about nuisance tripping? Our microwave is on a separate breaker just for it, and somedays the microwave runs fine, but others it will trip the breaker every time, no matter what power setting we use. It’s a 1000W Panasonic and a 20A Siemens AFCI breaker. I know this is a bit of a well known phenomenon with AFCIs but is there a fix that won’t go against the electrical code? We mentioned to Inspector and he sympathized, but only other thing he said it use a regular breaker, but had to do something outside the panel to stay compliant with new regulations for the AFCIs.

[CroFlames]

You just touched off a 10 page argument between the resident sparkies.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

You just touched off a 10 page argument between the resident sparkies.

I was hoping to make it specific enough to not lead to too much arguing. Reddit wasn’t particularly helpful, except that AFCIs are sensitive to microwaves, but no solutions that wouldn’t be frowned upon.

I mean, I have tried the microwave on a GFCI outlet with a normal breaker, and it didn’t trip. So, it’s at least not a current draw problem, which it shouldn’t be unless there was something wrong with the microwave. Also not turning on empty microwave empty.

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by Wormius

I was hoping to make it specific enough to not lead to too much arguing. Reddit wasn’t particularly helpful, except that AFCIs are sensitive to microwaves, but no solutions that wouldn’t be frowned upon.

I mean, I have tried the microwave on a GFCI outlet with a normal breaker, and it didn’t trip. So, it’s at least not a current draw problem, which it shouldn’t be unless there was something wrong with the microwave. Also not turning on empty microwave empty.

Where is your microwave plugged in? General rule of thumb was that non-readily accessible plugs that only feed one device do not have to be AFCI protected (fridge, microwave etc). This was the case a few years ago and I doubt it has changed.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

Where is your microwave plugged in? General rule of thumb was that non-readily accessible plugs that only feed one device do not have to be AFCI protected (fridge, microwave etc). This was the case a few years ago and I doubt it has changed.

It’s in a cubby in a central island. The circuit only has the microwave on it, but the outlet has two sockets, so I guess that technically means more than one device could be plugged in, but it’s not likely due to the size of the microwave in the cubby.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Wormius

It’s in a cubby in a central island. The circuit only has the microwave on it, but the outlet has two sockets, so I guess that technically means more than one device could be plugged in, but it’s not likely due to the size of the microwave in the cubby.

I swear I had a friend who had a similar issue. In the end, they discovered their GFCI outlet was faulty and extra sensitive to being tripped.

[surferguy]

Recommend me a quality stud finder. I need to find my ceiling joists through some heavy popcorn stipple.


Thanks

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by surferguy

Recommend me a quality stud finder. I need to find my ceiling joists through some heavy popcorn stipple.


Thanks

I had this conversation the other day. I was so done with mediocre stud finders that I went to KMS tools and literally told the guy that I don't care what I spend, I want a good one to replace the old cheapy Zircon one.

He points me to some brand and says its made in USA and is very popular (this was before The Troubles).

Great - I take it home to hang a shelf on an interior bedroom wall with no mechanical in it, but does have roxul sound insulation. The ####ing thing couldn't find the stud. God I was mad.

Anyway, I am also in the market for a good one, I might end up getting a pro grade Bosch because I'm so fed up. https://www.homedepot.ca/product/bos...der/1000708553

[Fuzz]

I gave up on them and just use a strong magnet to find the screws. Find 2 or 3 in a line and good chance you hit the stud. Might be a bit more tricky with popcorn.

[gasman]

Originally Posted by Wormius

For the sparkies - AFCIs and microwaves. What to do about nuisance tripping? Our microwave is on a separate breaker just for it, and somedays the microwave runs fine, but others it will trip the breaker every time, no matter what power setting we use. It’s a 1000W Panasonic and a 20A Siemens AFCI breaker. I know this is a bit of a well known phenomenon with AFCIs but is there a fix that won’t go against the electrical code? We mentioned to Inspector and he sympathized, but only other thing he said it use a regular breaker, but had to do something outside the panel to stay compliant with new regulations for the AFCIs.

Step 1 - Go to Home Depot
Step 2 - Buy a regular Breaker
Step 3 - Replace the AFCI piece of Junk
Step 4 - Put the AFCI breaker in a drawer for the next time you need to have your panel inspected.

[puffnstuff]

Originally Posted by surferguy

Recommend me a quality stud finder. I need to find my ceiling joists through some heavy popcorn stipple.


Thanks

First, scrape the popcorn off
Second, profit
Third, i dunno, i hate lists

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by gasman

Step 1 - Go to Home Depot
Step 2 - Buy a regular Breaker
Step 3 - Replace the AFCI piece of Junk
Step 4 - Put the AFCI breaker in a drawer for the next time you need to have your panel inspected.

That has been suggested to me more than a few times, even by the electrician himself.

It’s so random, except that once it trips, it will keep tripping it until I give up and forget about microwaving anything, then somebody goes and microwaves something the next day and it works fine.

[Fuzz]

Just reminded me, when I stayed at Carelton University the microwave was plugged into a second device, and it was to prevent GFCI or AFCI tripping. I don't recall which it was, or who made it but I remember Googling it at the time. I did a quick search and couldn't find it, but maybe you can track one down. It was from a company called Microwave protector or something. Possibly.

[Kiran403]

If my furnace is off for a week, how cold does it have to be outside before pipes can burst? Turns out I need a new inducer motor and the new motor won't arrive for 7-10 days and I have to go out of town for a week. I was thinking about leaving my furnace off as I can turn it on through an app on my phone if needed. My logic is to leave it off so it's not under any strain but obviously I don't want to risk my pipes bursting.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Kiran403

If my furnace is off for a week, how cold does it have to be outside before pipes can burst? Turns out I need a new inducer motor and the new motor won't arrive for 7-10 days and I have to go out of town for a week. I was thinking about leaving my furnace off as I can turn it on through an app on my phone if needed. My logic is to leave it off so it's not under any strain but obviously I don't want to risk my pipes bursting.

Could you just open your taps a bit? Might give you some peace of mind. Leave the blinds open if you have some sun exposure.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Kiran403

If my furnace is off for a week, how cold does it have to be outside before pipes can burst? Turns out I need a new inducer motor and the new motor won't arrive for 7-10 days and I have to go out of town for a week. I was thinking about leaving my furnace off as I can turn it on through an app on my phone if needed. My logic is to leave it off so it's not under any strain but obviously I don't want to risk my pipes bursting.

I had my furnace go out in -25 or so this winter, I would have been fine for 24 hours although I had it fixed much more quickly than that thankfully. I think in weather like this your insulation will probably mean you're fine pretty much indefinitely. Just guessing based on that experience. Maybe just leave a tap running slightly.

[indes]

Originally Posted by surferguy

Recommend me a quality stud finder. I need to find my ceiling joists through some heavy popcorn stipple.


Thanks

I bought this one off amazon and its much better than my dewalt one. Haven't had a miss with it yet.

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0BNDKMJXQ?...d_asin_title_2