The Home Improvement Thread

[Fuzz]

I know with faucets you can flip the cartridge 180 degrees. It's possible that uses a similar type of cartridge, but it might also just be a valve. Probably want to find the model and manual and see if there are diagrams showing how to remove it or instructions on doing it. Some stuff designed to be switched.

[Ironhorse]

We're looking at getting a new deck built this spring, and all the contractors want 50% up front (including the the frontrunner), most via etransfer. While i don't have a problem with a partial deposit up front in general, what can I do to ensure that they don't just bugger off and disappear with the cash?

[moncton golden flames]

Looking for good fence builders in Calgary, who should i call?

[InglewoodFan]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

We're looking at getting a new deck built this spring, and all the contractors want 50% up front (including the the frontrunner), most via etransfer. While i don't have a problem with a partial deposit up front in general, what can I do to ensure that they don't just bugger off and disappear with the cash?

My understanding is they can only take deposits like this if they have the appropriate government license. More info here https://www.alberta.ca/prepaid-contracting-licence

[Wormius]

For water softeners, is the weird taste only if you’re drinking it straight from the tap? Is it otherwise fine for cooking or boiling pasta in, etc?

[Sr. Mints]

Originally Posted by Wormius

For water softeners, is the weird taste only if you’re drinking it straight from the tap? Is it otherwise fine for cooking or boiling pasta in, etc?

"Father's kidneys!"

I imagine the sodium is negligible, but if you're watching that, it's probably something to be mindful of.

I'm pretty sure the cold water in my kitchen bypasses the softener, so I make sure to use hot water, mostly because I'm just really lazy and I don't like descaling the kettle or coffee maker. I can't even detect the weird taste--and I couldn't tell you if I ever could or if I'm just used to it.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Sr. Mints

"Father's kidneys!"

I imagine the sodium is negligible, but if you're watching that, it's probably something to be mindful of.

I'm pretty sure the cold water in my kitchen bypasses the softener, so I make sure to use hot water, mostly because I'm just really lazy and I don't like descaling the kettle or coffee maker. I can't even detect the weird taste--and I couldn't tell you if I ever could or if I'm just used to it.

I wasn’t too sure about the sodium, but it sounds like people complain a lot about the taste.

I can’t really isolate the lines that go to certain places. aside from the outdoor faucets, so I figure if I get a water softener it would feed the whole house, and that seems to make the most sense anyway to reduce scale and everything.

[woob]

Bit of a win: Even though we're not the original owners of our house (built in 2004), I still put in a Delta warranty request for our leaking shower faucet cartidge, and they're sending a replacement! Pleasantly suprised, as I thought it was going to be a long shot.

Only draw backs are it could take 10-14 days and I'm fairly sure the bonnet nut is going to be next to impossible to get off. I've already tried several ways with no success.

[Fuzz]

Home Depot stocks standard cartridges, you can just bring it in and they have a special cabinet with the free exchanges. Save the long wait. They do with Moen, and I think i glimpsed other manufacturers in there as well.

[DionTheDman]

We may be doing some extensive renovations to the home. We have a few specific contractors we'd like to use but also don't want the headache of being our own general contractors. Is there such a thing as a "project manager"-type that will work with whomever you want, but will coordinate and handle all the typical things a GC would do?

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Home Depot stocks standard cartridges, you can just bring it in and they have a special cabinet with the free exchanges. Save the long wait. They do with Moen, and I think i glimpsed other manufacturers in there as well.

Yeah, I just walked in to HD and the employee in the plumbing section just reached into a box and gave me the replacement.

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by DionTheDman

We may be doing some extensive renovations to the home. We have a few specific contractors we'd like to use but also don't want the headache of being our own general contractors. Is there such a thing as a "project manager"-type that will work with whomever you want, but will coordinate and handle all the typical things a GC would do?

Typically the general contractor you hire will have PMs to deal with this. When I had my basement finished I inquired about doing the electrical myself. To be honest it wasn’t worth it for me to do it from both a time and monetary savings perspective so I opted to have their electrician do it. With that said this electrician made a couple mistakes with the cat6 cabling (I’m assuming minimal experience for him) that I ended up repairing. My contractor had very tight timelines so it would have required me to take time off work to do it and the savings didn’t justify it.

That’s a question to ask whomever you’re considering as a GC. I foresee headaches if one of your chosen sub trades slows down the renovation for another (plumber not having rough in done and inspected meanwhile drywall guys are at home waiting to work).

[woob]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Home Depot stocks standard cartridges, you can just bring it in and they have a special cabinet with the free exchanges. Save the long wait. They do with Moen, and I think i glimpsed other manufacturers in there as well.

We have another bathroom with a shower, so the wait is really fine. It's just that the failed cartridge is in our ensuite, so less convenient. I'm ok to wait to save a bit of $$.

[Fuzz]

Ya, I was mostly pointing out it's also free at HD, for anyone else in the future. Obviously yours are in the mail!


I've had to go to MOEN orders for other internals, and the soap pump my MIL figured out how to break on first usage. No one else has ever broken it!

[woob]

Oh I totally glazed over the "free exchange" in your post. Off to get more coffee.

Thanks Fuzz.

[photon]

Having a problem with the central vac, having low suction at only one of the outlets.. all the others are fine. Normally I'd say it's a blockage, but it seems like the whole system runs slow when using that outlet vs the other ones, like the motor itself is only turning on half way. Does that make any sense?

I guess I could try looking for a blockage, I guess a plumbers snake would be something that could be used for that?

[Fuzz]

Sounds like a blockage. If the motor sounds sluggish it's probably because it's sucking harder because of the blockage, but only a little air getting through. I'd open the flap, turn the suction on at the unit, and snake it. Note that if installed properly, there will be a sharp 90 immediately. This is to prevent long objects getting into the duct. So you need a flexible snake with a small tip.

[surferguy]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

So you need a flexible snake with a small tip.

<Snicker>

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by surferguy

<Snicker>

I was going to offer you up for the job, but didn't want to presume.