The Home Improvement Thread

[jwslam]

Originally Posted by photon

Anyone recommend someone that can do an OTR Microwave install?

Depends what's currently there?
No fan at all?
Fan replace with microwave?
Microwave replace with microwave?

[photon]

Replacing an existing OTR microwave with a new one.

[Hockeyguy15]

Alright experts. My 5 year old does who the hell knows what when washing his hands, and causes water to leak under the sink. First it was the main floor bathroom and I assumed it was a faucet leak and put a new one in. Now he managed to do the same thing in another bathroom.

I'm thinking he is getting water under the plate and the gasket there is a little old and not water tight. Should I just silicone around the base of the faucet and sink? Or will that not work, and just get a new faucet that has a new gasket?

[Maritime Q-Scout]

I've got a tree stump in the yard that I'm looking at getting rid of.

Any tricks anyone has?

I'm thinking the quickest and easiest way to get rid of it is to burn in.

That said, I'm open to other ideas.

[speede5]

Burning is kind of a pain unless it's old and rotted to some degree. Rent a stump grinder is my advice.

[Fuzz]

I built a big planter box over mine, I figured hiding the evidence was easiest. If I had moved, someone else's surprise.

Then I built my garage and had the concrete guys dig them up. But ya, stump grinder as long as you know there are no metal spikes or anything left behind.

[Fuzz]

Anyone know a pale that recycles vinyl siding? I've done a few searches but am not coming up with anything. Seems odd with all of our storms we must have huge amounts of vinyl siding to dispose of. I know I can take it to the dump, but I'd rather recycle if I can.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Anyone know a pale that recycles vinyl siding? I've done a few searches but am not coming up with anything. Seems odd with all of our storms we must have huge amounts of vinyl siding to dispose of. I know I can take it to the dump, but I'd rather recycle if I can.

Are light skin folk more likely to take your excess vinyl and dark skin your clay?

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Are light skin folk more likely to take your excess vinyl and dark skin your clay?

I'll be staying out of your head on that one. But hey, if anyone wants a pile of ugly faded damaged vinyl, they are welcome to pay me $20 for it.

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by photon

Replacing an existing OTR microwave with a new one.

If you are modestly handy, have a handful of tools and have a friend you can borrow for an hour or two it's quite easy to DIY. I've swapped both mine out and helped a friend do his and both were relatively easy, the new OTRs come with templates for mounting the bracket on the wall as well as for drilling holes in the cabinetry above.

[mivdo]

I had a bit of a close call today with smoke from overheating cooking oil. I was cooking something and forgot to turn off the stove. I live in a bilevel with one fire alarm on each level.

Anyways, by the time i realized what was happening there was smoke everywhere. Enough where I was getting choked out by the smoke. I brought the pot outside and went in after a few minutes to open windows in rooms I could handle breathing in.

Luckily my wife and daughter were not home, but I am still a little rattled. My question is, who is a good place to call to professionally test my system. Money is no issue obviously and I hear the city fire department also has a program(I live in Red Deer) but do not want to wait.

Also, I bought my house last year, had it inspected and it passed. I have tested the alarm by the button but when I actually took it off, I realized it expired in 2016. That pissed me off.

[Scroopy Noopers]

tEST YOUR SMOKE ALARMS WHEN YOU CHANGE YOUR CLOCKS!

Twice a year, minimum. It takes 6 seconds.

[mivdo]

I do once every few months. It will make a sound no issues. Although that doesnt check if it actually senses smoke. I will definitely add that to my routine checks.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by mivdo

I do once every few months. It will make a sound no issues. Although that doesnt check if it actually senses smoke. I will definitely add that to my routine checks.

They’re pretty reliable as long as they aren’t expired (10 years old nowadays). I’ve never tested one that failed that wasn’t old as #### or had dead batteries. And I’ve tested thousands (with simulated smoke).

[mivdo]

Nm

[mivdo]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

They’re pretty reliable as long as they aren’t expired (10 years old nowadays). I’ve never tested one that failed that wasn’t old as #### or had dead batteries. And I’ve tested thousands (with simulated smoke).

Can you buy simulated smoke or can you just burn something yourself. Quick search online shows some are "burnt toast proof" (ie matches) which would make me feel uneasy.

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by mivdo

Can you buy simulated smoke or can you just burn something yourself. Quick search online shows some are "burnt toast proof" (ie matches) which would make me feel uneasy.

Just ask my wife to come over and cook!

Ba dum tssss

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by mivdo

Can you buy simulated smoke or can you just burn something yourself. Quick search online shows some are "burnt toast proof" (ie matches) which would make me feel uneasy.

https://www.amazon.ca/Home-Safeguard...33388918&psc=1

This is what I’m talking about but it isn’t cheap.

Just get a new Kidde or BRK Photoelectric Smoke alarm (with CO, because why not? It detects death for you at no extra charge). The ionization ones are probably what you found with the “burnt toast proof” comment, where photoelectric detect slow smouldering fires better.

[mivdo]

Awesome. Thanks for the advice.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Does anyone have any suggested brands for heat blocking curtains and window film? I have a south facing room with a lot of windows that I badly need to temperature control.