The Home Improvement Thread

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I'm a carpet-in-a-basement kind of guy. I don't want to think about what it looks like under a microscope, but it definitely makes things warmer and cozier.

[Fuzz]

'Member berries! Carpets never forget.

[Sr. Mints]

The tile floors in the basement here are heated, and I know glorious is a strong word...but its glorious.

[photon]

Yeah we did heated tiles in the bathroom in our basement.

[edslunch]

We have some issues with the foundation of our old bungalow. Can anyone recommend a structural engineer to give us an assessment?

[CarlLester]

Originally Posted by edslunch

We have some issues with the foundation of our old bungalow. Can anyone recommend a structural engineer to give us an assessment?

We used Concise Engineering during our reno. Tomas was good and fair.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

If I'm going to do the spray foam insulation in the basement, do I need a vapor barrier or is the insulation the barrier?

[blender]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

If I'm going to do the spray foam insulation in the basement, do I need a vapor barrier or is the insulation the barrier?

Depends on the density of the foam.
Be sure you have a high level of trust in your foam applicator. Spray foam is a good product for certain applications but it can cause issues if not installed correctly.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Had folks in to check out a leak in the foundation. Turns out previous owners tried to patch it up, and they can't inject it.

They suggested digging a tench and installing a sump pump. Which is fine, do what you got to do.

However,

There is a sump pump already some 25 feet away on the same side as the crack.

Is that too far to dig a trench? Could we use that one?

I ask as my wife was home when the guy came and didn't know to ask.

[Geraldsh]

What are the costs to dig the trench compared to installing another sump pump? 25 feet is not too far provided you can get enough slope.

[timun]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

There is a sump pump already some 25 feet away on the same side as the crack.

Is that too far to dig a trench? Could we use that one?

Depends on how deep that other sump is, relative to where the perimeter trench will go.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

Had folks in to check out a leak in the foundation. Turns out previous owners tried to patch it up, and they can't inject it.

They suggested digging a tench and installing a sump pump. Which is fine, do what you got to do.

However,

There is a sump pump already some 25 feet away on the same side as the crack.

Is that too far to dig a trench? Could we use that one?

I ask as my wife was home when the guy came and didn't know to ask.

Move to Alberta.

Dry AF here

[Wormius]

Is there anywhere else besides Home Depot in Calgary that sell magnesium anode rods for water heaters? I checked a couple and they only sell one type, which is not the one they list on their website as being in stock.

[jwslam]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Is there anywhere else besides Home Depot in Calgary that sell magnesium anode rods for water heaters? I checked a couple and they only sell one type, which is not the one they list on their website as being in stock.

What is a different "type" of rod? Like a shorter length? They're meant to be cut. I cut mine with a mitre saw when I brought it home too long. Just used the old one to measure.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by jwslam

What is a different "type" of rod? Like a shorter length? They're meant to be cut. I cut mine with a mitre saw when I brought it home too long. Just used the old one to measure.

I just meant the material. Despite HDs advertising, the one they have in stock is aluminum, not magnesium. Maybe it isn’t a massive difference, but it sounds like the magnesium ones last longer and do a better job protecting the water heater.

I should preface that before I posted, I didn’t know you could use an aluminum one where the magnesium rods were recommended by the water heater manufacturer (Rheem).

[Geraldsh]

Using an aluminum rod in an aluminum heater negates the purpose of the rod. In an aluminum heater you definitely need the magnesium rod. Aluminum rods is for steel or iron heater.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Geraldsh

Using an aluminum rod in an aluminum heater negates the purpose of the rod. In an aluminum heater you definitely need the magnesium rod. Aluminum rods is for steel or iron heater.

Thanks. That is really weird then that HD sells Rheem water heaters, but only aluminum anode rods.

[timun]

Originally Posted by Geraldsh

Using an aluminum rod in an aluminum heater negates the purpose of the rod. In an aluminum heater you definitely need the magnesium rod. Aluminum rods is for steel or iron heater.

An aluminum heater? WhoTF builds an aluminum heater? Granted I don't work on residential stuff, but I've never seen an aluminum tank...

Originally Posted by Wormius

Maybe it isn’t a massive difference, but it sounds like the magnesium ones last longer and do a better job protecting the water heater.

Magnesium rods will tend to "do better" in the sense that Mg it's more electronegative than aluminum.

That said, because it is more electronegative and more readily corrodes, it will also react more readily with minerals in your water supply. What can happen with Mg anode rods in hard water—like Calgary's—is that the Mg rod reacts so readily with mineral ions in the water that it becomes covered in scale and stops effectively protecting the tank long before the supply of Mg is actually depleted. I've seen functionally useless Mg anode rods pulled out of tanks covered in white crust.

As such, more often than not, in my (admittedly institutional/commercial/light industrial) experience, anode rods sold in the Calgary market are de facto aluminum.

I should preface that before I posted, I didn’t know you could use an aluminum one where the magnesium rods were recommended by the water heater manufacturer (Rheem).

I'm surprised Rheem has any particular material recommendation at all.

[BlackArcher101]

I had no idea aluminum tanks were a thing. I thought aluminum rods were about 80% as effective as magnesium but lasted considerably longer, and are what supplied in new tanks? Probably why home depot carries only them.

[CroFlames]

How often do you have to change the rod? I've always moved homes before I've needed to do that task.