The Home Improvement Thread

[Fuzz]

I'm no expert, but I found the project panels at Rona to be pretty good. It's what I started on. They have several sizes.



https://www.rona.ca/en/metrie-edge-g...83788-00175769

[surferguy]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I'm no expert, but I found the project panels at Rona to be pretty good. It's what I started on. They have several sizes.



https://www.rona.ca/en/metrie-edge-g...83788-00175769

Don’t get anything wrapped in plastic though. They will warp something fierce in our climate. The plastic holds in the moisture and then they dry out very quickly leading to hot dog boards.

[Fuzz]

I can't remember if any of them were wrapped in the past, but I've made 4 different projects with them, and they were all nice and straight. One of the reasons I liked them, as I only really had a circular saw at the time, so fixing stuff like that wasn't going to happen.

[Deviaant]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I can't remember if any of them were wrapped in the past, but I've made 4 different projects with them, and they were all nice and straight. One of the reasons I liked them, as I only really had a circular saw at the time, so fixing stuff like that wasn't going to happen.

Those hobby panels are a laminated and finger jointed product and as such they are quite stable.

[surferguy]

Ok over the last few months on occasion - a least once a week - I am getting some
“Black bits” in my bathtub as we fill it. They seem to float and then attach to the tub wall leaving a nasty ring.

They seem rubbery. Internet says gaskets going somewhere? Hot water tank issue.

Tank is 7.5 yrs old and shower regulator/mixer is 5 years old.

What am I dealing with here?

[timun]

What kind of piping is used to connect the hot water tank to the distribution through the house? Is it a flexible hose? If so, there's a good chance that's the problem.

[surferguy]

Originally Posted by timun

What kind of piping is used to connect the hot water tank to the distribution through the house? Is it a flexible hose? If so, there's a good chance that's the problem.

Ok I’ve got two braid hoses on top of the tank. My assumption here is water in and water out (one is cold, one is warm).

Perhaps the rubber inside the flex hose is breaking down?

The braided flex hose is about a foot and then feeds into Pex/copper as it runs through the house

[Wormius]

Have you tried filling with either just hot or cold to isolate?

[surferguy]

Haven’t no - it’s been somewhat random as to when it happens. Always when my wife if bathing the kids. Haven’t been able to diagnose properly

[Fuzz]

Could just be the shower diverter seal. When you use that, do you get drips out the spout?

[surferguy]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Could just be the shower diverter seal. When you use that, do you get drips out the spout?

I’ve had it happen once at the sink as well, so I’m thinking the flex pipe at the tank is the issue

[timun]

Yeah, usually those braided hoses have a rubber liner inside them, nominally rated for 60ish °C but in reality can't stand up to the heat and flakes apart from the inside.

[Fuzz]

Ah, once you fix it you may want to remove all the aerator screens on your sinks and clean them out. Probably have some detritus in them.

[keratosis]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

This worked well. I pulled the cover off to look at the wiring, and noticed it had batteries inside. I put new ones in, and it came back to life. Magic! But here is the thing: I’ve obviously never put batteries in this thing, and neither has my wife. It is 14+ years old. Unless the service guys, who fixed the thermocouple module in the furnace about 10 years ago, or Everlast who serviced the furnace a few years ago, put batteries in, it has ran on the same set of AAs the whole time. Is this normal, or some sort of record?

I have a basic 2 wire programmable thermostat. 2 AA last about1.5 -2 years.
Maybe you forgot 7 times.

[DoubleF]

I got some patio heaters for my back yard which require 20 lb propane tanks. Where is the best place to get 20 lb propane tanks?

Costco? Home depot? Superstore? other?

Should I grab an empty one and fill it? Or grab one that's already filled?

[surferguy]

Gas station - get into the exchange a tank program.

Basically you rent a tank, when it’s empty you bring it back and get a new full tank.

Could be wrong on price but 60-70 for first tank and then 35 for a new tank I think.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by surferguy

Gas station - get into the exchange a tank program.

Basically you rent a tank, when it’s empty you bring it back and get a new full tank.

Could be wrong on price but 60-70 for first tank and then 35 for a new tank I think.

Is this a similar concept to those epr or whatever brand cages in front of places like Superstore?

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

I got some patio heaters for my back yard which require 20 lb propane tanks. Where is the best place to get 20 lb propane tanks?

Costco? Home depot? Superstore? other?

Should I grab an empty one and fill it? Or grab one that's already filled?

If you are still near here, I like this place:
https://goo.gl/maps/mRmSMup2ntWnm371A


You can get cheaper re-certified tanks for around $40, I think. It's under $15 to fill, and they are quick, so I usually get gas and fill it at the same time. Easily the cheapest method I have found. I don't really see a tank swap being all that much quicker, and costs a lot more.

[surferguy]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

Is this a similar concept to those epr or whatever brand cages in front of places like Superstore?

Yes same deal

[Nufy]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

I got some patio heaters for my back yard which require 20 lb propane tanks. Where is the best place to get 20 lb propane tanks?

Costco? Home depot? Superstore? other?

Should I grab an empty one and fill it? Or grab one that's already filled?

I have a few in my garage that I got from Aneas a few years back.

I'll check the dates...but you can have one free.

Newest one is dated 04/02 so its probably due for a re-cert soon.

Still...yours if you want it.

Located SE Calgary.