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IdeoPhanthus posted:No matter what we keep that at, I find it strange that it kicks on at the set temp, but only warms it up to like 1 degree above that before kicking off. So its on for maybe 5-10min, then off for 10min or so before it hits the set temp & kicks back on again to heat things up. I almost wonder if the tstat itself is faulty and is forcing the furnace safety features to kick in somehow. Not to be too bratty, have you ever had a forced air furnace before? Because that's how forced air furnaces work. They turn off once you hit the temperature you set it at, then turn back on once the thermostat detects the temp had dropped. You can turn the furnace fan on to recirculate the air constantly, but that doesn't make it any warmer, it just jacks up your electric bill.
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Nov 19, 2014 18:58
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Is there a reason you're turning off the gas and the breaker? If not, the guy has asked you to stop, so stop. Obviously if you smell gas, turn off the gas, but if you don't... don't. Go back to calling the manager every time there's an issue, "just to let him know", that way this is a pain in his rear end, not just yours and the maintenance man. The person least equipped to deal with this is the owner of the property, who has gone out of his way to hire a manager and a maintenance man to deal with this. I would avoid, at this point, contacting the owner. Keep in mind that, from your telling of the story... everybody here wants the problem fixed. You, the maint man, the manager, presumably the owner. You don't have to do anything with this knowledge, but it should make you feel better. You call and complain and the guy comes out same-day and does something productive. IMHO, escalation is for times when you say "it's 40 degrees in my house" and they say "we'll try and have somebody out next week". gently caress that noise. You are borderline at a place where you could call and ask for someone else. If you'd been a pain in the manager's rear end, it might be that time already. FYI the maintenance man makes $15/hour and the HVAC guy makes $125/hour. Pretend you owned the house and paid the bills, how many chances would you give your buddy who wanted $15 to fix the problem before you called the guy who charged $125? Probably a lot. There is certainly a limit, and you are approaching that limit. Up to you to decide.
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Nov 19, 2014 20:58
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Our last place had the same type of furnace, so yes we've had it before. However, that one would turn on & warm it up about 3 degrees before turning off, so it ran longer but with longer breaks between (and that was a place with awful insulation). So I'm just not used to one that turns on and runs for 5-10min, turns off for 5-10min, repeat. So no, I didn't know it's normal for it to cycle that quick. Anyway, he called and complained to management and both the management company guy and the maintenance guy showed up. Management told maintenance to basically stop trying to gimp dying parts along for as long as possible, and just replace something if it needs replacing. I assume because trying to save them money by not replacing parts on their way out is just leading to so many service calls that it's a wash money-wise in most cases. My husband smelled gas, which was why he turned things off. I guess maintenance was more annoyed that turning it off reset the diagnostic light...which had he told us in the first place that there was one & to check it, we would have done that before turning things off. Every visit he gave conflicting messages of "stop turning it off" but also "if you smell gas you can turn it off". He was bouncing back and forth so we just kept going with "smelling gas, turning it off" (which also meant turning more than just the gas off so it wouldn't keep trying to run & burn out the new igniter rod). In any case, checked the diagnostic light when it failed earlier & its the pressure valve getting stuck. So hopefully that's the only thing it needs to be reliable again. From talking with management today, it sounds like they're trying to get the place turned around as far as both repairs and criminal activities (more lights in the lot, fixing lights by the doors, better signs, removing a tenant's abandoned car that's used to conceal drops/deals, hopefully fixing the lock to the units portion of the building). We had an incident where usps left a package at the mailboxes, which are in an unsecured & unmanned room that anyone off the street can walk into, and it got stolen. The building manager was supposed to check the cameras (so apparently they're real, which is good to know), but never got back to us on if he did. It was a several hundred dollar item, usps isn't supposed to leave packages unless it's a manned desk or a secured box/room; never buzzed our unit either, just stuck a slip in the mail that he attempted delivery & when we brought it to the post office in the morning, they called the carrier who admitted to having left it instead of taking it back with him. We were expecting FedEx and on Monday, not fedex smart post & a day early. Basically we live on the verge of the ghetto in a crime filled city. The building manager seems awful at doing anything more than minimal work, but his boss seems to be way more open to suggestions and wanting to get things done. I'm just glad someone seems to be wanting to put in effort finally, since we are stuck here another 6mo before being able to move, if things don't turn around.
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Nov 20, 2014 05:46
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I'm moving out of an apartment that has a ton of roaches, and I don't want to bring them with me. I've got the luxury of living in Minnesota and we have been beset by winter. So I think if I just keep all of my stuff outdoors probably stored in a not-climate controlled storage unit) for long enough, that should kill everything, right? Or should I load up a truck and bug bomb it? Something else?
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Nov 21, 2014 19:52
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MaxForce Gel, put it in various crevices wherever your stuff ends up. Bug bombs just push them deeper into hiding. Worse case scenario, the cold kills them and the gel just sits there. But I'd spend :tenbux: on gel anyhow.
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Nov 21, 2014 23:30
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FISHMANPET posted:I'm moving out of an apartment that has a ton of roaches, and I don't want to bring them with me. I've got the luxury of living in Minnesota and we have been beset by winter. So I think if I just keep all of my stuff outdoors probably stored in a not-climate controlled storage unit) for long enough, that should kill everything, right? Or should I load up a truck and bug bomb it? Something else? When I moved from my roach infested hovel I just immediately loaded every box from folded to full and taped the gently caress out of every box, didn't bring any of the bastards with me.
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Nov 25, 2014 02:30
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FISHMANPET posted:I'm moving out of an apartment that has a ton of roaches, and I don't want to bring them with me. I've got the luxury of living in Minnesota and we have been beset by winter. So I think if I just keep all of my stuff outdoors probably stored in a not-climate controlled storage unit) for long enough, that should kill everything, right? Or should I load up a truck and bug bomb it? Something else? Nuclear option: Get a card table or plastic table. Put it outside. Assemble and pack your boxes on this table and don't put them back in the house. Clean EVERYTHING as you put it into the box. (if you do, put them on a tarp inside a ring of diatomaceous earth, like a ward but for roaches. then move them to your storage unit.)
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Nov 25, 2014 16:46
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I'm looking into soundproofing an apartment against some pretty intense exterior noises. The noise comes from events and concerts that are put on in the park in the center of the development. The stage and speakers for these events face the center of the residential area, and as a result, I'm dealing with mostly bass issues. Since I can't really fight this poo poo, I'm wondering what the best way to insulate my place is. I'm mainly concerned with 2 huge windows (109" by 89") that face the park. I have some fairly thick wood/fabric woven blinds in place, but I'm thinking that there are other things I can do to fix this. My idea is that some kind of foam or other absorptive treatment can be applied around the windows to catch some of the more annoying bass notes before they reach the inner areas. My ceilings and walls have a ton of sharp, sound-trapping angles in them, and I think that if I were to fix that issue, I can up my quality of life pretty easily. Does anyone have any product recommendations for this kind of project? I'd be more than happy with a short term solution while I save up money for a more permanent deal. I am looking to sell the place within 3 years so I will have plenty of time to budget.
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Nov 25, 2014 20:00
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I've heard hanging carpets works pretty good. Bonus points if they are cool looking carpets.
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Nov 26, 2014 02:11
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ceebee posted:I've heard hanging carpets works pretty good. Bonus points if they are cool looking carpets. Hey thanks, I guess some Berber style rugs will work well with the space.
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Nov 28, 2014 18:00
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I desire the following sofa: Where can I find this sofa? Alternatively, how much does it cost to reupholster a sofa?
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Dec 2, 2014 02:11
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Defenestration posted:how much does it cost to reupholster a sofa? More than the cost of a new sofa, unless you have an extremely expensive sofa.
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Dec 2, 2014 02:44
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Aquatic Giraffe posted:More than the cost of a new sofa, unless you have an extremely expensive sofa. drat, I really want some big fat stripes 
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Dec 2, 2014 02:48
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Defenestration posted:drat, I really want some big fat stripes If a slip cover will do, those are usually like ~$60+
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Dec 2, 2014 02:59
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Defenestration posted:I desire the following sofa: Or see if you can persuade a friend or relative to take a furniture restoration course. My aunt's doing one and she's going around practically begging people to let her practise on their furniture. She redid the seat and cushions of my cuddle chair for the cost of the fabric and two bottles of gin.
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Dec 4, 2014 14:08
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Irisi posted:Or see if you can persuade a friend or relative to take a furniture restoration course. My aunt's doing one and she's going around practically begging people to let her practise on their furniture. She redid the seat and cushions of my cuddle chair for the cost of the fabric and two bottles of gin. She in the Boston area?
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Dec 4, 2014 14:14
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Defenestration posted:She in the Boston area? Different continent, sorry mate. Shame really, I'm trying to help her get a bit more business (she's a woman who thinks sticking a sign on the local library noticeboard is an adequate and modern form of advertising, it's kind of sweet)
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Dec 4, 2014 18:56
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My office has these lightswitches: What are they, and is there a way for me to change the delay before they turn off?
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Dec 4, 2014 23:42
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Looks almost exactly like the motion sensitive switch in my office. I just popped off the cover and took a look to see if there was any way to adjust it, but mine doesn't have any such thing. I often have the problem where it turns off when I'm just sitting here at my desk, so I have to flail my arms sometimes to get it to turn back on.
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Dec 5, 2014 00:32
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FISHMANPET posted:Looks almost exactly like the motion sensitive switch in my office. I just popped off the cover and took a look to see if there was any way to adjust it, but mine doesn't have any such thing. I often have the problem where it turns off when I'm just sitting here at my desk, so I have to flail my arms sometimes to get it to turn back on.
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Dec 5, 2014 00:40
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Well that's unquestionably stupid. Do you have a facilities department or something? Those should be changed, or the bookcase moved. Comedy option, if there's enough space there, put some whirligig that always moves to keep the sensor tripped.
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Dec 5, 2014 00:42
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FISHMANPET posted:Well that's unquestionably stupid. Do you have a facilities department or something? Those should be changed, or the bookcase moved. According to the original contractor, they had to be installed due to city code. In fairness, the bookcase wasn't there at the time. I kinda-sorta am the facilities department; it's a small office, I'm the IT guy.
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Dec 5, 2014 00:52
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Mount one of these above it:
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Dec 5, 2014 09:11
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I've gone house-sitting for a few friends and acquaintances, and they've been a varied lot. I just had a neighbor call me over to talk about taking care of their place while they're out for ten days or so, and augh god that place is filthy, there's cat poo on the floor and dead ladybugs in the corners of the rooms and I don't think the kitchen floor has ever been mopped. I voiced an urge to clean some of this up, and the neighbor said she was fine with that, but that I needed to promise not to tell anyone how filthy they were at home. Naturally I've already begun recruiting a few friends to help out with a day of cleaning there, mostly to just get the first layer of filth off the floors and sort out some of the basement stuff which the neighbor hadn't been aware was still down there and likewise also approved disposing of. When the neighbors return from their trip, I really, dearly want to give them some pointers on preventing some of the poo accumulation on the floors and the like. I don't know where to start with that, though, because I've never let things slip so far. What are some of the first habits someone who's living in less-than-ideally-clean conditions should pick up on the way to having a cleaner house? How can I be discrete and yet still clearly get my point across?
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Dec 6, 2014 21:26
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If they made you promise not to tell anyone, step one isn't bringing in a troupe of friends.
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Dec 6, 2014 21:54
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i like nice words
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Anne Whateley posted:If they made you promise not to tell anyone, step one isn't bringing in a troupe of friends. There was pet's poo on the floor, in several rooms, and I really cannot handle all the cleaning that needs to be done by myself. I need a spare set of hands from somewhere.
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Dec 6, 2014 22:01
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Ofaloaf posted:What are some of the first habits someone who's living in less-than-ideally-clean conditions should pick up on the way to having a cleaner house? How can I be discrete and yet still clearly get my point across? Furthermore, housekeeping tips are for people with dusty blinds, or people who don't know to put the occasional orange rind down the garbage disposal to keep it smelling citrusy. If something shits on the floor, and you don't pick it up but rather just grind it into the carpet... I'm not sure there are tips for you. I'd start with "take your animal outside every 2-4 hours so they can poo poo", then move on to "if they poo poo inside, pick it up with a baggie and throw it away".
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Dec 7, 2014 00:05
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I agree, 'Cleaning for Dummies' is stuff like how to quickly sort laundry so you actually put it away, or one crazy trick for getting your casserole dish clean in minutes. In a situation where someone is walking through/over literal poo poo and doesn't feel motivated to do something about it, there isn't much you can do. I would even say that this reflects some more serious underlying problem - people aren't cat-hermits or hoarders because they don't know any better, its because of legitimate issues that need serious resolution. I mean good on you for trying to dig this person out of their filth, but unless they commit to solving the situation themselves you are going to have to let them go or turn up weekly to reclean everything.
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Dec 7, 2014 21:20
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Personally I would be a little offended if someone came to my house then tried to teach me how to clean. But then again I don't have cat poo poo all over my floor. If they're actively trying to change their ways I've heard good things about this lady's book/methods: http://www.flylady.net. She breaks it down into tiny baby steps that are pretty manageable.
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Dec 7, 2014 23:06
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Unless you are being paid to clean this home, don't do it. There's a reason they can't get anyone within a reasonable driving distance to do this for them.
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Dec 8, 2014 00:40
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AuntBuck posted:Unless you are being paid to clean this home, don't do it. There's a reason they can't get anyone within a reasonable driving distance to do this for them. Yeah, I don't understand why you would do this. They're just going to let it get dirty again, it's not your house, and not your problem.
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Dec 8, 2014 04:44
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When they asked you to house-sit did they mention anything about cleaning? I would think you are just being asked to feed the cat, get the mail, and call the police/fire dept in case of burglary/fire. You can run a vacuum around if you like, but I think it's pretty rude to call in friends for a deep scrub job. When they get home to a super clean house they will not feel grateful, but guilty/embarrassed I'd think.
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Dec 8, 2014 16:30
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When I house sit I make sure the pets are fed and that the place doesn't catch on fire. What else is there?
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Dec 8, 2014 19:31
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Turkey Farts posted:When I house sit I make sure the pets are fed and that the place doesn't catch on fire. What else is there? If they have HBO I try to catch up on Game of Thrones.
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Dec 8, 2014 21:08
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Turn the place upside down looking for a porn stash.
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Dec 8, 2014 22:05
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Turkey Farts posted:When I house sit I make sure the pets are fed and that the place doesn't catch on fire. What else is there? Last time I house sat, the cat died.
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Dec 8, 2014 22:21
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Thanatosian posted:Yeah, I don't understand why you would do this. They're just going to let it get dirty again, it's not your house, and not your problem.
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Dec 8, 2014 22:36
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Just to clarify - you're getting paid well above and beyond what they were offering you for the housesitting on its own, or just doing this out of the kindness of your heart? Additionally, are you actively living at this home or just dropping by once or twice a day to keep the cats alive and bring in the mail?
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Dec 8, 2014 23:58
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I've been given the option of just staying there, which would be nice and which I'd gladly accept in other circumstances. As it is, I'm mostly just dropping by, taking care of (and making sure I can find) the pets, and watching that the furnace keeps going and the pipes don't freeze or anything like that while it gets colder outside. And no, there wasn't any talk of paying me more when I offered to clean up, that's just me aghast at organic material encrusted on the floors and that odor and wanting dearly to do something about it, if only for my own sake.
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Dec 9, 2014 00:22
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Maybe you just have a huge capacity for altruism but if it were me I would either negotiate some form of payment (probably on an hourly basis, since actually "finishing" the cleanup may be beyond the limits of your sanity) or just seek to minimize my time at the home and thus my exposure to that sort of filth. Even basic housecleaning services around here run in the $20-25 / hour range, and that's for dealing with normal people messiness - dishes, vacuuming, etc. Since you're dealing with mental illness levels of neglect, charging that much or even more is totally reasonable. Again, if you just want to do this out of the kindness of your heart, good luck and I hope you don't contract hantavirus. Edit: Especially given you're enlisting your friends into this affair - would probably be good of you to reimburse them for wading through cat poo poo. Stanley Goodspeed fucked around with this message at 02:21 on Dec 9, 2014 |
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Dec 9, 2014 02:18
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