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Enfys posted:I take back all the good things I've ever said about trees. Stupid leaves. Hands down the BEST two hundred bucks I ever spent Don't even mess with other poo poo, get these now and marvel at how much better life is after good gutter guards. I've hosed with the cheap stuff, and it ain't worth it, especially as it's not really all that much cheaper.
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Nov 19, 2016 01:16
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OSU_Matthew posted:I just ran across these infographics and thought I'd post them here since someone asked about home maintenance lists earlier in the thread. Might be worth adding to the OP It's cute they think raking leaves only takes an hour. My husband and I were both working on our leaves for 8 hours this weekend and we didn't even finish.
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Nov 21, 2016 17:48
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OSU_Matthew posted:Hands down the BEST two hundred bucks I ever spent More fun alternative: get on the roof with a leaf blower. Hope you have good health insurance!
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Nov 22, 2016 16:53
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Both my trees came crashing down in a storm this spring, I don't have to rake now! 
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Nov 22, 2016 17:00
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drat Bananas posted:Both my trees came crashing down in a storm this spring, I don't have to rake now! I'm quietly hoping this happens with the 2 pine trees in our front yard that are on the strip of city property between sidewalk and road. One of them leans just slightly, luckily away from the house. I'm tired or pine needles and pinecones everywhere.
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Nov 22, 2016 17:15
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My raking has been far less this year after the goddamned Bradford pear in the back yard split last year and I took a chainsaw to it with prejudice.
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Nov 22, 2016 17:26
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I woke up today and found my fridge is no longer working, it's 13 years old so it likely is about time to replace it anyways. Any one have any recommendations for a good set of Kitchen Appliances?
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Nov 22, 2016 17:48
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Re: leaf raking. Why is everyone raking their entire yard? I've always read it was way better to just mow them over, mulching them into the grass and improving soil health.
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Nov 22, 2016 20:08
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LogisticEarth posted:Re: leaf raking. Why is everyone raking their entire yard? I've always read it was way better to just mow them over, mulching them into the grass and improving soil health. Our poor dog had a terrible time with fleas he was bringing in from outside. Now that it's so cold out, we'll most likely just mulch the remaining leaves.
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Nov 22, 2016 20:47
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love on the cheap posted:More fun alternative: get on the roof with a leaf blower. Hope you have good health insurance! I live in a rambler with a very shallow metal roof on it. Leaf blowing my roof (w/ fall protection) is a favorite dry weather activity of mine. RE: gutter chat: I have something called Gutter Glove installed on my new gutters and its a mesh that is supposed to catch all of the gritty dirt that the cedar trees drop. I haven't had them a full season yet so i remain unconvinced.
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Nov 22, 2016 21:17
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Steampunk Hitler posted:I woke up today and found my fridge is no longer working, it's 13 years old so it likely is about time to replace it anyways. Any one have any recommendations for a good set of Kitchen Appliances? Maybe that's true about older appliances being better? I was shocked when this house, built in the early 1970s had what had to be the original refrigerator, still running if old and smelly. And using god knows how much power. In both cases I replaced with a Samsung. The first one had to have its motherboard replaced within 6 months. This one has been good for the past two years. Bottom freezer 4 life.
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Nov 22, 2016 21:26
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Cheesus posted:When the seals broke down on the 1980s fridge at my previous house in 2009, I did research hoping to find some general manufacturer consensus. What I got instead was "They're all poo poo. Expect them to die in 5-10 years". ditto got a samsung with the freezer bottom, had one little hiccup with the water in the door switch about 3 months in but haven't had a problem since.
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Nov 22, 2016 22:14
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Cheesus posted:Maybe that's true about older appliances being better? I was shocked when this house, built in the early 1970s had what had to be the original refrigerator, still running if old and smelly. And using god knows how much power. To some extent, this doesn't really mean that much. 99 out of 100 of that make and model may have failed after the the first x years, but because the other 99 are in a landfill somewhere and not in your kitchen it seems like they really lasted. That said, our last house came with a burnt orange washer and dryer. Based on the color I knew they were old, but one day I happened to be looking through a book of vintage photos and found one with my exact washer and dryer that was from the early 70s. By the time we replaced them with a newer one that was given to us they were about 40 years old. Still worked fine, but didn't clean nearly as well as a newer model.
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Nov 22, 2016 22:28
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Cheesus posted:Maybe that's true about older appliances being better? I was shocked when this house, built in the early 1970s had what had to be the original refrigerator, still running if old and smelly. And using god knows how much power. One of the thing to keep in mind is that the costs of goods have come WAAAY down, partially because of outsourcing to third world labor, but also partially because the quality of materials and QA/QC on a lot of goods have gone down. For example, based on a quick google search for the cost of a refrigerator in the 1970's was probably between $300 and $700, depending on size, options, etc. In today's dollars, that's $1500-4000 for a fridge. So compare products in similar cost ranges. A $4,000 fridge bought today probably has a good chance of lasting way longer than the $400 sale special from the Depot.
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Nov 22, 2016 22:44
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LogisticEarth posted:Re: leaf raking. Why is everyone raking their entire yard? I've always read it was way better to just mow them over, mulching them into the grass and improving soil health. There are definitely limiting returns to doing that; we wind up with a thick mat of leaves and twigs covering (and killing) the grass if we just mow. Eventually they still need to get raked
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Nov 22, 2016 23:47
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QuarkJets posted:There are definitely limiting returns to doing that; we wind up with a thick mat of leaves and twigs covering (and killing) the grass if we just mow. Eventually they still need to get raked It sounds like you have a crap mower for mulching leaves. My grass is basically spotless going from full leaf cover after a pass with a mulching mower.
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Nov 23, 2016 02:54
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baquerd posted:It sounds like you have a crap mower for mulching leaves. My grass is basically spotless going from full leaf cover after a pass with a mulching mower. That's what happens with our grass too, but eventually we get so many leaf fragments that the leaves (combined with water and cut grass) wind up creating a cover of organic matter after a couple of months. I don't think that getting a better mulcher would really change that, as the issue is the amount of material, not the fineness of the mulch
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Nov 23, 2016 03:23
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couldcareless posted:I'm quietly hoping this happens with the 2 pine trees in our front yard that are on the strip of city property between sidewalk and road. One of them leans just slightly, luckily away from the house. I'm tired or pine needles and pinecones everywhere. I have a big black walnut on my tree lawn, and it's the worst. I kind of hope it gets hit my lightning or something. It's the last tree on the street to get its leaves, and the first to go bare. And all loving summer it drops baseball to golfball sized walnut fruit that I can just see some idiot jogger stepping on and twisting and ankle. I tried to get the city to remove it, but they didn't plant it, and it's healthy, so I can't do poo poo about it. It's awful.
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Nov 23, 2016 07:43
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So I just bought a house, and it did not come with a washer/dryer. It is set up for an electric dryer, but there is a gas line close by in the same room that could be run over to where the dryer would be. A few questions: 1) Is it really that much more efficient to have a gas dryer? 2) Should I trust my girlfriends dad who says he has experience installing gas lines to do it? 3) If he does do it, and my house blows up, my insurance probably won't cover it right? 4) If I hire out a licensed guy to do the job to alleviate any of those concerns, aren't I basically just spending the money that I would otherwise save by installing a gas dryer?
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Nov 23, 2016 15:03
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Just get an electric dryer you nard
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Nov 23, 2016 15:06
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Elysium posted:So I just bought a house, and it did not come with a washer/dryer. It is set up for an electric dryer, but there is a gas line close by in the same room that could be run over to where the dryer would be. 1) Maybe, check your local utility costs. 2) Maybe, check if that installation is required to be permitted. 3) Possibly, see 2. 4) I don't know, how long do you plan to stay at this house?
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Nov 23, 2016 15:51
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Back of the envelope is you save 10 cents per load, do 1 load per day, and have the dryer for 15 years. NPV at 10% says you should do it if you can spend less than $250 compared to electric. (Assuming it is as safe as electric)
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Nov 23, 2016 17:02
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Steampunk Hitler posted:I woke up today and found my fridge is no longer working, it's 13 years old so it likely is about time to replace it anyways. Any one have any recommendations for a good set of Kitchen Appliances? In general, as long as you avoid weird features (Wi-Fi integration! Multi-temp drawers! Control the inside lights with your phone!) or configurations (counter depth!) you tend to get what you pay for. In my recent research I haven't heard of one brand being extremely more or less reliable in the way that, say, dishwashers can be. I would recommend actually traveling to as many stores as you have access to, though. Sears Outlets are a great place to start, and their very best deals won't appear on their website (sometimes they sell non-Sears products and they don't have a way to code them to appear on it). Lowe's and Home Depot often have returns and scratch and dent stuff on crazy discounts, too. Beware the great deal from the Black Friday ad, as usually those get oversold and you'll have to wait weeks to get it. Measure the space you have precisely, at multiple heights, and write that down. This is especially important in regards to door hinges. If there's not enough space around your fridge to allow for proper ventilation, you'll just burn it out.
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Nov 24, 2016 05:54
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Tricky Ed posted:Multi-temp drawers! Our new Samsung fridge has this, and we've found it to be really convenient. Not so much the temp changes, but just the full-width drawer with divider bits separate from the main fridge body. We keep it stocked with canned beverages on one side and deli stuff/cold snacks on the other. It's also the right depth for thanksgiving sides in baking dishes, which it's currently full of.
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Nov 24, 2016 08:02
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Our new house is mostly front/side yard, our back yard is about 80% fenced, we have an idiot dog that would run away if we just left them outside. We also have a young son, but I'm not to worried about keeping him fenced in. Our options, I figure: Walk the dog regularly - he's an old man and doesn't do walks well, but still possible. Buy a lead -Cheap, tripping hazard, will wreck that part of the yard, contains waste to a specific area. Finish the gaps in the fence. I'll have to figure out how to deal with the area around our carport, but I could probably get away with a double wide gate and a bunch of fencing. probably the most expensive option. limits the dog to the back yard. Invisible fence. give the dog the run of our property, not too expensive, makes cleaning up waste a treasure hunt. Anyone have any thoughts/experience about this?
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Nov 24, 2016 16:26
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Team_q posted:Our new house is mostly front/side yard, our back yard is about 80% fenced, we have an idiot dog that would run away if we just left them outside. We also have a young son, but I'm not to worried about keeping him fenced in. Dogs are very cool and good, give him a yard to get rid of energy in.
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Nov 24, 2016 16:31
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Panthrax posted:I have a big black walnut on my tree lawn, and it's the worst. I kind of hope it gets hit my lightning or something. It's the last tree on the street to get its leaves, and the first to go bare. And all loving summer it drops baseball to golfball sized walnut fruit that I can just see some idiot jogger stepping on and twisting and ankle. I tried to get the city to remove it, but they didn't plant it, and it's healthy, so I can't do poo poo about it. It's awful. How big and healthy is it? Large (>20" diameter, measured 4'6" from the ground, at least 10 feet before any major branches), high-quality (straight, free of nails/foreign objects/damage) black walnut trees are extremely valuable for lumber. Call a custom/mobile sawmill nearby and talk to them; you might even make some money on the bargain. Be prepared to take pictures and measurements. Even if it isn't lumber-grade, walnut is pretty good firewood, so a contractor might be willing to do it cheap/free in exchange for keeping the wood to sell later, or you might be able to sell some of it yourself and offset the cost.
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Nov 24, 2016 18:09
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Yond Cassius posted:How big and healthy is it? Large (>20" diameter, measured 4'6" from the ground, at least 10 feet before any major branches), high-quality (straight, free of nails/foreign objects/damage) black walnut trees are extremely valuable for lumber. Call a custom/mobile sawmill nearby and talk to them; you might even make some money on the bargain. Be prepared to take pictures and measurements. He probably doesn't have rights to harvest lumber from the tree lawn.
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Nov 24, 2016 18:18
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Jealous Cow posted:He probably doesn't have rights to harvest lumber from the tree lawn. Oh! I hadn't heard the phrase 'tree lawn' before and misread it, I think. The little strip of not-quite-yard between the curb and the sidewalk? You're probably right, but it's worth calling the city about, if they say they didn't plant it and won't do anything with it themselves.
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Nov 24, 2016 18:35
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Anyone who uses wallpaper is an rear end in a top hat. The people who owned this house before me are assholes.
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Nov 25, 2016 04:46
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at some depth of wallpaper layering the correct action is to tear the drywall down and try again
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Nov 25, 2016 04:47
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If you just have an attic access hatch instead of a drop down ladder, put in a cheap harbor freight winch right above it, makes getting the bigger stuff swapped out when seasons change a hell of a lot easier. A $99 winch and about $20 worth of metal/bolts from the hardware store has saved me a lot of effort.
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Nov 25, 2016 20:17
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devmd01 posted:If you just have an attic access hatch instead of a drop down ladder, put in a cheap harbor freight winch right above it, makes getting the bigger stuff swapped out when seasons change a hell of a lot easier. A $99 winch and about $20 worth of metal/bolts from the hardware store has saved me a lot of effort. Oh yeah. I just installed a retractable extension cord in my garage and it's already been tremendously useful. It makes me want to install an air compressor and ceiling mounted hose even though I would have very limited use for it. Overhead mounted stuff is just fun. 
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Nov 28, 2016 17:48
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AC maintenance guy told me today that our R22 AC will probably die in 5-10 years, but maybe sooner, and that replacing it is probably $15k in today's dollars because of the additional work involved. Didn't seem like he was trying to sell us anything, just wanted us to be aware Time to adjust those long term maintenance numbers!
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Nov 28, 2016 21:40
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QuarkJets posted:AC maintenance guy told me today that our R22 AC will probably die in 5-10 years, but maybe sooner, and that replacing it is probably $15k in today's dollars because of the additional work involved. Didn't seem like he was trying to sell us anything, just wanted us to be aware How big is your house and how far south of the Mason-Dixon do you live?
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Nov 28, 2016 22:24
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PCjr sidecar posted:How big is your house and how far south of the Mason-Dixon do you live? 1500 sqft and around 20 degrees south of that (and a whole lot west)
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Nov 29, 2016 04:38
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Just wanted to crosspost this from the home security thread: https://www.lorextechnology.com/cyber-monday-specials/hd-security-camera-system-with-nvr-2-ptz-cameras-and-2-bullets/HDIP422Z-1-p It's a pretty great deal for a complete security camera system with four 1080p outdoor ip cameras, two of which are miniature point to zoom dome cameras. The nvr is accessible through an app as well, and everything is poe so the cameras transmit data and receive power through a single ethernet cable. The deal is good through today only though.
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Nov 29, 2016 16:50
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OSU_Matthew posted:Just wanted to crosspost this from the home security thread: Is this thing any good? I'm strongly considering it but can't find much in the way of reviews.
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Nov 29, 2016 20:38
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Economic Sinkhole posted:Is this thing any good? I'm strongly considering it but can't find much in the way of reviews. For the price, yup, it's excellent, especially if you're looking for ptz cameras. The price of the whole unit is less than what most ptz dome cameras retail for alone (eg Hikvision or Trendnet. Plus the dome cameras are really loving tiny, 2" x 5" so they're really inobtrusive, and they're even vandal proof/ip66 rated. I was contemplating buying the next step up resolution of the dome cameras alone before this deal showed up, and a single one of those was the same price as this whole package. Downside is that the the NVR is only 4 channel, but it's POE, and a switch can expand it up to 8 channels if you wanted to add cameras. Other downside is that while it's still great 1080p resolution, Lorex has newer camera systems with 2k (and soon 4k) resolution, which is just crazy. And the night vision is only 60 foot, whereas some of their other systems are 130 foot with color night vision (assuming some ambient lighting). But if you're just looking to get started with something good for really cheap, and add something to your house for peace of mind and simple setup with good remote access, this is hands down what I would start with. If you want to expand down the line, POE IP cameras are the way to go, and you can either just buy a larger NVR and reuse the cameras, or set up your own NVR software on a computer (though this is a simpler, smaller footprint with lower power consumption). What's great is that these cameras are ONVIF open standards compliant, so they're basically compatible with everything--you're not locked in to their ecosystem if you want to switch NVR's and reuse the cameras. I had been looking at other systems such as Unifi, since I'm already running their controller with my access points and router, but their NVR alone is the same price as this one (sans cameras), and you still need either poe injectors/a switch to power the cameras and transmit data, and their best camera offerings are the same resolution as the units in this kit. Personally, I wanted to get away from my old Kguard coax setup with a dvr that I had set up a private vpn to remote into. IP cameras are just so much simpler, and cabling is much less of a headache, since cat5e/6 is much cheaper and easier to run and crimp your own custom lengths. I've been waiting awhile to find something really good, and I'd say Flir/Lorex have hands down the best offerings I've seen. Other popular consumer stuff like dropcam is alright, but you still need wiring to provide power, and man are they expensive. Plus I wouldn't count on the reliability of wifi cameras, since the unlicensed 2.4/5Ghz spectrum is susceptible to interference and is really crowded as is. Plus most people's home wifi really isn't all that great and one or two of those kinds of cameras would consume most of the available bandwidth.
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Nov 30, 2016 15:37
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I bought it. Will post some kind of review after I install and use it during break.
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Nov 30, 2016 16:18
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