Home Improvement Today?

Yeah, just stay away from the Ruud Ultra Hybrid Pro, I started getting alarms 6 months after installation and the company's 10 year warranty means they'll pay up to $250 to a licensed plumber to fix it. Really, a plumber? Because they know all about heat pumps.

 

Our main bathroom has zero storage besides a cabinet I’ve hung above toilet. Today I built a cabinet with open shelves and a lower box that will house a slide out laundry hamper. Still some finish work to be done but happy with the results.

Here is the closet I stole space from…

Shelves are now cut and reinstalled

And the hamper is in. Now to caulk and paint and move on to one of the many other projects that need to be completed.

 

To add to my hybrid water heater experience, "Energy Saver" is in fact the most efficient mode, not "Heat Pump".
I tried for 2 years to get their EcoNet app to work, never once would it connect. I'm over Ruud's, maybe I'll try an A.O. next time.
Pay attention to the plumbing orientation, only few offer an option to accept your plumbing as is, my Ruud is plumbed into the bottom and side vice top.
When I purchased mine there were next to no reviews on them, maybe there are now and you can make a better and more informed decision than I made.

 

Not exactly home improvement, but hey it improves my home experience!

My old Cat6 cable going from the living room to the master for my computer developed a bad spot in it. I noticed it when I moved the computer to clean the floors. I also have been wanting to add a wireless router to the garage since WiFi coverage is spotty out there, even with the Xfinity router in the living room beside that. Bought a couple 50' cables and network switch.

Got everything ran today. Tried to keep it as neat as I could in the basement closet. Still need to trim the channel for the ceiling tile for the wires to go through.



Got out the ol' DeWalt hammer drill and punched a hole through the brick from the garage to the basement. I did seal it off this time so mice don't sneak their way in like they did the other day...



Had a spare TPlink 300mbps wireless router laying around so I used it. I have 1GB internet, but 300mbps is well enough for streaming music and web browsing on my phone in the garage. This is its temporary spot, I just wanted to make sure everything would work before mounting the router to the ceiling...



Router works great in the garage, no more dropping out or loss of speed.

 

I was looking at the Rheem's tanks and the Sanco2 system

 

Spent the morning in the attic finishing electrical to code and swapping to smooth vent pipe. I felt like a cooked turkey at lunch. But at least I don’t have to lose sleep over a possible fire from my quick hack job wiring.

so, now that I’ve knocked out the first two…

The third of 4 vent fans is directly underneath a horizontal abs 2” pipe. Which I assume is vent pipe. Just re-route the mofo? I think it’s because a good chunk of the sinks are in the East wall and I guess they wanted the roof vents more central?

 

I thought one of the tracks was bent in the garage, but it turns out the door is just old and sagging from the summer heat and added weight from the insulation. The repair dude said he could replace the entire door for about $1500 or install 2 braces and upgrade the springs for about half that. If I were staying I'd opt for a wood look garage door, but I know the hoa wouldn't approve. I opted for the "cheap" option.

2 horizontal braces $95 each
2 garage springs $165 each
1 spring install labor $ 185
Grand ripoff, er uh, total $705 even. Seems high to me.



Also got the 72" Kensgrove (home decorators collection) bronze ceiling fan installed this afternoon. With the new down rod and a couple of #10 x 2" pan screws I was only robbed for about $300. Fan blades are plastic to boot. It moves a ton of air, but it doesn't really go with anything else in the room. I might see if Costco has something in brushed nickel tomorrow and return this one. A lot of fans are out of stock with AZ's summer heat wave. Not sure if I want to bother with another install though.

 

Where you heading to? Same town, different HOA? Reduce the bs and unwanted visitors / pests?

I came close to blowing a ton of cash on wood garage doors but swapped to vinyl at the last moment. No rag rats. Definitely going vinyl at the new place. But faux wood is cool. Lots of good style points.

A real shark seller wouldn’t spend anything on garage doors. Most buyers don’t even think to check that.

 

Lakes and Pines! Out of state and no more hoa bullsh*t. Ideally lakefront or on a couple of acres close to lake recreation. I'll be remodeling for sure. I'm done with the AZ summers.

edit: faux wood garage door was what I had in mind. Next house.

 

Sounds like you already had a place to park the boat…the flooded basement.

 

Looking for some help..... I cleaned my dryer vent "tube" out as far as I could with the brushes I have...... issue is, tube is over 10' long and has at least 2 90* pvc fittings on the inside by my dryer. I can't get the brush through from either end, through those bends..... my brush is more than long enough from the outside. I have 2 brushes and I cut one down, but still can't get it through the bends. Issue now is, not getting any air flow with the dryer on, so I must have a blockage. No air compressor..... what can I use to go through the bends?

 

Electrical fish tape...$9.95 at Harbor freight

 

Drain snake with a 6" dia spiderweb brush on the end did mine. Used the drill attachment and got it looking new.

 

Ooohhhh I have one of those. thanks

That brush head won't go through the bends at the end. The dryer vent brush won't fit and that looks bigger. But thanks for the idea

 

That reminds me, I have to call the guy who cleans my vents and get him over here. We do it once a year.

 

Do you have or can borrow a leaf blower? Remove anything that will block the lint and give it a blow. Makes an unholy mess outside but gets the job done. Don't ask me how I know

 

Love this idea!! Thanks. I do have a blower - not concerned with a mess outside.

 

Leaf blower?

Edit - just seeing it's already been suggested.

 

Ima try leaf blower from outside with dryer disconnected and wife looking down the vent.