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[Homeowner/House] Thread. How long is it going to take? Two weeks!

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  • webguy20webguy20 I spend too much time on the Internet Registered User regular
    VishNub wrote: »
    Tried to run a hot bath today and noticed a bunch of rust settling in the tub. I hadn’t noticed that before, but I only ever take showers. Repeated with cold water and it comes out clean. Switch to hot shower head, get rust coming out. I think running the bath disturbed sediment in the bottom of the heater that’s usually left alone at the lower shower flow.

    This is coupled with us noticing that the hot water is running out more quickly in the last couple of months than it used to.

    Sediment + falling capacity = failing water heater right?

    Time to call the landlord, I suppose.

    You have access to the water heater? Whats the date on it?

    Steam ID: Webguy20
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  • VishNubVishNub Registered User regular
    webguy20 wrote: »
    VishNub wrote: »
    Tried to run a hot bath today and noticed a bunch of rust settling in the tub. I hadn’t noticed that before, but I only ever take showers. Repeated with cold water and it comes out clean. Switch to hot shower head, get rust coming out. I think running the bath disturbed sediment in the bottom of the heater that’s usually left alone at the lower shower flow.

    This is coupled with us noticing that the hot water is running out more quickly in the last couple of months than it used to.

    Sediment + falling capacity = failing water heater right?

    Time to call the landlord, I suppose.

    You have access to the water heater? Whats the date on it?

    0tjs7d56r3xc.jpeg

    I don’t know if that means it was installed in 2015 or refeurbished. The panel above that one just gives model/serial numbers

  • zepherinzepherin Russian warship, go fuck yourself Registered User regular
    Just an FYI if you’ve never replaced your cathodic protection. And your water heater is over 5 years old, you should consider it. It will greatly increase the life of your water heater.

  • VishNubVishNub Registered User regular
    zepherin wrote: »
    Just an FYI if you’ve never replaced your cathodic protection. And your water heater is over 5 years old, you should consider it. It will greatly increase the life of your water heater.

    I’m renting, so 🤷‍♂️

  • zepherinzepherin Russian warship, go fuck yourself Registered User regular
    VishNub wrote: »
    zepherin wrote: »
    Just an FYI if you’ve never replaced your cathodic protection. And your water heater is over 5 years old, you should consider it. It will greatly increase the life of your water heater.

    I’m renting, so 🤷‍♂️
    Oh then fuck it, just be careful that when the water heater shits the bed (it’s headed there) you don’t have anything against that wall you don’t want wet, or alternatively rental insurance, reduce your deductible

  • MegaMan001MegaMan001 CRNA Rochester, MNRegistered User regular
    zepherin wrote: »
    Just an FYI if you’ve never replaced your cathodic protection. And your water heater is over 5 years old, you should consider it. It will greatly increase the life of your water heater.

    I read this as "catholic protection" and had no idea which thread I was in

    I am in the business of saving lives.
  • SimpsoniaSimpsonia Registered User regular
    Anyone got a smart plug recommendation?

    My freezer door keeps popping open and it’s an annoying pain because while we usually catch it before things start to go bad a bunch of condensation ends up in it and it’s a pain to clean.

    I just need it to send me an alert when the freezer has run for more that an hour or so. Don’t really need any automation features.

    Sounds like you just need to adjust the leveling feet so that the fridge is angled ever so slightly backward so the door to wants to be closed by gravity. If that doesn't do it, then you probably just need to fix some defect with the door gasket that prevents it from making a good seal.

  • MichaelLCMichaelLC In what furnace was thy brain? ChicagoRegistered User regular
    edited January 2022
    Got to have a scientist and a Planned Parenthood representative come by and check your heater.

    Don't want any Catholicism finding its way into your system.

    If you add our radicals filter module, it will protect your from all major religions.

    MichaelLC on
  • zepherinzepherin Russian warship, go fuck yourself Registered User regular
    Catholic protection, cathodic protection.

    Either way you are using science.

  • Red RaevynRed Raevyn because I only take Bubble Baths Registered User regular
    I googled cathodic protection and that is neat stuff. My to-do list is long and distinguished enough as-is, so I've asked my wife to look into the water heater aspect of it and potentially do it. We'll see how that goes!

  • zepherinzepherin Russian warship, go fuck yourself Registered User regular
    Red Raevyn wrote: »
    I googled cathodic protection and that is neat stuff. My to-do list is long and distinguished enough as-is, so I've asked my wife to look into the water heater aspect of it and potentially do it. We'll see how that goes!
    This one isn’t too tough. There is a zinc rod they put in a water heater. The zinc corrodes instead of the steel. Because of SCIENCE!!!

    Turn off and drain water heater, which you should do periodically anyways, then you take old rod out put new rod in. Access should be on the top.

    Some unscrupulous water heater installers try to take the rods out. Don’t let them do this.

  • MugsleyMugsley DelawareRegistered User regular
    I removed my cathode without draining. You just have to depressurize the water and you're fine

  • SoggybiscuitSoggybiscuit Tandem Electrostatic Accelerator Registered User regular
    edited January 2022
    Simpsonia wrote: »
    Anyone got a smart plug recommendation?

    My freezer door keeps popping open and it’s an annoying pain because while we usually catch it before things start to go bad a bunch of condensation ends up in it and it’s a pain to clean.

    I just need it to send me an alert when the freezer has run for more that an hour or so. Don’t really need any automation features.

    Sounds like you just need to adjust the leveling feet so that the fridge is angled ever so slightly backward so the door to wants to be closed by gravity. If that doesn't do it, then you probably just need to fix some defect with the door gasket that prevents it from making a good seal.

    Pretty sure I’ve got it leveled correctly though I haven’t checked it in a while, and the gasket is okay.

    The real problem is I have dachshunds and cats that don’t get along. The cat loves the freezer because it’s high up and the top is warm. Thr dogs like to chase the cats. The dogs knocked a broom over yesterday while playing and got that jammed at the bottom of the door somehow, which is what knocked it open and kept it that way. I need something dachshund resistant.

    It’s these three dum dums:

    be0vc2ofuxwp.jpeg

    Soggybiscuit on
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  • Gabriel_PittGabriel_Pitt Stepped in it Registered User regular
    Whelp, I'm throwing in the towel on house hunting. The market is just ridiculous at the moment with how fast places are being snapped up at the asking price. There was one that went up on Thursday with serious issues presented up front, and Friday was updated to 'we will take the best offer received by Saturday at noon' and now it's off the market.

  • notyanotya Registered User regular
    Whelp, I'm throwing in the towel on house hunting. The market is just ridiculous at the moment with how fast places are being snapped up at the asking price. There was one that went up on Thursday with serious issues presented up front, and Friday was updated to 'we will take the best offer received by Saturday at noon' and now it's off the market.

    I've always wondered why it's such a common strategy to sell as fast as possible in a seller's market. You'd think they'd want to sit around a week and see if they get a really high one.

  • MichaelLCMichaelLC In what furnace was thy brain? ChicagoRegistered User regular
    notya wrote: »
    Whelp, I'm throwing in the towel on house hunting. The market is just ridiculous at the moment with how fast places are being snapped up at the asking price. There was one that went up on Thursday with serious issues presented up front, and Friday was updated to 'we will take the best offer received by Saturday at noon' and now it's off the market.

    I've always wondered why it's such a common strategy to sell as fast as possible in a seller's market. You'd think they'd want to sit around a week and see if they get a really high one.

    My guess is agent-driven; they'd rather sell more houses at a slightly lower price than fewer at higher prices.

  • Gabriel_PittGabriel_Pitt Stepped in it Registered User regular
    My guess would be that they got an offer that was everything they were looking for, and why pass on a sure thing?

  • zepherinzepherin Russian warship, go fuck yourself Registered User regular
    edited January 2022
    Bird in the hand. Also often times you’ll get a strong offer right off the bat, and then no offers the next day or two, or a lowball offer, or one with lots of tough contingenys. And if you accept an offer. That creates the contract.

    And sometimes they set the home offer at the appraisal or the top range of what an FHA and VA loans will cover. It depends on the area. In my area you lose 90% of the potential home buyers at the FHA and VA cutoffs. So generally you see homes that come in at 3.5% over the fha limit or 3.5% over the VA limit. Because any higher and the house will sit for a while.

    And because those decide value, the appraisals match up with that.

    zepherin on
  • StarZapperStarZapper Vermont, Bizzaro world.Registered User regular
    Also selling your home is exhausting and not fun. Especially with demand being what it is, being asked to leave your home constantly gets old quickly, so most people just wanna get it over with the sooner the better.

  • AbsoluteZeroAbsoluteZero The new film by Quentin Koopantino Registered User regular
    Simpsonia wrote: »
    Anyone got a smart plug recommendation?

    My freezer door keeps popping open and it’s an annoying pain because while we usually catch it before things start to go bad a bunch of condensation ends up in it and it’s a pain to clean.

    I just need it to send me an alert when the freezer has run for more that an hour or so. Don’t really need any automation features.

    Sounds like you just need to adjust the leveling feet so that the fridge is angled ever so slightly backward so the door to wants to be closed by gravity. If that doesn't do it, then you probably just need to fix some defect with the door gasket that prevents it from making a good seal.

    Pretty sure I’ve got it leveled correctly though I haven’t checked it in a while, and the gasket is okay.

    The real problem is I have dachshunds and cats that don’t get along. The cat loves the freezer because it’s high up and the top is warm. Thr dogs like to chase the cats. The dogs knocked a broom over yesterday while playing and got that jammed at the bottom of the door somehow, which is what knocked it open and kept it that way. I need something dachshund resistant.

    It’s these three dum dums:

    be0vc2ofuxwp.jpeg

    They make simple latches that install on the exterior of fridge / freezer doors that are intended to keep toddlers from pulling doors open. Might do the trick.

    cs6f034fsffl.jpg
  • schussschuss Registered User regular
    notya wrote: »
    Whelp, I'm throwing in the towel on house hunting. The market is just ridiculous at the moment with how fast places are being snapped up at the asking price. There was one that went up on Thursday with serious issues presented up front, and Friday was updated to 'we will take the best offer received by Saturday at noon' and now it's off the market.

    I've always wondered why it's such a common strategy to sell as fast as possible in a seller's market. You'd think they'd want to sit around a week and see if they get a really high one.

    Because of the pent up demand, you have buyers ready to buy, so the likelihood of a better offer after the first week is very small, as all the buyers who want your house and are in the market have alerts/agents at the ready to ounce immediately.

  • zepherinzepherin Russian warship, go fuck yourself Registered User regular
    schuss wrote: »
    notya wrote: »
    Whelp, I'm throwing in the towel on house hunting. The market is just ridiculous at the moment with how fast places are being snapped up at the asking price. There was one that went up on Thursday with serious issues presented up front, and Friday was updated to 'we will take the best offer received by Saturday at noon' and now it's off the market.

    I've always wondered why it's such a common strategy to sell as fast as possible in a seller's market. You'd think they'd want to sit around a week and see if they get a really high one.

    Because of the pent up demand, you have buyers ready to buy, so the likelihood of a better offer after the first week is very small, as all the buyers who want your house and are in the market have alerts/agents at the ready to ounce immediately.

    We had an offer on our house within 3 hours of it being listed.

  • Trajan45Trajan45 Registered User regular
    My brother in law has been looking and every house even in their pretty rural area (northern michigan) is scooped up in days with all cash offers. I'm assuming some of this scarcity is still being driven by the large investment companies.

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  • PailryderPailryder Registered User regular
    some but most just seems to be that not enough homes are being built to match demand. especially in certain states. high density housing is really down.

  • Jebus314Jebus314 Registered User regular
    zepherin wrote: »
    Red Raevyn wrote: »
    I googled cathodic protection and that is neat stuff. My to-do list is long and distinguished enough as-is, so I've asked my wife to look into the water heater aspect of it and potentially do it. We'll see how that goes!
    This one isn’t too tough. There is a zinc rod they put in a water heater. The zinc corrodes instead of the steel. Because of SCIENCE!!!

    Turn off and drain water heater, which you should do periodically anyways, then you take old rod out put new rod in. Access should be on the top.

    Some unscrupulous water heater installers try to take the rods out. Don’t let them do this.

    It’s not hard in concept, but in practice it can be a real bear. If it hasn’t been changed in a long time it’s pretty much guaranteed to be rusted in. Which means you need some lubricant to break the rust, and a very large wrench (the rod is going to be in an annoying position so not just any wrench will work).

    Then when you put the new one in you’ll want to make sure you clean up the threads on the socket (wire brush or steal wool or something) otherwise no amount of thread tape or pipe dope will get the new rod to seal.

    The latter part which is especially frustrating because you have to fill the entire damn heater to know of it leaks, and if it does, drain some again and remove it to try again. All while sweating that if you can’t figure it out soon your looking at being without hot water for a day (or many days if you work a regular job and don’t have time to work on it for a few days).

    "The world is a mess, and I just need to rule it" - Dr Horrible
  • Trajan45Trajan45 Registered User regular
    Pailryder wrote: »
    some but most just seems to be that not enough homes are being built to match demand. especially in certain states. high density housing is really down.

    idk, you're 100% right but in this case, it's pretty hard for normal folks to be dropping all cash offers. Not saying it's impossible, but he's tried for 3 places now and they all went to all cash.

    Origin ID\ Steam ID: Trajan45
  • HappylilElfHappylilElf Registered User regular
    Pailryder wrote: »
    some but most just seems to be that not enough homes are being built to match demand. especially in certain states. high density housing is really down.

    High density housing construction (in the form of condos/duplexes/twin homes/etc) is up iirc

    I believe the main issues are that starter/smaller house construction has been virtually non-existent for a long time combined with people looking to buy a house are looking to buy a house and not a condo/twin home/duplex/etc.

  • MugsleyMugsley DelawareRegistered User regular
    A 1/2" impact wrench can do the job for removal/install of the cathode. If you don't want to buy one, I'm pretty sure you can rent them or borrow from a neighbor/family member.

    Mine wasn't rusted and didn't have issues so I guess I caught it early(?)

  • N1tSt4lkerN1tSt4lker Registered User regular
    Pailryder wrote: »
    some but most just seems to be that not enough homes are being built to match demand. especially in certain states. high density housing is really down.

    High density housing construction (in the form of condos/duplexes/twin homes/etc) is up iirc

    I believe the main issues are that starter/smaller house construction has been virtually non-existent for a long time combined with people looking to buy a house are looking to buy a house and not a condo/twin home/duplex/etc.

    When I was looking in 2015/2016, building was on the table, and my dad talked to a builder about cost for a 1200-1500 sq ft house, and the builder said basically he doesn't build anything less than 2200 minimum because that's the best cost/return ratio for him. All the new neighborhoods going up around here are a minimum of 2500-3000, and they start at $310,000, which...that's not a starter home size or price for most people in this area.

    There is a huge supply-demand issue generally, though. I say a real estate/housing specialist talking about it, mentioned that we're about 4 million houses short of what would meet housing demand. So really it's just a big 'ole cluster right now.

  • PailryderPailryder Registered User regular
    add to that, i'm part of the problem. we live in a suburban neighborhood and they want to build townhomes and duplexes around the corner. I haven't gone to any meetings but i know my neighbors go and "politely" tell the city council no thank you. We actually have a duplex area not far from us and it's kind of sad how different the look and feel is. More crime in that area (a ton of cars broken into, like weekly if not daily), yards and houses more run down looking. My first house was a mobile home on a pad so i don't feel "too good" to have those neighbors but it's a big perception issue.

  • Trajan45Trajan45 Registered User regular
    edited January 2022
    Pailryder wrote: »
    add to that, i'm part of the problem. we live in a suburban neighborhood and they want to build townhomes and duplexes around the corner. I haven't gone to any meetings but i know my neighbors go and "politely" tell the city council no thank you. We actually have a duplex area not far from us and it's kind of sad how different the look and feel is. More crime in that area (a ton of cars broken into, like weekly if not daily), yards and houses more run down looking. My first house was a mobile home on a pad so i don't feel "too good" to have those neighbors but it's a big perception issue.

    I grew up below the poverty line. We lived in a duplex next to a mobile home park. I can definitely understand the feeling.

    Sadly most affordable housing solutions right now are band aid's to the larger issue of wealth inequality. Some are just not well thought out. Our new division of townhomes going up has some affordable housing units as part of it. We looked at the requirements for them, and it mentioned you can't make over 70K a year and apply for the townhome. Yet, these "affordable" townhomes are going for over $400,000. That means anyone that buys one is going to instantly be "house poor" as more than 50% of their income will be going to their mortgage (that's also assuming they make 65-69K a year, it's worse the less they make).

    Trajan45 on
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  • MichaelLCMichaelLC In what furnace was thy brain? ChicagoRegistered User regular
    edited January 2022
    Same here.

    We started with a condo then moved to house. While I'm not actively campaigning against them, I'm not thrilled that my city built a bunch of multi-family units in the downtown area. Worried about crime, parking, worried about how it's going to change things like the concerts in the park we have as they're already packed.

    The city just keeps building and don't seem to be thinking on how to expand the surrounding infrastructure to support all the extra people.

    MichaelLC on
  • GilgaronGilgaron Registered User regular
    Trajan45 wrote: »
    it mentioned you can't make over 70K a year and apply for the townhome. Yet, these "affordable" townhomes are going for over $400,000. That means anyone that buys one is going to instantly be "house poor" as more than 50% of their income will be going to their mortgage (that's also assuming they make 65-69K a year, it's worse the less they make).

    That seems like an unfortunate intersection of some ideas better in isolation... you'd have to buy it under just one spouse's name or something.

  • DoodmannDoodmann Registered User regular
    MichaelLC wrote: »
    Same here.

    We started with a condo then moved to house. While I'm not actively campaigning against them, I'm not thrilled that my city built a bunch of multi-family units in the downtown area. Worried about crime, parking, worried about how it's going to change things like the concerts in the park we have as they're already packed.

    The city just keeps building and don't seem to be thinking on how to expand the surrounding infrastructure to support all the extra people.

    downtown is where the most mult-family units should be, it's downtown, theoretically that should reduce commuting and parking assuming the buildings have appropriate infrastructure.

    "oh no, my downtown park concerts are getting too crowded" is a pretty bizarre thing to complain about.

    Crime is about poverty not density.

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  • CauldCauld Registered User regular
    Eh, I think the big thing is that like a lot of things people agree on the solution in the abstract (denser housing in this case), but not when it's applied to them.

  • AiouaAioua Ora Occidens Ora OptimaRegistered User regular
    Cauld wrote: »
    Eh, I think the big thing is that like a lot of things people agree on the solution in the abstract (denser housing in this case), but not when it's applied to them.

    NIMBYs gonna NIMBY

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  • CptHamiltonCptHamilton Registered User regular
    They keep building more condos in downtown Durham, NC but they're all starting in the 300k range with the majority being waaay above that (like in the million, million-five range). I have no idea who's buying these things. There's a lot of tech jobs coming to the NC triangle area but I have one of those high-paying tech jobs and I'm definitely not "$1.5mil 2 bedroom condo" rich.

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  • daveNYCdaveNYC Why universe hate Waspinator? Registered User regular
    Aioua wrote: »
    Cauld wrote: »
    Eh, I think the big thing is that like a lot of things people agree on the solution in the abstract (denser housing in this case), but not when it's applied to them.

    NIMBYs gonna NIMBY

    I usually figure it's NYMBY too, but municipalities are usually much better at approving developer projects that will bring in tax revenue than they are at pending that revenue on the infrastructure that will make those developments useful and enjoyable, so that never helps things.

    Shut up, Mr. Burton! You were not brought upon this world to get it!
  • PailryderPailryder Registered User regular
    I wrote a bunch and i'm reducing it to, I feel very strongly its a complex issue and if we start isolating people into groups of us vs them, we've already lost trying to improve things.

  • Trajan45Trajan45 Registered User regular
    edited January 2022
    This was an interesting article about MoCo in the DMV and why I see so many town homes going up: https://ggwash.org/view/70432/build-more-housing-moco-one-weird-trick
    When proposed commercial or mixed-use developments go through the optional method, developers can obtain additional density through a detailed structure of formulas and negotiations covering a wide range of possible community benefits that includes both staff and community review. For increased density in single-family zones, the formulas are even simpler. If the developer provides at least one additional unit above the 12.5% mandatory minimum set-aside for affordable housing through the moderately priced dwelling unit (MPDU) program, they can do townhouses or duplexes.

    The optional method has produced 3,751 townhomes or duplexes in single-family homes in the county since 2000, at least 12.5% of which were set aside as affordable.

    Trajan45 on
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This discussion has been closed.