Question 1

Getting cash out of American Home Shield ? Experiences sought

Accepted Answer

Hi folks-Some of you have read my ongoing experiences with my central AC unit, and a few have given me great advice.Now I'm asking a general question, not AC-related, so I'm starting a new thread.  Question: how do I go about getting AHS to cut me a check for whatever amount their hack repairman says the repair cost of my dead AC is? He'll just want to swap the compressor, almost certainly. Various estimates suggest that would cost AHS $500 - $1000. Fine. What I'd like is to invoke section F, paragraph 12 of the home warranty, which is AHS's option to give me the repair cost and let me go my own way in doing a full system replacement.The problem is that it's THEIR option to do so, not mine.  I'm looking for experiences (success stories, things to avoid), in getting them to do it.  Of course I'd like them to pay for a full replacement, but that's probably not happening, and I'd be happy to cut my losses, get a check for the repair estimate, and go to my own contractor and get a quality...

Question 2

Best lubricant for outdoor padlock

Accepted Answer

In your opinion, what is the best lubricant for an outdoor padlock?I live in a humid area about six miles from the ocean.  Thank you inadvance for all replies.

Question 3

getting rid of rats

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I recently have done battle withrats in my garage.  Since usenetwas a big help to me, I thought I'dsummarize what worked for me andwhat didn't.  I hope this info helpssomeone in the future.The biggest problem (to me) is thatrats carry many diseases, most unpleasant,some fatal.  This fact alone may leadyou to retain a professional exterminator.Unfortunately, it is my belief that exterminatorsdon't *kill* many rats, but justdrive them away.  My infestation closelyfollowed an episode where my neighborhad a rat problem and hired an exterminator.I think they just moved up the street. So, if you go this route, you may notbe doing any favors to yourneighbors by hiring an exterminator.  If you DIY,then, wear a respirator and gloves, and washyour clothes thoroughly andoften.  I used a mix of bleach, ammonia,and soap and water daily.IMO, traps by themselves are basically useless.Rats are cautious, and are prettysmart.  At the least, if you use traps,bait them but don't arm them, so the...

Question 4

diesel fuel in a home fuel oil furnace?

Accepted Answer

can i use diesel fuel in a home fuel oil furnace? if so wich dieselcan i use?

Question 5

jacking up joist

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A joist below my bathtub was severeley cut for the bathtub drain plumbing.  Picture at  can see where it rests on the sill plate at the right.  There's only about 2" of joist left at the sill plate.  The bathtub is out.  The vertical stub went up to the bathtub overflow.  The bathtub sits perpendicular to the joists, so the drain is between joists.  The cut would have been done 50 years ago.  I'm thinking of strengthening it, partly because I'm planning to put a stone or tile floor in my bathroom and I don't want it to crack if someone fills the bathtub and the floor sags.  I'm not sure whether strengthening the joist is necessary.  Rather understandably, the joist is sagging.  The LH side sags about 1/4" below horizontal, and the joist sheared slightly at the edge of the sill plate.  It seems like the best way of strengthening it would be to attach 2" steel angle - L-beams - on both sides of the joist, with the legs of the L'ssticking out horizontally.  I'm thinking of jacking up the...

Question 6

Plastic lumber -- where do you buy it?

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I wouldn't ask but I've Googled this to death and nothing. Plenty of places thatsell plastic furniture and products but no info on raw materials.Where do you but this HDPE lumber (in Midwest)?A place that stocks, with a variety of shapes and colors.I know I can get deck board but that's not what I'm after.   THANKS.

Question 7

FAQ for programmable stats - and how to wire them?

Accepted Answer

Do we need one - or maybe some extensions to existing FAQs?There are already FAQs about thermostats and wiring but - as far as I can see there's one aspect which is not currently adaquately covered. That is, when replacing a mechanical stat which uses an accelerator heater with an electronic one which doesn't, what to do with the redundant neutral wire.Questions relating to this seem to crop up fairly often. Only yesterday we had one bright spark(!) who couldn't bear the thought of having an unused wire, and so chose to connect it to the spare contact of the stat's change-over switch - with the inevitable pyro-technics and, in his case, wrecking the CH side of his programmer.In addition, the habit of some 'professionals' of using the earth conductor in T&E cable as a switched live can present a bit of a challenge when trying to identify which wire does what.What do you reckon?

Question 8

Metric screw thread measurements?

Accepted Answer

I had a screw that I wished to replace with a longer one, so I measured thediameter and ended up with a replacement too thin.My rough measurement of the original screw was 3.5mm, so I ordered an M3.5. I've since measured the original with a calliper and got 3.75mm.  Thereplacement M3.5 screw is 3.25mm on the calliper.  What gives?Anyone wishing to check my calliper - the screws in a lightswitch are identicalin diameter to the incorrect replacement M3.5, which my calliper says is 3.25mm.This says I'm measuring correctly: suggests screws are 0.1mm thinner than they should be:

Question 9

Building cabinets - how to square them

Accepted Answer

Hi all,Firstly thanks very much for all the info on the other thread.  Study now designed so now in build phase :)I have cut the pieces for the first cabinet out of 18mm ply so now looking to put it together.  It is 900mm wide (500mm deep) so wondering what the best way to glue/ screw it all together to make sure it is square.  I have done some searching but they seem to make it up first them adjust it.  I had anticipated using fairly decent screw lengths (say 60mm) so thinking that it would be very rigid (and heavy) so ability to adjust this way would be somewhat limited. Also, I was planning on having a fixed shelf in the middle to add further strength (and in reality we never change the height anyway) so this would further impede this approach.Any ideas how best to go about it?ThanksLee.

Question 10

LiPo vs Rechargeable Lithium 123

Accepted Answer

The LiPo battery in a tiny remote controlled helicopter toy hasfailed. I can tell it's failed because it has blown itself up like aparty balloon! I was surprised at how low the capacity was - 200mAhwas printed on the side. I've now replaced it with a similar 350mAhLiPo battery.I was just wondering how the performance of these LiPos compare with amore conventional rechargeable lithium 123 cell. The 123 only weighs4g more than the LiPo yet seem to have many times the storage capacityso presumably there must be some reason why they aren't used in thisapplication. Any thoughts?Nick

Question 11

Methane detector

Accepted Answer

When the new boiler was installed and the gas meter changed, the Cadent chapleft me with a CO2 alarm.Now, I can't be absolutely certain, but I thought that I detected a whiff ofgas when the boiler was firing. This was a couple of times on Monday but notsince then. It could just have been a 'new' smell when components warmed up.I've looked at various sites - SF starts at £59 - and am relectant to useebay or Amazon without a recommendation.Ideally it'd be battery powered, thoughthere is a socket by the boiler.Other possibilty is a probe for checking around - or one of each if they'renot too expensive.

Question 12

Wet & Dry vac recommendations

Accepted Answer

My trusty old Parkside Wet & Dry vac has finally died, so I am looking for a replacement. However, I frequently use it in conjunction with power tools the vac having a power take off up to 1600W, set in auto mode this switches the vac on as soon as the power tool is activated. Over the ten years use I have been pushing it a bit with my mitre saw which is rated at 1800W but it has never been a problem and even now that the motor is dead that power function is still working.So the issue is trying to find one with a high watt PTO, only an Evolution vac comes anywhere near at 1700W but is low capacity and does not come out well in reviews mainly it seems underpowered and low suction.So I have been looking at another approach which is buy a bog standard one and use some sort of plug in auto switch such as; has been recommended by Peter Millard of 10 min. Workshop and seems capable of high watt loads although marketed as a device for use with PCs and their peripherals. It?s 5s delay is a bit...

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