The DIY thread - DIYourself

[jmanic]

At the risk of jinxing myself, I’ll take easy any day, especially on a Monday

Basement Frigidaire dehumidifier has been throwing the F0 code for a while now.
Like a while.
But unplugging it, then plugging it back in would reset it for a bit.
At first it would hold for weeks, then days, then hours and it finally got down to minutes.

Time to at least try cleaning the humidity sensor.
Started cleaning it before I snapped the before pic, but you get the idea. It was pretty corroded.




Started with a Scotchbrite, but had to go to 220 sandpaper.
Cleaned the sensor and as much of the tube sheath it sits in.

Cleaned up pretty well

And it’s been running for 3.5 hours straight, so I think I’m claiming victory.
The expected lifespan on these units is maybe 3 years, I’m at 5 with this one, so this is all just gravy now.

If yours shoots the F0 code, ignore the internet telling you it’s out of refrigerant, and at least check this.

 

[Fat Trout]

Happy new evaporator fan day. Had been sounding wonky....wasntnsure how to get at it. Started screaming the other night....oh well cant break it more so in we go. $18.99 on amazon. So quiet now i didnt think itvwas on. A win for my backup fridge...and my budget

 

[qclabrat]

For all you woodworkers out there. I have a friend who just retired and he has an interest in doing some woodworking now that he has dedicated free time. Instead of going out and buying some equipment or tools he'll probably rarely use, I'd like to get time some woodworking lessons as a retirement gift. Anyone know of places in north/central NJ for lessons?

 

[jmanic]

For all you woodworkers out there. I have a friend who just retired and he has an interest in doing some woodworking now that he has dedicated free time. Instead of going out and buying some equipment or tools he'll probably rarely use, I'd like to get time some woodworking lessons as a retirement gift. Anyone know of places in north/central NJ for lessons?

@SmooveP
You can use the slave labor to make me some more built-ins

 

[SmooveP]

@SmooveP
You can use the slave labor to make me some more built-ins

Thanks, but I've been thinking about cancelling my liability insurance.
Peters Valley has a bunch of woodworking classes, though.

 

[Ironjunk]

There was rotted timbers here and i was motivated to change the patio, so i ended up ripping them all out but not sure where i should go from here. I have the other doorway id like to connect to with a platform.

 

[Santapez]

Well, finally got hot here and decided that before it got too hot I should see if the house A/C works. Hasn't been turned on since house inspection last year.

Turned on breaker, cover removed. COLD AIR. Hopefully it's not too warm during the days where I need to run it.

Anyone here install a whole-house fan? Doesn't seem overly complicated and would allow fresh air as opposed to circulating the interior air. I like cooling off the house with outside air overnight and window fans don't cut it.

 

[SmooveP]

There was rotted timbers here and i was motivated to change the patio, so i ended up ripping them all out but not sure where i should go from here. I have the other doorway id like to connect to with a platform.
View attachment 218082

I'd start with a jackhammer. That slab looks poorly supported to say the least!

 

[ekuhn]

There was rotted timbers here and i was motivated to change the patio, so i ended up ripping them all out but not sure where i should go from here. I have the other doorway id like to connect to with a platform.
View attachment 218082

Possibilities are endless. Remove old concrete? Pavers for a nice patio (I'd lower to grade to lower the cost) Figure $20-23 / SF for new. Could remove and install a deck.

Or keep old concrete and put a paver wall around existing concrete and extend concrete patio in the same fashion. ($$??)

 

[ebarker9]

For all you woodworkers out there. I have a friend who just retired and he has an interest in doing some woodworking now that he has dedicated free time. Instead of going out and buying some equipment or tools he'll probably rarely use, I'd like to get time some woodworking lessons as a retirement gift. Anyone know of places in north/central NJ for lessons?

There is this place. I do not know anything about it.

Mr. Sawdust School of Professional Woodworking

Welcome to the Mr. Sawdust School of Professional Woodworking

www.mrsawdustschool.com

I know that Peters Valley offers classes with some good instructors.

 

[ebarker9]

Well, finally got hot here and decided that before it got too hot I should see if the house A/C works. Hasn't been turned on since house inspection last year.

Turned on breaker, cover removed. COLD AIR. Hopefully it's not too warm during the days where I need to run it.

Anyone here install a whole-house fan? Doesn't seem overly complicated and would allow fresh air as opposed to circulating the interior air. I like cooling off the house with outside air overnight and window fans don't cut it.

I grew up with one in our house and we used it through a lot of the year without AC. The main point (which is probably obvious) is just that it's counterproductive to use it if you're going to be running AC during the day, due to the amount of humidity that you bring into the house with it. And you may or may not care, but they do put what is usually a poorly insulated and air sealed hole in your ceiling. Tamarack (and maybe others) make models that seem to address this pretty well:

Whole House Fans | Attic Fan | Whole House Fan

www.tamtech.com

 

[serviceguy]

There was rotted timbers here and i was motivated to change the patio, so i ended up ripping them all out but not sure where i should go from here. I have the other doorway id like to connect to with a platform.
View attachment 218082

Maybe support the whole concrete slab with gravel to avoid it from cracking at the edges then extend it tp the other side of the house? Is the slab armored concrete, aggregated etc.? Looks like it's already cracked in the middle, if that's the case I would consider this instead...
https://www.homedepot.com/p/rental/Makita-Small-Breaker-HM1307CB/316822071

 

[qclabrat]

There was rotted timbers here and i was motivated to change the patio, so i ended up ripping them all out but not sure where i should go from here. I have the other doorway id like to connect to with a platform.
View attachment 218082

How does this area handle water? seems gravel and dirt has washed out

 

[iman29]

There was rotted timbers here and i was motivated to change the patio, so i ended up ripping them all out but not sure where i should go from here. I have the other doorway id like to connect to with a platform.
View attachment 218082

im only Youtube certified but that slab looks sketchy to me at best and while the quick answer is to jackhammer it and get rid of it thats a lot of work.

Since you want to tie in the other doorway maybe put a deck over it. but Im guessing theres not enough space for the support joists to keep the entry threshold flat.



other choice would be to put up those retaining wall blocks around the slab and backfill it with QP and rock base to support it. then create a step down and patio area with pavers to the other section by the french doors. the slope looks like it would stil need backfill and leveling.

 

[Santapez]

I grew up with one in our house and we used it through a lot of the year without AC. The main point (which is probably obvious) is just that it's counterproductive to use it if you're going to be running AC during the day, due to the amount of humidity that you bring into the house with it. And you may or may not care, but they do put what is usually a poorly insulated and air sealed hole in your ceiling. Tamarack (and maybe others) make models that seem to address this pretty well:

Whole House Fans | Attic Fan | Whole House Fan

www.tamtech.com

Yeah I'm not big on running the A/C and in the last 4 months or so we only closed the windows once when it got cold out one night. Overall the temperature change inside the house isn't really that great.

It seems that the whole-house fan would allow cooling the house greatly at night so that while it'll heat up during the day it won't be as drastic. Plus if it heats up it can more easily be cooled after the sun goes down.

It's been about 80 degrees here during the day and drops to around 65 at night. As it's been getting warmer the internal house temperatures have been creeping up to 75 degrees and window fans aren't enough to cool the entire house down when the outside temperatures dropped.

I thought about the hole in the ceiling and was actually thinking of repurposing the existing attic access for that as I can swap the wood for a plain piece in the winter. No stairs into the attic. The ideal spot would be in the living/dining area opposite from the bedroom side of the house but that would be unsightly.

Considering how hot attics get...this may need to be a winter project if I went forward with it.

 

[Ironjunk]

How does this area handle water? seems gravel and dirt has washed out

Ground level pools water but only when its raining. The septic field is close i should have shown a better picture. i want the tree down to the left first.

I might just demo the thing and start over. What is the best way to deal. Lets assume i want to do this myself and have no tools.

 

[rottin']

What is the best way to deal. Lets assume i want to do this myself and have no tools.

Get some beer and invite friends that have the tools 🙂

 

[iman29]

Get some beer and invite friends that have the tools 🙂

And make sure one of those friends is a chiropractor.

 

[Fat Trout]

Ground level pools water but only when its raining. The septic field is close i should have shown a better picture. i want the tree down to the left first.

I might just demo the thing and start over. What is the best way to deal. Lets assume i want to do this myself and have no tools.

Look on the bright side. Your demo will be easy peasy. I have an 11x17 concrete patio that they poured 8" thick. I took out the front walk and changed to pavers. It was also 8"....total jackhammer fest. I don't know how I didn't damage the bed of my truck taking that crap to the dump. I test drilled the patio before I got crazy and ended up putting a low height deck over it since I only had 3 1/2" from patio to entry door threshold height. Your slab is easy break up and you have elevation to work with that I didn't have. I'm jealous lol.

On my crazy 8" thick stuff All I can figure is they had way too much concrete or something. on the back patio if it had been just a straight concrete patio may have been fine but they did perimeter brick for looks and it fell apart over time

 

[Patrick]

I might just demo the thing and start over. What is the best way to deal. Lets assume i want to do this myself and have no tools.

Build a new retaining wall all the way around. Set the top edge 1" higher than current patio. I'm assuming it slopes away?

Plate the top of the concrete with 1" bluestone. Just like laying tile. In the new area, fill with sand and compress. Continue bluestone to fill field. You may need to use 1.25" over sand. Grout with sand or dirt and grow small thyme.