Home Owner Thread

[Randolphkeys]

Switch to gas units if you have natural gas in your house could save you money and would be more appropriate for colder climates. The question though is how much money you save over time with natural gas price influx.

Building does not have natural gas, and doesn't have central heat. This is my first time in any place without the two, so I'm out of my depths a little with this. Really appreciate the insight in your posts.

Being in a very warm area year round, the previous owner went the cheap route and only replaced two electric heating baseboards with the compact electric fan heaters. He left the other three non-working and just roughed it out during the few cold weeks of the year.

I have one Delonghi Penguino portable AC unit. I'm going to see if just one is good enough for the summer.

Starting to look at Heat Storm infrared floor-to-wall units for heat, anything you know about them?

 

[bob2the2nd]

Building does not have natural gas, and doesn't have central heat. This is my first time in any place without the two, so I'm out of my depths a little with this. Really appreciate the insight in your posts.

Being in a very warm area year round, the previous owner went the cheap route and only replaced two electric heating baseboards with the compact electric fan heaters. He left the other three non-working and just roughed it out during the few cold weeks of the year.

I have one Delonghi Penguino portable AC unit. I'm going to see if just one is good enough for the summer.

Starting to look at Heat Storm infrared floor-to-wall units for heat, anything you know about them?

Well you already have the thing I was going to recommend

 

[inliner311]

Building does not have natural gas, and doesn't have central heat. This is my first time in any place without the two, so I'm out of my depths a little with this. Really appreciate the insight in your posts.

Being in a very warm area year round, the previous owner went the cheap route and only replaced two electric heating baseboards with the compact electric fan heaters. He left the other three non-working and just roughed it out during the few cold weeks of the year.

I have one Delonghi Penguino portable AC unit. I'm going to see if just one is good enough for the summer.

Starting to look at Heat Storm infrared floor-to-wall units for heat, anything you know about them?

I've never used infrared but I think it's just marketing if they say they are more efficient than other electric heaters. I personally would see if how you can bare with the portable AC over the summer and decide if you want to just add split ac with a heat pump to kill two bird with one stone. You will at least save money on heating with a heat pump over using electric heating. Also adding split unit ac and a heat pump might add value to your home since it's basically central heating/cooling if you do the whole house. It also would allow more individual temp control by each room than a central unit.

 

[Randolphkeys]

Well you already have the thing I was going to recommend

Is that on reference to the Heat Storm infrared or the DeLonghi?

 

[Cavatt]

Dunno if this is true, but funny nonetheless

 

[bob2the2nd]

Dunno if this is true, but funny nonetheless

As the president of my HOA I can tell you that 2nd one is wrong. I have never issued a fine (well except that one time and that was a bank not taking care of their foreclosurer so fuck em). That said building anything in your lawn in my neighborhood requires HOA approval (if I cared). Furthermore the refusal to take down an un-approved structure can also lead to a fine that can be reissued over and over. Finally there are only very specific bats that are endangered so you better make sure you have those bats.

 

[prf100]

As the president of my HOA I can tell you that 2nd one is wrong. I have never issued a fine (well except that one time and that was a bank not taking care of their foreclosurer so fuck em). That said building anything in your lawn in my neighborhood requires HOA approval (if I cared). Furthermore the refusal to take down an un-approved structure can also lead to a fine that can be reissued over and over. Finally there are only very specific bats that are endangered so you better make sure you have those bats.

The only thing worse than an asshole HOA is an asshole neighbor that builds a bat roost just to piss off the HOA

 

[Randolphkeys]

One of the more entertaining neighborhood wars of the past decade occurred in Silicone Valley:


The home is stunning but tiny, and a long time landmark to break up a long highway drive.

One eccentric woman bought it began putting up obnoxious statues, and threats only made her irrate and install more.

The lesson here is control freaks don't isolate themselves to HOA positions.

BTW: I'm currently picking out some new ventilation for my bathrooms. I'm hearing good things about Panasonic Whisperquiet products. Anybody who has switched out bathroom fans, I'm all ears.

 

[bob2the2nd]

Dunno if this is true, but funny nonetheless

Sorry I'm double quoting this but

1) I'm drunk and watching game 7

2) my wife (doing anything else) just found the article about the first house and it's 20 minutes from where I live. And happened 7 years ago... ..... ....

The woman who owns/owned??? The house gave back all of the money she raised on GoFundMe so I assume a fake.

 

[Chris]

This may be a dumb question but as a new home owner I am looking for a good product to spray around the home perimeter and on spot treatment to specifically target spiders and ants. Don’t have a huge indoor problem but lots of webs and shit on exterior and I’m sick of it. There’s a billion products out there but does anyone have specific experience/success with one before I try one?

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

This may be a dumb question but as a new home owner I am looking for a good product to spray around the home perimeter and on spot treatment to specifically target spiders and ants. Don’t have a huge indoor problem but lots of webs and shit on exterior and I’m sick of it. There’s a billion products out there but does anyone have specific experience/success with one before I try one?

I use Ortho Home Defense, and it's great for bugs. I no longer have an exterminator out to spray twice a year.

Ants are a bit more difficult. You're going to have to figure out what's going on with them. Sometimes they're outside and you need to seal your windows better. Sometimes they're in the house and you're fucked until you figure out where they are and how to eliminate the nest.

For general purpose, Ortho Home Defense and a large bag of diatomaceous earth should be enough of an arsenal. For a specific ant infestation, you might have to do a bit of work to figure out what's going on. I know Borax is the go-to for killing ants.

Ortho Home Defense: https://www.ortho.com/en-us/product...-insect-killer-indoor-perimeter2-comfort-wand
Diatomaceous Earth article: https://www.farmersalmanac.com/what-is-diatomaceous-earth-27832
Article on Borax Traps: https://deepgreenpermaculture.com/2020/10/23/how-to-make-borax-ant-bait-for-indoor-and-outdoor-use/

 

[Huber.]

BTW: I'm currently picking out some new ventilation for my bathrooms. I'm hearing good things about Panasonic Whisperquiet products. Anybody who has switched out bathroom fans, I'm all ears.

I'm late but I hope you didn't get a quiet fan. They're nice until it's time to make a post in the log thread. God help your guests with weak stomachs that come over for taco bar night.

 

[Randolphkeys]

I'm late but I hope you didn't get a quiet fan. They're nice until it's time to make a post in the log thread. God help your guests with weak stomachs that come over for taco bar night.

I'm afraid I did, but it has three adjustable speeds. I'll probably label them: Chicken, Chipotle, and Sashimi.

 

[Chris]

I use Ortho Home Defense, and it's great for bugs. I no longer have an exterminator out to spray twice a year.

Ants are a bit more difficult. You're going to have to figure out what's going on with them. Sometimes they're outside and you need to seal your windows better. Sometimes they're in the house and you're fucked until you figure out where they are and how to eliminate the nest.

For general purpose, Ortho Home Defense and a large bag of diatomaceous earth should be enough of an arsenal. For a specific ant infestation, you might have to do a bit of work to figure out what's going on. I know Borax is the go-to for killing ants.

Ortho Home Defense: https://www.ortho.com/en-us/product...-insect-killer-indoor-perimeter2-comfort-wand
Diatomaceous Earth article: https://www.farmersalmanac.com/what-is-diatomaceous-earth-27832
Article on Borax Traps: https://deepgreenpermaculture.com/2020/10/23/how-to-make-borax-ant-bait-for-indoor-and-outdoor-use/

Thanks …. Big help. Ordering now.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Thanks …. Big help. Ordering now.

The Ortho I spray inside and out once in spring, once in fall. Remember, after you spray, expect to see bugs dead on the floor over the next couple days.

I sprinkle diatomaceous earth around the walls of my basement or first floor, kind of shove it into the cracks then vacuum up the excess. I do it whenever I feel like i need to because the ortho isnt enough. Maybe once every year to three years.