Channel: solar water heaters

↧

Best Home Hot Water Heater

January 17, 2013, 8:01 pm

≫ Next: Homemade Solar Hot Water Heater

≪ Previous: Hot Water Tanks Prices

Frequently Asked Questions

QUESTION:
What's the best way for me to reduce my heating bill at home? My furnace and hot water heater are killing me!!?
I'm looking for a quick fix, something easy. Is there anything I can buy to install? I don't spend a lot of time at home but my whole family showers and the hot water heater is going nuts! I live in Michigan, so the winters suck a lot of my money. I have a natural gas furnace and hot water heater. I've added a blanket, waxed the windows, ... AHHH -- help me!
- ANSWER:
  some good answers already....i'll add...there is nothing you can do to an incoming natural gas pipe that improves provides a benefit greater than the energy that the device [ whatever it is ] uses....it reminds me of all of the gadgets being sold to increase a cars gas milage,like things strapped to the fuel lines or things designed to "swirl" the intake air,etc...they dont work.........see if whatever it is is aga [american gas association] approved... maybe you could turn down the water heater temp control so the showers will be barely comfortable enough to take as opposed to warm and toasty so that they are inclined to stay there a while.....also...there are programmable tstats out there [ honeywell 8000 ] that you can tell to deliberately display the wrong room temperature....so you can set the tstat for 68 deg and have it display that the room is 71 deg.....[up to 5 degrees off]....also you can "lock out" the key pad so others cant change the setting...........dan
QUESTION:
what is the best natural gas hot water heater for a home?
looking to purchase new water heater pros and cons on tankless and what is the best one? what is the best tank heater. Natural Gas.
- ANSWER:
  Without going into detail about which brand names are better and such.. I'll comment on your question about tanked vs tankless water heaters.
  
  While the idea of having the tankless heater is appealing for environmental and financial reasons, in the long term the savings don't really add up.
  
  For example, your standard tankless gas water heater will save the average homeowner about per year in energy bills. Sounds good right?
  
  Well the downside of that is the initial cost of the heater itself, typically costing anywhere from 0-00 per unit. On average you'd need to have the water heater for 22 years to see any savings, much longer than the 20 year warranty that comes with the unit.
  
  So unless you absolutely need the space that the tankless heater provides, I'd suggest you stay with a standard tanked water heater. Just look for the most efficient model you can get your hands on.
QUESTION:
what is the best setting for a hot water heater in your home?
- ANSWER:
  120
QUESTION:
Buying New Hot Water Heater For Rental Home - Which To Choose?
The hot water heater just went in a rental home we own. My husband talked to a few plumbers and then his best friend. The plumbers say to go with a mid-level heater. But his friend is saying to go with the cheapest. (It's a rental home, we don't pay utilities - the tenants do, we may not own it forever, etc.)
I would rather go with the advice of a professional, but perhaps they're more interested in making $. I also worry about my hub's friend because he's a big talker, but is an expert on nothing. Although we definitely need to save as much money as possible, I don't want a piece of junk that will cause us more hassles.
Am I letting my opinion of the friend cloud my judgment? Should we just go with the cheapest in these tight financial times, or should we lay out the extra $ when we may not own the house forever?
Thanks!
- ANSWER:
  Go to Lowe's and look at the different choices. There is probably only -100 difference between the cheapest and the middle of the line. Not only do you have to think about the price of utilities, but the life of the w/h--how often do you want to be making this repair?
  
  If you are going to be landlords, this really is a repair you should learn to do on your own instead of having to call plumbers (unless you live in the city limits and there are regs you are having to follow or something). Try to have your husband be there to watch the replacement process so he can handle this as a DIY project next time and save $$ on the labor costs (if, like I said, that's legal where you are).
QUESTION:
Best water heater for a two restroom house, I tend to use a lot of hot water?
Looking to buy a new natural gas water heater. Which one is best brand? We have hard water in our home. No water softener.
- ANSWER:
  Go to the top of this page in the search area and type in gas Hot water heaters. I'm not sure there is such a thing as best brand. I have frequently used Rheem and found they were good . I think your concern should be about capacity. There are storage tank types and on demand tankless heaters, which take up less space than the tank type. I would be inclined to stay away from the Kenmore as some one else makes them for Sears, why not buy closer to the source.
QUESTION:
Is anyone using a tankless hot water heater in their home right now?
I'm thinking of buying a tank-less hot water heater for my whole house but i've read that the natural gas heaters don't put out the flow that they advertise and it is best to go with an electric.I have a 40 gallon electric now that i bought 2 years ago.It is turned up all the way.I have never been able to take a 15 minute shower without using up all the hot water.I never had that problem with my old 40 gallon gas heater.Also my shower head plugs up with lime deposits so often that many times i cannot finish 1 shower without taking it apart and rinsing it out.The gas heater did that only 3 or 4 times a year.That makes me very reluctant to use another electric heater even a tank-less.I don't want a water softener.I am willing to put up with cleaning the shower head 3 or 4 times a year.If anyone is using a tank-less now i would like to know what brand it is,how strong it is and how happy they are with it.Thanks!
The first 4 answers seem very knowledgable but it does not sound like you are using one in your home.I need an answer from someone who is actually using one.Do you like it? What size and brand is yours? Can you take a long,hot shower? Gas or electric? What about lime deposits? Thanks!
- ANSWER:
  Here's the scoop on gas vs. electric. According to This Old House plumbing and heating contractor Richard Trethewey, gas is the way to go at this point. I just had a bid on a whole house gas unit from a contractor and he confirmed. Also said the gas line from the meter might have to be upped in size to handle the extra requirements of the gas heater, so check with your contractors on that.
  
  Tankless Hot Water Heaters
  http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/asktoh/question/0,,213064,00.html?xid=yahoo-answers&partner=yes
QUESTION:
Water Heater Problems I think... Had a 40 gal. installed and we only get like 3-5 mins of hot water.?
We noticed that after the hot water runs out in the shower, we turn on our home heater(runs off hot water) and sure enough we get hot water flowing again...? The guy that installed it seemed to be a hack. We rent so had really no say so on who installs it. I'm wondering if he did not fill up the tank right. He just turned both valves on and pilot then left. We had all kinds of air in the lines at first. Isn't there some sort of steps to filling the hot water heater? Any help would be great. Oh and I noticed the release valve pipe is going strait up from the side(HW heater) and up and over. He was too lazy to cut the pipe since the old one had the valve on top. He actually used a bendable hose/pipe to reroute the release valve(HACK)....Hope I make sense. 10 pts to best answer. Thanks people
- ANSWER:
  if all the air is out of the lines turn up the temp by the time the hot gets to your shower it turns on to heat more but its too slow verses demand
QUESTION:
Best Setting for a Gas Water Heater?
My wife & I had a new 50 gallon gas water heater installed in our home, but we occasionally run out of hot water, especially when we take very long showers or have guests in our house who also use the showers. Can we minimize this problem by setting the water heater to a hotter setting? My thinking is that if the water is hotter, it will take less of it to mix with the cold water to produce water of a given temperature to use in the shower, and thus the hot water will last longer. Is my reasoning correct?
- ANSWER:
  Here's another suggestion to think about.
  
  You could install a water restricter device onto your shower head, if you don't already have one there.
  
  Also, another thought. If you have a baby or a young child in your household, the hot water thermostat should NOT be set any higher than 120 degrees...Trust me it is not safe!
  
  ҉ ♥ ✰ † ★ Good Luck! ★ † ✰ ♥ ҉
QUESTION:
I may need to replace the pressure release valve on my gas-fired hot water heater.?
Is that something that I can do myself with common tools, or is it best handled by a qualified plumber (i.e. - I don't 'sweat joints', weld, etc.). Can I purchase the PRV at most big-box home repair stores?
- ANSWER:
  1. turn off the gas and either let it cool or run the water for while after to cool the water inside.
  2. turn the water (in) supply valve off there at the water heater.
  3..relieve the pressure
  4.disconnect the drain on the PRV.
  5. counterclockwise the PRV with a adjusable wrench.
  take to hardware store and compare.
  replace using dope stick or tape on the threads for leakage.
  reinstall drain line and turn it all back on.
QUESTION:
My hot water heater is busted. Water has run onto my carpeted floor. Whats the best way to clean it up?
Its burst last Thursday. I have turned it off and replacing it this weekend. But my carpet is STILL damp...which is forming mold and midew. I can smell a hint of it when I walk into my home. Now, it is not the entire carpet. Its more of like a hallway strip on the carpet was soaked. I tried using a fan and nothing, still damp as of today.

I was wondering if I could go to Home Depot, purchase a carpet cutter and cut out the damp part of the carpet, pull up the padding underneath and disgard it. Should I check the base board of the wall? What should I be looking for? The floor under is a concrete slab. Now is there anything that I can purchase for the mold/midew that has/will/may start to form?

I am a single mother and my budget is tight, esp since I have to purchase a new unit. I am not scared to get my hands dirty, so if this is something that I can take care of and save money, PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!

Thanks so much!
- ANSWER:
  When you say LAST Thursday, do you mean a week ago Thursday or yesterday, which was a Thursday?? If it was a week ago Thursday, and this carpet has been setting there soaked on the floor for a week, it's going to have to be replaced. The mold and mildew you smell when you come in the home is not going to go away at this point, even if you should ever get the carpet dried out, which would probably take several more days at least. You're going to get your hands plenty dirty with this one. You're going to have to cut the old carpet and padding out and replace it, after scrubbing the sub floor, the concrete, with liquid bleach. That should kill the mold and mildew. When you get the carpet up, you should check the drywall behind the baseboards to see if it has started to wick up the moisture and mold may be started back there too. If there is evidence of wicking, and moisture crawling up the walls, you'll need to remove about 12" of the bottom portion and replace it. Then reinstall the padding and carpet. It's not going to be easy nor cheap. You should contact your insurance agent to see if your homeowner's insurance covers any of the expense. It should..
QUESTION:
Hot water heater not working properly?
In the home we just bought (that sat empty for six months) the hot water heater is not working right. The home has well and septic. We have very very hot water in the kitchen for about 60 seconds, then it goes to warm. Warm water in the downstairs bathroom for 60 seconds then gets cooler - not cold. In the upstairs bath we have no hot water for the shower or sink. It gets luke warm, at best. We have added rust remover salt to our water softner and drained the heater several times. I will replace if I have to but before we drop 0 I am curious if anyone has any other diagnoses to the problem or solutions that we can try. Thank you!
Thank you. Is that something we can do ourselves? Does it make sense to replace the element, and not the entire hot water heater? A plumber recomended that we do the water softner thing in case the water wasn't getting there due to build up in the pipes? Perhaps that was bad advise. Why would we have the hot water in the kitchen but none upstairs? I just want to understand how this works (or doesn't in this case). Thank you!
- ANSWER:
  could be bad dip tube in water heater or cross connection. A cross connetion is where hot and cold pipes are attached to some fixture where hot and cold valves are open and a 3rd valve is off causing water to go from hot to cold and vice versa. If you have a tempering valve installed w/out check valves, that could cause the problem. If dip tube is bad ( class action lawsuit) then replace water heater. Best advice is to have plumber come out and check. This is not a homeowner can fix it problem!!
QUESTION:
Advice on buying a hot water heater?
I am trying to find a hot water heater to replace the outdated 30 gallon model that is currently in my house. We are a family of five, and going to have 3 teenagers in about ten years so I would like to buy quality that lasts. From my research online I am assuming that I should buy an 80 electric gallon tank with a 12 year warranty.
My questions/ concerns are as follows:

- Other than Lowes, Home Depot and Sears, where can I shop for a hot water heater at?
- What brands are considered the best?
- Is a 6 year limited warranty worth it, or should I pay more for the 12 years?
- Is this model/brand listed here a good option?
http://www.amazon.com/Reliance-12-80-DART-Electric/dp/B00310ZERU
I haven't heard of Reliance, so I am weary of buying it.

Please and thank you for all advice, I haven't had to do this before and am worried about making the wrong choice and wasting my money.
- ANSWER:
  Forget tanks and quick recovery heaters. Go to the gas company and get a 'water on demand" -catalytic- heater that only heats water as you need it. It saves power, and gas and you ALWAYS have as much water as you need, on demand, no matter how many people are using it (as long as the line size can supply it.) They cost quite a bit more, but last much longer, and the cost-per year is awesome, and the unit pays for itself in just a couple of years with your energy savings alone. I have one, I'll never own another 'tank' model and my unit has paid for itself many times over. It's 10 years old, and other than annual maintenance like changing the gas nozzles, etc I've had no problems whatsoever, and it looks brand new , as well.
  
  Papaw
QUESTION:
Tankless hot water heater?
We are considering at buying a tankless hot water heater in Canada, we were looking at the ones at Home Depot and are not sure what the best brand is? Also What benifits are there with this unit and what is the % in savings of electricity and gas Thanks...
http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogSearchResultView?langId=-15&storeId=10051&catalogId=10051&N=0&Ntk=level1&Ntt=tankless%20hot%20water%20heater&Nty=1&D=tankless%20hot%20water%20heater&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&s=true
- ANSWER:
  I, too, looked into these. I might be wrong, but I think that if you have a tankless water heater installed you have to have a ventilation system also. I think you have to have them flushed out annually, too. They are much more expensive than standard water heaters but they have many benefits. You never run out of hot water (within reason) and it only heats water when it's needed.
QUESTION:
Who is the best home inspector in Baltimore, Maryland?
We recently had a home inspection performed on a house we were selling by Homecheck. They claim to have trained professionals as opposed to weekend warriors but in my opinion the person who did the inspection was either not trained properly, or rushed through the process. He reported a that the sump pump was not connected, and that the hot water heater would not ignite. I went to look at these two items and both were false! I feel that possibly thay may not have been truthful. Does anyone know of a reliable home inspection service in Baltimore, MD? Thanks
- ANSWER:
  Call the guys at "Ask This Old House" they are in your are and can probably help. I believe their website is atoh.com.
QUESTION:
Help! my hot water heater isn't working, who do I call to fix or how much is cost for new one?
...please help, for some reason my hot water heater stoped working (cold showers for a week brrrrr!). How much does it cost to fix, who do I call to fix it, the electrician...???

how do I find good deals on a new or refurbished one, please help.

If you suggest a new one, what shops are best to locate one, there is a Walmart, Home depot, Sears in my area, thanks in advance for your help.
...what if there is a little water under the water heater...mayby about 1/4 to 1/2 a gallon would it still be a heating element problem.
- ANSWER:
  It may just be the Heating element. I don't know if it is gas or electric. I would ask around to see if a friend knows how to change out the heating element (if it is electric) I know nothing about gas water heaters. If you have an electric write down make and model. Check to see if you have one or two elements. Take it to Lowe's or any hardware store. They will sell a tool to help remove the element if you have trouble removing it. Once removed take the element with you and get a replacement for it. It is very simple. One you have seen it done you will never forget. If a grandma in her 50's can do it you can too. I had someone show me, step by step. I have had trouble removing the element. If all else falls call a heating and cooling company or look under water heaters in the yellow pages. Remember I gave instructions for electric only. I hope it helps.
  PS: make sure you turn off the electric before doing anything. Keep it off when you fill the water heater or you can ruin your new heating element when the cold water hits a hot element.
  
  If it leaks, Have it replaced ASAP try to put something under it to catch any water. If you have a wooden floor it will rot your floor. Older water heaters can and will rot out at the bottom and fill with deposits.
  Never buy a used water heater, you would be buying someone else's problem.
QUESTION:
What are the best improvements to make for home energy efficiency?
I didn't want the question to drag on and on.....
but what are the most COST EFFECTIVE energy improvements!
I figured theres gotta be some people out there that can tell me what works and what doesn't!

And no, i'm not interested in replacing my air conditioning or hot water heater any time soon
- ANSWER:
  Yeah! I just watched a show yesterday on what you can do.
  
  I think that you should find this in depth and helpful. Here you go.
  
  Sealing Your House Envelope: Leaks & Insulation
  
  Find and seal air leaks
  Hidden air leaks cause some of the largest heat losses in older homes. Common air leakage sites include:
  Plumbing penetrations through insulated floors and ceilings
  Chimney penetrations through insulated ceilings and exterior walls
  Fireplace dampers
  Attic access hatches
  Recessed lights and fans in insulated ceilings
  Wiring penetrations through insulated floors, ceilings, and walls
  Missing plaster
  Electrical outlets and switches, especially on exterior walls
  Window, door, and baseboard moldings
  Dropped ceilings above bathtubs and cabinets
  Sealing Options:
  Caulk is best for cracks and gaps less than about 1/4" wide.
  Expanding foam sealant is an excellent material to use for sealing larger cracks and holes that are protected from sunlight and moisture.
  Use rigid foam insulation for sealing very large openings such as plumbing chases and attic hatch covers.
  Fiberglass insulation can also be used for sealing large holes, but it will work better if wrapped in plastic or stuffed in plastic bags.
  Specialized materials such as metal flashing and high-temperature silicone sealants may be required for sealing around chimneys and flue pipes.
  Upgrade inefficient windows and doors
  About one-third of the home's total heat loss usually occurs through windows and doors. If your existing windows have rotted or damaged wood, cracked glass, missing putty, poorly fitting sashes, or locks that don't work, you may be better off replacing them.
  Windows in generally good condition: Probably more cost-effective to increase their efficiency by weatherstripping, caulking, and fitting them with storm panels rather than undergo the expense of window replacement.
  Increase window energy efficiency by installing insulating curtains or drapes on the interior.
  When replacing your home’s windows, buy new high performance models. Look for the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) label and choose a product with U-factor of 0.40 or less, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient of 0.40 or less, and Visible Light Transmittance of 0.60 or higher.
  Make sure doors are in good shape. Weatherstrip around the whole perimeter to ensure a tight seal when closed. Install quality door sweeps on the bottom of the doors if needed.
  Home Insulation
  Your primary defense against heat loss through the house envelope is insulation. If there isn't any insulation, the best option is to bring in an insulation contractor to blow cellulose or fiberglass into the walls.
  Adding insulation to an unheated attic is usually a lot easier than adding to existing walls. If there is no floor in the attic, simply add more insulation, either loose fill or unfaced fiberglass batts.
  If the basement or crawl space is unheated, insulate between the floor joists instead of around the perimeter walls.
  If the basement is heated and used, you need to insulate the basement walls instead.
  Reduce Home Heating & Cooling Costs
  
  Add PermaFrost (refrigerant additive) to all of your air conditioning systems (including vehicles), ice machines, food-service related cooling equipment. Patented PermaFrost has been proven to increase heat transfer, reduce compressor run time, save energy, and increase compressor life.
  Keep exterior doors and windows closed when using your HVAC system.
  Set your air conditioner thermostat to 78°F or higher – health permitting – when you’re at home.
  Set our air conditioner thermostat at 85°F (or turn it off), when you’re away from home.
  Install a clock thermostat to set your thermostat back automatically at night.
  Purchase "energy star" air conditioning and other appliances wherever possible.
  Clean or replace filters monthly during operating season. This enhances the performance and efficiency of your equipment.
  Keep your HVAC system clean, lubricated and properly adjusted. This enhances the performance and efficiency of your equipment.
  Use the thermostat factory setpoints. Leave the thermostat settings at 76°F for heating. Each degree of heating or cooling can cost an additional four to five percent in energy costs.
  Check the refrigerant charge and fix leaks if necessary.
  Get your central heating/cooling system’s ducts tested for air leakage. Up to 30% of the heated or cooled air is lost through leaky ducts. Properly sized, installed, and sealed ductwork will make your heating and cooling systems significantly more efficient, and your home more comfortable.
  Replace your central natural gas furnace with a 90-94 Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rated unit.
  Provide shading for your air conditioner. Use deciduous plants or exterior shading devices – shades, awnings or sun screens – to shade your home and windows facing south and/or west to block heat during summer months. Save up to 8% of your cooling costs.
  Lighting
  
  Replace existing incandescent lamps with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). These lamps can save three-quarters of the electricity used by incandescents. The best targets are 60-100W bulbs used several hours a day. New CFLs come in many sizes and styles to fit in most standard fixtures.
  Use hardwired motion sensors for indoor and outdoor lighting.
  Use dimmer switches, timers, or motion sensors on incandescent lights.
  Caulk windows, doors, pipes, and anywhere air leaks in and out. Use weather stripping around windows, doors and pipes.
  Use ENERGY STAR® hardwired indoor and outdoor light fixtures. Low Cost Home Improvement Actions
  Appliances
  
  Turn off equipment and appliances – such as lights, televisions, stereos, DVD players, and computers – when you’re not using them.
  Refrigerator: Give the unit breathing room, clean the coils, and don’t set the temperature too low. Fresh foods keep at 37 to 42°F, frozen foods at 0 to 5°F. Unplug your second refrigerator and/or freezer. Better yet, recycle it and get in return!
  Purchase a new energy-efficient refrigerator if your model was purchased before 1993. Older models use twice as much energy as new ENERGY STAR-labeled models.
  Clothes washer/dryer: Do only full loads when using your clothes washer and dryer. Wash in cold water, or wash in warm water and rinse in cold water. Clean the dryer lint trap after each use. Check vent for clogging. Or, line-dry your clothes if possible.
  Purchase a qualifying high efficiency ENERGY STAR clothes washer. It uses 50% less energy than a standard washer made before 1994, and less water, too. Rebates are available!
  Water heater: Lower the water heater temperature to 120°F or "low" (140°F or "medium" if you have a dishwasher without its own heating element).
  Replace your water heater if your model was purchased prior to 1994. Buy a gas water heater with an Energy Factor of 0.62 or higher. Buy an electric water heater with an Energy Factor of 0.93 or higher.
  Dishwasher: Wash only full loads. Use the energy saver, air dry cycle, or if possible, open the door and let dishes dry naturally.
  ENERGY STAR-labeled dishwashers save energy by using both improved technology for the primary wash cycle, and by using less hot water. Rebates are available!
  Oven: Don’t preheat your oven. Cook complete meals of several dishes simultaneously in the oven. Use your microwave oven when possible.
  Energy-Saving Tips for Cooking
  
  When cooking small- to medium-sized meals, it is generally more efficient to use smaller microwave ovens, toaster ovens, or slow-cook crockpots.
  If you have two ovens, use the smaller one whenever possible.
  Crockpot save substantial amounts of energy. Use them for soups and stews that require long cooking periods.
  Cconsider using a pressure-cooker for stove-top cooking. By building up steam pressure, it cooks at a higher temperature, reducing cooking time and energy use considerably.
  Use the smallest pan necessary to do the job. Smaller pans require less energy.
  Keep the burner pans (the metal pans under the burners that catch grease) clean and shiny so they will reflect more heat up to the cookware.
  Use flat-bottomed cookware that rests evenly on the burner surfaces to increase efficiency of the burner elements.
  With electric burners, you can turn off the burner just before the cooking is finished. The burner will continue radiating heat for a short while.
  With gas burners, make sure you're getting a bluish flame; if it is not, have your gas company check it out.
  Reduce cooking time by defrosting frozen foods in the refrigerator before cooking.
  Keep preheat time to a minimum to with conventional ovens. There may be no need to preheat the oven at all unless you're baking breads or pastries.
  Avoid excessive peeking into the oven. Each time the door is opened, a significant amount of heat escapes.
  Food cooks more quickly and more efficiently in ovens when air can circulate freely. Don't lay foil on the racks. If possible, stagger pans on upper and lower racks to improve airflow if you're baking more than one pan at a time.
  Cook double portions when using your oven, and refrigerate or freeze half for another meal. It doesn't take as much energy to reheat the food as it does to cook it-not to mention the saved preparation time!
  Use glass or ceramic pans in ovens. You can turn down the temperature about 25°F and cook foods just as quickly.
  Avoid overcooking meat by using thermometers and timers.
  If you have a self-cleaning oven, use the feature just after you've cooked a meal; the oven will still be hot and cleaning will require less energy.
  Keep the inside surface of microwave ovens clean to allow more efficient cooking. When possible, cook foods in their serving dishes to save time and reduce the amount of hot water needed for dishwashing.
  Swimming Pool Energy Savings Tips
  
  Use a swimming pool cover when you’re not using the pool. A cover controls water evaporation, keeps the pool warmer, and keeps the pool cleaner so the filter runs less often.
  Swimming pool: Reduce your swimming pool water temperature and the number of months you heat your pool. Keep swimming pool cleaning and heating equipment clean.
  Replace your single-speed pool pump and motor with a new two-speed or variable speed pool pump and motor.
  Other Home Energy Saving Tips
  
  Schedule an energy audit (ask your utility company or state energy office) for more expert advice on your home as a whole.
  Collect your utility bills. Separate electricity and fuel bills. Target the biggest bill for energy conservation remedies.
  In winter, open window coverings on sunny days to help warm the rooms. In summer, close them to help keep the room cool during the day.
  Close the damper when not using your fireplace. Turn your heating system down when using your fireplace to prevent heated air from escaping outdoors.
  Fix defective plumbing or dripping faucets. Water faucet drips cause water loss up to 212 gallons a month and hot water drips waste energy as well.
  Buy a water-heater blanket, low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators, and compact fluorescents, as needed.
QUESTION:
Is it O.K. to lay a new water heater on its side, or no?
I bought a new 40 gallon, natural gas, hot water heater today. I had to lay it on its side to get it home. The people at the store said it's best not to, but if I do then I must stand it back upright for the same amount of time it was on its side before I install it.
- ANSWER:
  Norm is right...There is nothing in a water heater that is going to be effected by a trip on it side... As for the guys at the store... I had a client this week that said the guys from Lowe's told her that the fridge could not be lowered to fit in their cabinets. She was told her 2 options were to return the fridge, or trim the cabinets... With my handy dandy screwdriver I was able to lower the fridge so that it would fit in the space provided... That is all I have to say about that...
QUESTION:
Regarding hot water...?
All the facets in my home have very hot water, besides my shower. The bottom comes out real hot but when the shower is on I get luke warm at best, any reason why?

Water heater less than 4 month old.
- ANSWER:
  The hot water to the shower is obstructed or the balancing valve cartridge is not functioning properly. If you have a separate valve to the shower hot water, exercise it. Most likely you have a failing cartridge. If any children or seniors access the hot water, you should turn it down.
QUESTION:
What Is The Best Way To Make The Hot Water Last?
When I moved into this apartment, I never realized how horrible the heating system is. I have gas heat and hot water. I tried raising the temp on the water heater (based in my kitchen) and it's worked a little, but my hot water time in the shower has been cut to a ridiculously short time. Can you recommend and fixes or suggestions to making the water last?
Also, I figure since I'm writing, might you know what I can do to soften the water? It's wreaking havoc on my skin and hair. I know the landlord would be able to if the water came from the basement, but wanting as little contact with him as possible, is there a product (cheap) that I can use myself? My water heater is a Whirlpool Energy Smart. I tried to get more info about it, but as it's been brilliantly housed in some strange wooden home, I can only access the top. I also believe it's what heats my home as there is nothing in the basement at all.
Sorry this is so long. I hope you can help. I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks!
- ANSWER:
  If you can stand lowering the temperature by adjusting your shower control(s), this will increase the length of your hot (warm) water time.
  
  Otherwise, it sounds like you need to have this unit serviced or replaced by a professional.
  
  As far as a water softener, you could look into a "space saver" (1-piece) model, since it sounds like space may be at a premium.
QUESTION:
What heat pump is best for my home?
I recently had a service rep from the number 1 company in my region come out and do an estimate on my home. First of all let me say that my home is in major need of a complete heating and cooling upgrade. I have an oil furnace that is 30 years old and is at 70% efficiency. I am on 15 year old window A/C units and my hot water heater is 20 years old. My home is a row home of roughly 950 square feet and was built in 1944. I live right outside of the Philadelphia area so it gets pretty cold in the winter. Here is what the estimate includes off the top of my head. Please let me know if these seems right for my house. I do not want to be getting ripped off on such a large investment.

Estimate: ,700
Includes: Lennox 14HPX 14SEER/7.7 HSPF
install of central return
install of electrical box upgrade from 100 AMP to 150AMP
Removal of old furnace and 275 gal oil tank
Install of New 50 gal hot water heater
Install of air filtration system in my ducts
Install of Honeywell LCD Touchscreen Thermostat
10 Year Parts AND Warranty

As you can see I am getting alot of work done but trust me it is much needed. I just want to make sure am getting the right system for my home and the estimate seems accurate. Any advice would be great. Thank You!!
- ANSWER:
  I would not do anything until I have two more bids from reputable contractors for the same work. I would also want to have them show me the payout for the 14 SEER unit over a 13SEER unit.
QUESTION:
Water heater mysteriously turned off and gas won't even come on to attempt to re-light?
So I came home today and a family member told me that they noticed the water in the kitchen never got hot as it usually did. I tried all other hot water sources, and all were cold. I went down to the basement and the hot water heater itself is cold, so all water inside is cold, too. It's not on at all. It mysteriously seems to have turned itself off. It's in about a 4 ft. x 15 ft. dugout crawlspace that the FHA made the former owners dig out and put cinderblocks around it. At one end, there is the sump pump and sump hole...at the other end is the heat/air machine (working just fine) and hot water end on the far end. The sump pump is working fine. I do not see any waterline on the water heater, so I have absolutely no reason to believe that water flooded it. I followed all re-light directions on the labels. I have no idea of the model or any of that. I do know it has an electric ignitor switch. I pressed down and held the "reset" switch and had the knob turned to "pilot"...while clicking the ignitor. It's like no gas turns on at all, and when it was working properly, I remember a gas sound when the knob was turned and before pilot ignition.

What could be the issue? I know that absolutely no one has been down there turning off any gas knobs. It doesn't appear to be related to water or flooding. I'm thinking it may be the ignition control box itself...but I don't know a thing about any of that other than how to typically light it. The water heater is probably 6-7 years old. Is it a best bet to just get it replaced completely? It's a muddy crawlspace, so they charge a fee for that crawlspace and it's one of those 0 jobs for the water heater and install, if I remember correctly from last time.

I'm also wondering if there would be any way to get that converted to an electric, tankless water heater. It's an old house...most of the piping is galvanized, though a lot of the gas piping seems to be copper. I'm not sure how much power would be needed in addition (or if our old circuit breaker could even handle that) for an electric tankless, or how much it would cost to get it installed by modifying the current setup. I just know that tank is a nightmare...and we hate the sump setup. It's scary to think of the power going out and the hole filling with water since the pump can't pump with no power.

Suggestions?
Also, I know there are battery powered pumps available as backups...but they always clog since it's a dirt bottom. I've cemented most of it off, but dirt still finds a way to clog the smaller, less powerful battery powered backup pumps to the point of them not working.

We're also planning on selling the place for what we can get for it within a few months or so (and hopefully get enough to pay off what's left on the loan)...so it's kind of one of those, "Why does this have to happen now?" things.
How do you figure out which thermocouple you need, even if you do remove it and bring it with you? Is there a part number to go by?
- ANSWER:
  Sounds like the thermocouple. It's a fairly easy and cheap fix if you have any "mr. fix it" in you. If not, an honest plumber would be your best bet. Good Luck and God Bless.
QUESTION:
Best device to heat water on the go?
I was wondering what is the best device to heat water on the go. I have heard of some immersion water heaters such as http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Bush-CH-101-Energy-saving-Immersion-Water-Heater/4674957/product.html this one which is the most promising.

But almost every review of an immersion water heater has come out bad, and almost every one of them basically says "these things will last 10 uses." http://www.amazon.com/NORPRO-559-Immersion-Warming-Liquids/product-reviews/B000I8VE68/ref=cm_cr_dp_synop?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending#R2VNAFFBV9OMNE

I am asking about this because I use an Aerobie Aeropress http://aerobie.com/products/aeropress.htm and all you need to make espresso with it is hot water and fine ground coffee. I use it at home along with a manual coffee grinder and it makes a ridiculously good cup of joe. It is pretty small so I could easily throw it in a zip loc and put it in my book bag along with a mug, liquid stevia, and some ground coffee. I am a college student so I take plenty of weekend trips around my state (Florida).

Also if you could suggest a small-ish digital thermometer that could alert me when a certain temperature is reached (175 degrees) that would be great.
Hey thanks for the responses but your links arent working. Try using tinyurl.com
- ANSWER:
  At home i use the Hario products for alot of things, for example this hot water kettle which never breaks down.
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IGOXLS?ie=UTF8&tag=fullofcoffee-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000IGOXLS
  
  A digital thermometer will always have a delay (as will any other thermometer), however I did find this one on amazon:
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004XSC3?ie=UTF8&tag=fullofcoffee-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00004XSC3
  
  Hope this helps you some..
QUESTION:
How do I go about shopping for a very oil burner? What are the scams to look out for?
I need to change my oil burner in my home. I do not have a seperate hot water heater (all in one) .. I am looking for some suggestions on the best way to shop, scams to look out for and who I should call for the best price.
I do not have a seperate hot water heater(all in one). I do have a seperate oil tank.
- ANSWER:
  your question is vauge. Are you looking for a boiler with a tankless or just a gun (oil burner) ?
QUESTION:
Central heater problem, help!?
I've searched around on the interwebs but can't seem to find any answers to my problem. So it's 100+ degrees here in Missouri and and my apartment is a lava pit. I have the AC on full blast and it's doing the best it can but the heat just won't dissipate. I followed the source of heat around my apt and found that my little water heater and the house heater (like the heat for winter) room next to the bathroom was skin-melting hot. There are two switches in that little room and last night I turned them off and voila, problem solved. The heat went away and my place cooled off. But today when I came home from work the apartment is retched hot again and the heater room is just as hot as it was- even though the two switches are still off. Does anyone know what these switches are doing and what I should be doing to make the awful heat stop?

tl;dr Why is my hot water heater/heater so hot and how do I make it STOP?
- ANSWER:
  You should call your apartment maintenance. They should know exactly how to fix this and you should let them know its an emergency so they will not put you last on the list of things to do around your building.
  
  I hope this helped ! I can say there may be a problem with the switches or your heater. The maintenance people may have to replace something.
QUESTION:
If there is obvious defects should I wait for inspector before negotiating or request repair in initial offer?
I found an older house (21 years old) that fits our needs but there is obvious defects (i.e. old hot water heater, old garage door, damage to floors, cracked window, broken fence, old appliances, etc.), should I include a contingency that requires the seller to repair or replace these defects in my initial offer? Or should I allow an expert (the home inspector) to document these findings before negotiating? (I am assuming the home inspection is always done after the offer is accepted).

What is the best approach?
- ANSWER:
  You should always wait for the inspection to come back before you start negotiating repairs with the buyer.
  
  If you do this before you get the inspection back, then you will flush down the toilet every bit of negotiating power that you have.
  
  You CANNOT include a "contingency" that requires the seller to fix all repairs found by the seller. Even brand new houses come back with defects...they may be cosmetic, but they are technically defects...and no Realtor nor seller is going to be stupid enough to sign a contract that may potentially require them to fix thousands of dollars, because legally, all means all.
  
  I am also assuming you do not have a Realtor to guide you through this process....you are getting ready to get ripped off if you don't have one...especially since you won't get a better deal and if the house is listed with the Realtor, you still pay the same.
QUESTION:
I am unsure of which steps to take to make my first home buying experience go smoothly?
I am 26 and after more than 5 years of throwing my money into the wind with renting I am finally ready to buy a home. I have gone to the bank and got my pre-approval, looked at my budget to determine how much I can afford/how much I am willing to spend and I have found the place that I would like to place an offer on. My boyfriend and I have rented a house together for over a year and he will be moving with me so that cuts my costs in half. I have made it clear that he will be living with me as a tenant with myself as the homeowner so I am leaving him out of the financial equation otherwise. I feel I have cut out many of the headaches by choosing a home with a new top of the line high efficiency furnace, hot water heater, windows and newer shingles. My boyfriend is a tradesman in new home construction so he has a good idea of where things can go wrong, therefore what to look for. We have checked for all signs of water damage, any moisture in the basement and any cracks in the basement walls and floor and the home looks to be very solid. It is also encouraging that the elderly couple who live there are original owners. Anyways, what I am getting at is that I seem to have all my ducks in a row but I am still so nervous because I have no idea what I am doing. I don't know what steps to take from here. Any advice? My parents are not of much help because they built and paid for their house outright so I'm not sure they're the best resource. Should I get a professional inspection (for 0 or more) first or rely on the fact that my boyfriend has many years of experience in home building and intends to go back and really take a good assessment of the condition of everything? If anything, do I have this inspection done before or after making an offer? Then what? Also what other costs can I expect to creep up in the process of buying a home? Any advice would be appreciated.
- ANSWER:
QUESTION:
Best room for litter box?
We don't have a basement so where would be the best place to put the kitty litter box.
The house is a 3 bedroom with a large kitchen and living room and tiny bathroom. One bedroom is being used as a spare room the other a home office.

There's also a large pantry where the hot water heater is stored. the only thing is it has a door and I'm not sure I want to add a kitty door to any of the doors.
we're not using the pantry for food storage. There are only two of us and there's only so our cans and dry goods fit in a cupboard.
We have a laundry closet not a room.
My mom has her box in the laundry room but the reason I'm asking is because we don't have a proper laundry room. Our washer and dryer are in the hall hidden away by folding doors no space for a box.

We don't have the cat yet either by the way.
- ANSWER:
  I'm not sure if you should use the pantry, unless you are diligent about keeping the litter box immaculate.
  
  I have a small bathroom too, but that is where I ended up putting the litter-box (even though I had several different places I could have put it). Every morning when I wake and use the 'facilities', so does Ebony. She started this as a kitten and today (at four years old) she continues to do it.
QUESTION:
choosing a home heating and cooling electrical disconnect system?
hi i am going to have a home boiler system installed that heats a forced air handler and a domestic hot water heater. i have to wiring options and want to know what one is better. since a disconnect switch is necessary for the heating and cooling units, hers two options. should i install a 30 amp 250 volt disconnect that feeds a sub panel with circuit breakers and have everything wired in from there? or should i have a 30 amp 250 volt disconnect feed a distribution like panel that then feeds into several small single pole disconnect switches that also have a fuse and are 125 volts? the second one seems like it is more expensive and complicated but want to know if the first idea or last idea is better. of course with the last idea it could pose a risk of a pump going off and a pellet boiler still running causing the system to overheat while the first one there's only one emergency switch that turns the whole heating and cooling system off at once since the whole system is interconnected. even the cooling system will run on hot water with an absorption chiller that uses hot water. so if you know anything please tell me what one you think is best first idea or last idea.
- ANSWER:
  Depending on local code, usually each unit has its own disconnect box within arms reach. By unit i mean each part of the AC system and the waterheater. A disconnect is not a circuit breaker even if you choose the style that looks like one.
  Anyways, you should contact the local building code office and ask them what is acceptable.
QUESTION:
soft water issues...?
When returning home from a 3 month absence, I flushed the RV antifreeze out of the house lines before turning on the main water valve for the house. We live in a limestone areas and our water is very, very hard. We have a water softener but I am unsure what the best method would be to get soft water at the tap/water heater during this process. The water softener is turned off/unplugged so it will not cycle until I have flushed the RV antifreeze from the system. The big problem is that the hard water undoubtedly enters the holding tank and the hot water heater and we have to wait a week or more to get softened water. Since the tanks are full of hard water and the water softener gradually dilutes the hard water, we eventually get our soft water back. I'd like to know if I can get soft water sooner than I currently am.

I am looking for a series of steps people can recommend as to how to best get a soft water supply to the house after flushing. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Clark, you've been very lucky.

Woof, great answer, thanks.

P.S. Clark, read Woof's answer.
- ANSWER:
  Mike, what we do here with a similar circumstance as you, is to manually index the softener through a few cycles. Just turn the timer knob if manual (lift and turn). The electric would also have a similar function but mine is manual and this is how it works for us.
  (Wouldn't be a bad idea to shut off the cold water line valve to the hot water tank as well as the gas/electric supply. Drain the tank by the drain connection)
  After your soft water returns, inlet the water tank again, and energize the burners.
QUESTION:
Mom about to lose her home, need help on buying a home to support her, I'm 20? Help!?
My mother is disabled and got a house twelve years ago through the First Home Buyer's Club(she was homeless before). I was 8 years old when she first bought the home and I am now 20 and watching my mother fall apart over this situation and I want to help her. Three years our dog died and this broke both our hearts so she decided to buy a another dog: a rottweiler. Long story short she thought she could buy two of them and breed them to make some extra cash, as you can tell this was a bad idea, the two dogs easily overwhelmed her, they now bump into her legs everyday full force to get around her which causes her excruciating pain and has crippled her tremendously and now they love to mark their territory all over the house, once our shampooer broke this became a living hell. The ammonia has become so bad I now suffer from migraine headaches and respiratory problems. Everyone in our family including me has begged her to get rid of the dogs because of the severe health risks they're causing. However to her their family and she refuses to get rid of them.
As you could guess the house isn't in the best of shape and you have to walk up two flights of stairs just to reach the living quarters of the home, for someone who can barely walk, this is an unsafe home. Other problems also have been creeping up due to normal ware and tare of age. Here are only a few things wrong with it, All the pipes under and INSIDE of the house are leaking and falling apart, one particular leak under the hot water heater is gushing out horribly, due to this we had to turn off the main valve to the house, that is also leaking=no water supply. Due to her having two un-potty trained rottweilers the entire living room/bedroom floor, carpet, and insulation need to be removed and replaced due to health hazards. We have a broken swamp cooler that has leaked into the ceiling of our house, therefore black mold has settled in and a large portion of the living room ceiling needs to be replaced, and the swamp cooler. The entire deck needs to be replaced due to a health hazard. Last but no least there is severe rot and black mold located inside of the garage, yet another health hazard.
To make matters worse the social worker that comes every year to evaluate the safety of our home came by and told us there is no way this is a safe environment for someone who is disabled and suffers from respiratory illness. She also mentioned it would be in her best interest to be relocated to a rest home/convalescent. My mother refuses to go, or should I say, refuses to leave the dogs....

Due to my mother's disability (SSDI) she doesn't make a lot of income, as a result I have been working for 8 years(since I was 12) to help break even with the bills. Now we are about to lose our home and has nowhere to turn, the family knows no matter what those dogs have got to go. I dont want to see her in a rest home either. Since the social worker gave us the grave news I have been looking into relocating to Oregon, we currently live in California. I was planning on moving up there anyway in a couple years so this isn't too devastating to me. If I'm going to be buying a house, those rottweilers are NOT allowed, she let them destory her home to the point of forced removal, I'm not letting her destroy mine. Since my job is to work at home I dont' have to worry about finding another job if I move so this isnt an issue.

I love my mom and I want to take care of her.

My questions:
1.) How would a 20 year old get a ,000 loan in Oregon with ,000 down payment...and is it possible. I don't want to go through the First Home Buyer's Club, but I will if I have to.
2.) How in the world do you convince someone to give up their dogs...even they're killing her she refuses to.
3.) Do you know another way out of this situation? What would you do if you were me? Maybe buying a small home isn't a good idea for someone in this situation. I only make ,200 a month.
4.) Any advice for a first time home-buyer?
5.) Where in Oregon is a good inexpensive place to live in Oregon? Preferably a small down in the country, no cities. I've been looking at the La Grande area or Eugene.

Thank you for those who read this and for those with any advice. I'm at the state of panic and I feel pushed against a wall here. I want my mom to be safe and happy, I know sacrifice will be involved.
- ANSWER:
  You might check with the Housing Department in the city in which you reside. In some instances they might have funds available to make the necessary repairs to the house.
  
  Your mother being the owner of the house would have to agree to the loan request and sign all the documents.
  
  You would have to get a contractor to determine the cost of the repairs, therefore, establishing the loan amount.
  
  In some instances these type loans might not have to be repaid. The longer your mother reside in the house the less the loan amount would be. If she stay there 20 years the city might forgive the mortgage loan completely.
  
  Before your mother sign for the mortgage loan you and she should understand the terms and condition of the mortgage loan.
  
  If you would attempt to purchase the house, using a FHA mortgage loan you would be required to have a minimum of 4% down which if the property would still be valued at ,000 would be 00.00.
  
  Your mortgage payment would be based on your credit score on your credit report. Your mortgage approval would be based on your ability to repay the mortgage loan.
  
  The house would have to be able to be appraised for the value of ,000. Keep in mind that properties have decreased in value,therefore might not appraise for enough to pay off the existing mortgage loan.
  
  I hope this has been of some benefit to you, good luck.
  
  "FIGHT ON"
QUESTION:
Which of the following business ideas has the best chance of success in todays and tomorrows economy?
(1) Home theatre design and installation company
- go into someones home and help them decide what hardware/equipment to purchase and how to install their home theatre to get the best sound quality and results. Then install it for them.

(2) Buy or build a set of cabins near the popular lake resort of Big Bear California and retool them with a British theme, ala Fox and Hound, Cabins would provide an elegant old world feel and feature unique, home made British style pastries and treats made fresh on the premises.

(3) A husband and wife home improvement team, where we come into your home and work with you to do your own DIY - i.e. show you how to do your own painting, tiling, etc and how to achieve professional results.

(4) A Business efficiency consultant - Go into a business, interview the people, figure out what they do, and then report on how the company could do things better and/or do away with unneeded steps in their processes.

(5) Handyman service - Come out and fix whatever is broken - a window, hot water heater, whatever... nothing too outrageous - they wont reroof your house but they could fix a leak or repalce a toilet or repair a door, etc.

(6) After school Robotics clubs - Kids sign up, parents pay for it, and kids learn how to create and program robots - for school systems not offering such classes.
- ANSWER:
  My answer is 6. What the kids are doing now after school. Nothing. If a kid starts to develop a robot it will be (the idea) the most effective one. The others are for making temperor money which will be not enough for a man.
QUESTION:
Write a short summary? 10 points for best answers if do good and first one!?
Can you do this into a summary?

Susie, a 9-month-old golden retriever dog, which was adopted by Selena and Faye Carmouche from the St. Bernard Animal Shelter is very special indeed. For this wonder animal alone, who woke her new family up on the night of November 26th, 2004, to the presence of a fire in the home.

Susie began making a collection of sounds, noises which included loud barking, as well as sounds and other oddly audible things. It was the dog's barking and so forth that immediately roused Selena and Faye Carmouche's stepfather named Ray Morrogh from his sleep. Morrogh went downstairs thinking that there was a burglar in the house. But he was in for the shock of his life when he noticed a fire emanating from the hot water heater. He quickly put out the fire and then returned to bed.

But around 1:00 a.m. that same morning, Susie began barking again, and this time Morrogh returned downstairs to find the dog standing in about an inch of water. Apparently the glass seal on the hot water heater had broken and after the water had cooled off. It began to seep out on onto the floor of the half-double house.

Susie wasn't only instrumental in saving the lives of her owners, but also in that of the family's neighbors, with whom they share the other half of their residence. This dog is a true heroine in every sense of the word!!
- ANSWER:
  A young Golden Retriever named "Susie" has rescued her adoptive family from two disasters. Sounding a barking alert, she roused them from sleep to discover a fire in the water heater, and then again in the early morning hours of the same night to water that was seeping from the water heater into the house.
QUESTION:
Write a good summary? 10 points for best answer!?
Can you write this into a summary? Please answer the 6w's (who, what, when, where, why, and how) and please make into a paragraph and in you own words.

Susie, a 9-month-old golden retriever dog, which was adopted by Selena and Faye Carmouche from the St. Bernard Animal Shelter is very special indeed. For this wonder animal alone, who woke her new family up on the night of November 30th, 2009, to the presence of a fire in the home.

Susie began making a collection of sounds, noises which included loud barking, as well as sounds and other oddly audible things. It was the dog's barking and so forth that immediately roused Selena and Faye Carmouche's stepfather named Ray Morrogh from his sleep. Morrogh went downstairs thinking that there was a burglar in the house. But he was in for the shock of his life when he noticed a fire emanating from the hot water heater. He quickly put out the fire and then returned to bed.

But around 1:00 a.m. that same morning, Susie began barking again, and this time Morrogh returned downstairs to find the dog standing in about an inch of water. Apparently the glass seal on the hot water heater had broken and after the water had cooled off. It began to seep out on onto the floor of the half-double house.

Susie wasn't only instrumental in saving the lives of her owners, but also in that of the family's neighbors, with whom they share the other half of their residence. This dog is a true heroine in every sense of the word!!
- ANSWER:
  My article is about a dog that saved a family from a fire and a house water flood, on November 30th, 2009.There once was a 9-month-old golden retriever dog, named Susie. Susie was adopted by Selena and Faye Carmouche. Susie loved to make oddly audible sounds, so, one night in the middle in the night, Susie begin to make the oddly audible sounds, Ray Morrogh, the stepfather of Faye Carmouche, woke up and though there was a burglar in the house, so he went downstairs. Susie was barking about a fire that cause by a hot water heater. Ray put it out and went back to sleep. Around the same morning, at 1:00 am, Susie begin to do the oddly audible sounds, again, Ray went downstairs again and saw Susie standing in about an inch of water, the glass seal on the hot water heater had been broken after the water had cooled down, Ray opened the door to let out the water of the house.
  Phew, if Susie wasn't there, the family could have died from the fire.
QUESTION:
home made camping shower?
Here is my problem i am in the planning stage of building a cabin in the woods it's near a stream that has running water year round minus when it freezes over in the winter (no big) i want to have a water storage tank similar to a rain barrel .. for the purpose of washing cook gear and showering ..

though the problem is

a) obviously very little to no water pressure
b) how do i heat it without solar heating or electric or propane

the hope would be to heat it by wood stove .. optionally i will heat it by propane if i absolutely have to but again the problem comes down to water pressure a hot water heater im surre would work but would require pressure in the cold in line also do these lines have check valves ? so the pressure created by heating the hot water doesn't force hot water out the cold water in ? or does that were the water pressure would come in ?

secondly what would be the most effective way if i were to use a hot water heater or some sort of wood stove heater what would be the best way to create pressure ?

would i want to have hot and cold water to be able to adjust my temperate or is there a practical way to regulate the tanks temperature ?
- ANSWER:
  First of all, stream water is not necessarily safe for drinking or washing. If there are protozoa or bacteria in the water -- and virtually all ground water has some levels of these bugs -- when you drink untreated water or wash your hands or dishes and later touch and eat food, you can get infected.
  
  I suggest you do what people did before indoor plumbing and electricity became common: sink a well and use a hand pump to draw water from underground, where it is clean and untainted by protozoa or bacteria. For bathing you would heat water on the stove and take a sponge bath, or heat enough water to fill a bathtub to take a bath. You can also make a gravity shower out of a 5-gallon plastic bucket with a hose and spayer attachment, or use a portable, propane-fueled water heater such as sold by Coleman, Eccotemp, Zodi and others. Solar bag showers also work relatively well on sunny days when the weather is above freezing.
QUESTION:
I need some information on Tankless Water Heaters? Anyone know the Titan Tankless?
I want to go green and install and install a tankless water heater. I want an electric model as I heard gas is unsafe. Is it true you can save big on your electric bill? Healthier Water? and the hot water never runs out? Sounds to good to be true. I have heard the Titan Tankless Water Heater model is the best one, but it seems so small. Can it really provide water for my entire home? Can anyone comment on this? Thanks for the help!!
- ANSWER:
  I have a Titan tankless water heater in my home that I bought from http://www.titantankless.com and it is the best thing ever. It provides endless hot water so you can shower all day if you want and it never runs out. My electric bill went down about 35 dollars a month also as it only turns on when you activate hot water. I checked out other models and researched and found this to be the best electric one. A tank model turns off and on all day even if you don't use it. The water is also safer as a tank can develop rust, germs and sediment in the storage tank. So you will find your hair and skin improves! Although gas can provide hotter water it is very unsafe. Rheem and other tank companies just recalled like 50,000 gas tankless units for carbon monoxide poisoning in homes. Its like car exhaust entering your house!! here is the recall link for gas units: http://www.tankless-recall.com/. Gas is also super expensive now...outta control so you are right about gas!!
  I have electric and it works great and is much safer. It was easy to install! I can fill my tub all the way and never worry about hot water running out. I can have 10 guests over and not worry about the hot water running out!!! As far was providing hot water for your entire home the answer is yes. If you live in a colder climate or have high demands they have different models for different needs.
  I did a lot of research and the largest selling unit and one that I use is the Titan Tankless N-120 Water Heater. They invented it and have been in business for over 23 years.
  All of the information on the unit and helpful things to help you decide are on their site at http://www.titantankless.com
  Please be careful about gas models as they are DANGEROUS!
  I would stick with electric. GO TANKLESS you won't regreat it!!
QUESTION:
buying an older home. Basement and A/C questions?
we are currently in the process of home buying (first time). We didn't qualify for first time home buyers because of our income (boo) BUT we did get some good rates. 3.5% financing with only 5% down. Anyway...on the top of our list is an older home, that looks NEW! i was very fooled by the pictures. When i saw it was 120 years old i was like...No way!!!! Everything on the main floor has been redone. Brand new coutnertops, flooring, appliances, cabinets. Laundry room has been redone. Bathrooms have been redone (May need a new bathtub.) only ONE room needs some new dry wall, which we can do ourselves...not a huge deal. The family room needs new carpet, has juice stains all over it. insulated 2 car garage, fenced yard...beautiful brand new garden shed
Other than that...we thought this was the only fixing up we would have to do. Until we saw the basement.......YIKES! what a nightmare. I thought i was going to get rabies from just walking down there.
It has the stone walls, the floor is not really even. There is asbestos in the basement (which sellers claim they will have it removed since our lenders wont give us the loan until it is removed). So our problems now:
1) the basement in general
2) the asbestos

and for the kicker...it doesn't have central air! This is the biggest problem my fiance has with the place. the basement, we can fix up as best we can...asbestos will be removed, and examined a million times before we move in. It has the hot water heaters, the radiators. So NOW were looking into putting in central air. The house has no ducts, so we're talking CHA CHING! clearly....

Any thoughts on if we should continue with this? the house in general is very nice, very well taken care of. Any experts on any of these issues would be greatly appreciated.
- ANSWER:
  First of all, the asbestos will be taken care of so cross that off your list.
  
  Since you don't mention where you are located is A/C a must or a want? I do not have A/C here in Colorado, sure it gets warm a few weeks out of the year but I consider AC here a "want" not a need. In Phoenix, it's a need.
  
  If it is a necessity, if it is a ranch with basement, it's not a huge deal but still costly. If it is a two story with basement, then it is more difficult and expensive.
  
  As an ex-builder, I do not like someone else fixing up a house for me as I do not know what is behind the "pretty". I would guess that the basement is useless for anything else but storage. If you are able to do a quality job fixing the deficiency's, do it. If you need to hire things out to make it right, you might rethink your purchase. That and remember the movie "Money Pit" - don't overspend on the house.
QUESTION:
I'd like to know more about tankless water heaters?
I have a mobile home and currently it has an 80 gallon water heater. It seems like such a waste for 2 people. Not to mention the water is never hot.
My home is 14x 70. I live in so central pa.
I was wondering if anyone has experience with them. Are they cheaper to run? Can you even put one in a mobile home? Are there any bad points to them? How much do they cost to install?
In other words anything you can tell me would be great. Including brands to avoid or best ones. I would rather spend a little more and not have it die (lol).

Thank you !
It would be electric
Yes the current water heater is 80 Gallons. The previous owner got it on sale from the electric company 80 gallons for , a real waste if you ask me.
- ANSWER:
  I only know a little - they are very small and will take much less room than your current water heater. They work better if they run on gas, rather than electricity, and they are very cheap to run, because they don't spend their lives trying to keep hot things hot. They just flow and go.
  They have been used in europe for a very long time - pretty much nobody there uses a water heater with a tank. When I lived in France for a year in the 80s, our family had one, and it was wonderful to have endless hot water.
  I don't see why you couldn't put one in a mobile home, though I guess I wouldn't install it on an outside wall, as it could freeze, but other than that, I think you'd be okay.
  
  I have no idea how much they cost to install, but I do know they tend to be more expensive to purchase than a traditional water heater - running closer to 0. But you'll save so much money, it'll pay for itself pretty quickly.
QUESTION:
Tankless water heaters, i dont know what to get....?
I have 4bed/2bath pool home in florida, but dont use a lot of hot water only 3 in my household. I am considering getting one.
Id like to know
Which model is best for me
Which brand name to avoid?
Is it more energy effecient?
What else should I know about the tank less water heaters?
I heard i should avoid electric ones. What is the differenve
- ANSWER:
  gas tankless water heaters cost about 3 x as much as a tank heater if its to be professionally installed...2 main advantages are: [1] they supply continuous hot water,,not just 30 or 40 gallons max at a time.. [2] they arent suppose to rust out/corrode/rupture and need replacement after 12-15 years like a tank would.....disadvantages are:[1] cost...[2] the ones i've seen are pretty complex,,in my opinion are likely to need repairs as they age,,the repairs could cost as much as a new tank type heater would cost to have installed [0-0],assuming tankless is out of warrenty by then,,i doubt they have longer than 10 year warrenty on parts other than the water coil itself... [3] the energy savings is often exaggerated in my opinion...a tank heater will only cost about /month at the most...even if the tankless saves 33% of that [i doubt it even saves that much], thats only per month,or 0 per year savings,,not enough to justify the extra cost in my opinion..by the time it saved you enough to justify the cost,it would probably start costing a lot to repair by then.... so i would only get a tankless if i needed the large supply of hot water they can give [large family,hot tub,etc],,or if you need the extra space the tankless would give you because its smaller than a tank,esp a large tank[50 gal]....i wouldnt do it for energy savings or longevity,,most people dont stay in a house for more than 10-15 years anyway.......dan
QUESTION:
best way to change heating system to all wood pellet heating?
We have a 1200 sq ft home in the northeast heated by oil (hot water base board) that also heats our hot water for domestic use.

we were thinking about removing the oil furnace and replacing with a pellet stove, something with a large hopper for pellets, and then a on demand water heater....it is only for two people.....we generally only wash our clothes in cold water..... and no dishwasher

some of the details I don't know.....exhaust temp of oil furnace vs pellet stove.... whether or not we would have to put a chimney liner in...

next we don't know about capabilities for adapting to hot water baseboards

next....cost of heating wood pellets vs oil.....with the economy we generally run the house cold....400 to 500 gallons of oil for the heating season.....

thanks for any help....
- ANSWER:
  There are pellet boilers (one linked below) that also have auto-feed and are pretty efficient. They are not cheap.
  
  Wood burns cooler than oil - so if you are good with no liner now, you will need no liner for a pellet stove. On the other hand, if you install a modulating/condensing gas-fired boiler you would have to install a liner and/or vent directly to the outside.
  
  Oil runs about US/gallon in this area, and will deliver 130,000 BTU.
  Wood pellets run about 0/ton delivered and that gives you 13,600,000 BTU, the equivalent of 104 gallons of oil, which would cost 2.
  If you purchase pellets in larger increments or sign a long-term oil contract, both prices will drop.
  
  With oil, you will have no ash to remove (1 ton of pellet fuel will give between 200 and 600 pounds of ash.
  
  Good luck with it.
QUESTION:
What will it take for the working people of the United States unite and demand fair treatment .?
Have we become so soft and complacent with 150 cable channels ,air conditioning ,cars and lazy boy recliners , and living during a period in time that no one could argue is through out history the best of times . We no longer walk 10 miles a day . We have washing machines and dryers ,hot water heaters and indoor plumbing .
Take a look at the rest of the world . Famine plagues and wars that kill millions every year rage on .
What made us great was our common dream of having a home and freedom to live as we wanted without the government telling us what to do .
More and more that freedom and our choices are narrowing and our government is taking more control every day over our available choices . Our manufacturing jobs which built this nation and provided opportunity for all to work and get ahead have disappeared to asia ,central and south america and nothing is slowing the trend .
Our customer services are now handled out of India .
If we do not fight soon it will be to late .
- ANSWER:
  Too late? Your primary attribution for the movement of industry is off base. You ignore the factors of being priced out of a market, and improving quality elsewhere, which makes them more competitive.
QUESTION:
What should one consider when looking to install radiant floor heat?
We're looking to build a new home and we're contemplating having radiant floor heat installed throughout the property. Right now, the plan is for ~1500 sq ft, one story, probably with a crawl space in Northern California (not extreme temperatures).

What are the key things we should be taking into consideration as we design/cost the project?

What is the "best" source for the heat? Presumably, tankless water heaters (on-demand) are cheaper for overall hot water. Are they suited (if sized correctly) for this type of application too?
- ANSWER:
  Greetings.
  
  All good questions. I would get with someone that had radiant heat installed and quiz the heck out of them...and would they do it again?
  
  Good luck
  S1lent
QUESTION:
Any insight on the best way for me to heat my home?
First a little background. I live alone (no kids or pets) in a 2bedroom duplex, about 500 sq ft. I have gas heat and hot water. My bill is usually pretty manageable but I don't like the heat to just run. I live in E Texas, and it is getting colder which is a damp arthritic kind of cold that is just miserable. I know what is out there, just don't know the ins and outs of choosing the right thing for my situation and why it is the best.

I have seen ads for those electric fireplace heaters, some Amish built, in addition to advertising as efficient they are decorative...too expensive. I have also seen the box heater that is cool to the touch. Then there are ordinary space heaters which I think I can use responsibly and safely.

Is one more efficient than the other? Safety comparisons? Are any more efficient than just boosting the gas heat? How much do these things increase the electric bill?

Thanks for your help!
- ANSWER:
  Generally, your gas heat will be cheaper to run than electric heaters. The way to save with an electric heater would be to heat only a single room instead of the entire living area and let the rest of the home go cold.
QUESTION:
What can I do that will make a terrific guy know how terrific he is?
My brother-in-law, is one of the best. There are not words to tell him. Am looking for something kind of bazaar I guess you could say, to give him to express our opinion of him. He is a plumber by trade. He and family were here to visit for Thanksgiving. Sunday, when they were scheduled to "hit the highway" home, he found out our 95 year old Grandmother's hot water heater had "fried". He didn't even tell his family what he was going to do, he just got in his vehicle and headed straight to her place, no question in his mind what he was going to do. She was going to have hot water before he left town!!!
This is a 100+ year old farm house. The hot water heater that died, if you can beleive this, was 60+ years old.
Anyway, this fellow, without uttering one single cuss word, managed to tear the old one out and put a new one in.. fighting 60 years of mice fecees among other things....not a good job at all. He said that if she had had to hire soneone to come do what he did it would have cost her at least a 00.00.
This man, like I said, set to work, worked til job was done, not one word of disdain or whoa is me.
I was joking kinda when I said we should give him the medal of honor but not really. Anyone got some ideas of how to make him a medal of honor sorta.. or any other ideas welcome. Don't have much cash is why I was thinking of making something. Any and all ideas welcome. Thanks
- ANSWER:
  That is so sweet haha..sounds like a great guy!!
  I was thinking a sort of ribbon maybe? Saying number 1 whatever or somthing..
  Im not sure ages here..but possibly a plate of cookies or brownies with a nice card, or a cookie cake shaped like a medal?
  Or a coupon book (homemade) dinenr at our hosue? watching the kids? whatever else!
  Best of luck, soudns like a nice man!
QUESTION:
How much does condition affect a real estate appraisal?
I'm trying to establish the true value of a home. I want the price that I could actually sell it for, in today's market in the condition it's currently in. In my experience certified appraisers don't spend much time inside a house at all let alone the comps. I talked to one appraiser who said a lot of time he never goes inside. How is he supposed to notice that the kitchen in the subject house is from 1958, the wood floors are water damaged, the carpet is worn to the backing, the hot water heater is leaking rusty water,the ceiling stains are due to a leaky roof and it reeks of cat urine? I know the Appraiser is not a Home Inspector but it seems to me an appraisal by itself is not that accurate a measure of market value.

I'm guessing the best way to establish true market value is have an appriasal and then a home inspection and adjust the appraised price based on major findings during the inspection. That of course is open to interpretation. I have a legal situation where I need to establish true market value in a way that is very cut and dry and is not open to second guessing.

Thanks.
- ANSWER:
  Hi
  The best way to determine FMV on your home is to compare comps less than six months old on your neighborhood. Try to keep the comps within 1/4 mile. I certified appraiser should look and take pictures of the inside. If you find one who is unwilling to do that get another. The kitchen and bath can add or degrade value depending if they have been upgraded or they need work. You can also consult with and experienced real estate broker who can offer your a comp report or a broker price opinion. And lastly you can check out www.zillow.com
  
  Hope the helps,
  
  Kyle Ransom
  www.gofightforeclosure.com
QUESTION:
He said I'm the one.....?
.. to his best friend. I've been dating this man for about a month now, and he is amazing. Very good looking, owns his own company, his own home, he can cook..... he can even flip pancakes in the air and catch them in the pan. He is overall amazing and I like him a lot. Recently I was playing with his phone and snooping quite honestly and I read a text he sent his best friend a few days prior saying "dude, mark my words, she's the one"
He is 32, I'm 26. He's not the overly emotional type, truly very manly. In the old spice commercial where the actor says do you wish your man would bake you a cake in the dream kitchen he built for you with his bare hands..... that is this man. I have no idea what to think of this. I guess I'm wondering what this means. He also is fixing up his already amazing home more. He called me today to say he was going t surprise me with what he had done tonight when I come over for a movie bu he wanted to tell me now. He bought a new hot water heater and installed it himself, a new water filtration system and installed it himself, and a new toilet that yes he installed himself. All of his friends are married, and I'm just curious about this behavior. Not that any sane woman would complain.
- ANSWER:
  Men don't say things like that unless they mean it, so take it seriously. Assess your feelings. Do you feel the same way about him? Are you in love? Don't over-think it and get too freaked out.
QUESTION:
House renovation finishings and selling?
Our home has recently been reno'd with moderate end finishings (I.e. maple kitchen, granite bathroom countertops, laminate flooring, higher end faucets, fresh paint, tankless hot water heater, new plumbing, electrical, high efficiency furnace already in place, 2 new full bathrooms with jetted tub, stainless steel appliances, etc). Our home inspection report was good, with only a small handful of minor suggestions (no actual deficiencies). Our electrical, plumbing, etc. was all professionally done.

Our house is older and smaller but has been completely renovated inside and out. We are priced fairly based on the market. Most of the other comparable homes in our price range have little to no upgrades or renovations. Our agent says we need to be the best in our price range, which confuses me because it looks like we are.

Overall, our house looks good but there are some minor (cosmetic) issues with drywall finishing, paint, moulding finishing, etc. in some areas.

My question is, would we be expected to list much lower to get an offer if the problems are minor cosmetic issues? Overall, the house looks very nice.

We had one person say they hated the house, that it was unprofessional, and that it was priced too high. Another also complained about the finishings, so we tried to do some touch ups. We have had some pretty positive feedback too.

Do finishings really make or break a sale, or are these people simply trying to get us to lower our price? Based on what we've seen, our house is not perfect, but it's fairly priced and a good value (based on comparable listings).

What makes more sense, to lower the price, or fix the finishings (which it looks like we will have to save up to hire someone to do)? What is the real problem here and how to fix it?

Thanks!
As a buyer, would cosmetic finishings stop you from putting an offer on an otherwise good house?

Also, our kitchen and bathrooms look pretty professional aside from the minor finishing issues.
Thanks everyone for the feedback. We've been on the market just over 1 month. The market here is slower(buyer's market) , but not at a stand still. We are priced similar to other comparable houses. The house does show well overall, it is spotless, clutter free, and staged. Our house has decent curb appeal overall, but since it's winter and we have 3 ft snowbanks we can't really stage much outside until spring.

I guess what I'm really asking is, are people being "picky" about a wall finish, trim that needs to be siliconed, or paint because they are not happy with the price, or would that *really* break a sale if the house was otherwise good? I need to figure out if we should drop the price to "compensate" or if it would be smarter to actually fix the things being complained about.
The reason why I ask is because we obviously would need to save up and hire someone to touch up the areas that need the work. We obviously are not good enough to do it ourselves. I don't want to lower a fair price either if people are still going to complain about the same things, then we are no better off. But would you still buy a house for the "right" price if you didn't like the finishings? Or not?
- ANSWER:
  How long has your home been on the market? How does the price compare to other listings in the area and recent sales?
  
  My personal opinion is that renovations with the purpose of selling are not a good idea. It's better to just fix the things that are broken and then list the house in line with comps. You run too much risk of the people looking not having the same tastes as you if you do a lot of cosmetic work.
  
  Do some research on other homes for sale and recent sales, then decide to lower the price or not. Keep in mind, that the market is very soft right now, so you've got an uphill battle to sell the house no matter what.
QUESTION:
Legal actions for stalker behavior?
I have been having problems with my sister- in law. She has done ceazy things to target me for no aparent reason. I am a stay at home mom married to her husbands twin brother. She is a very jealous person and a continuing liar. just some things she has done:
- living in the same building she has shut off main breaker to the electricity knowing I am home with a newborn and a three year old with no car on three separate occasions
- also shut the hot water heater
- breaking into my house numerous times to go through my computer and belongings (actually have her on video breaking in and looking through thr laptop)
- hacking into my email.(tracked her IP address, have perfect proof)
- hacked into my facebook and getting rid of my childrens photosfrom their whole lives, (this hurt me the most, cannot get them back. also tracked her IPaddress and she confessed)
I have all this proof and my husbands family keeps saying there is no way they can accept cops getting involved. They say family matters and all they keep saying is to consider that she has a psychological problem and needs help, and also to consider that her husband i losing his mind and to consider the kids. This is rediculous. What the hell do I do? I do not want trouble with my husband who is best friends with his brother. Is there a way I can scare her or what are consequences to all of these crimes?
i may also add that we are supposed to be moving in with mother in law to save tons of money and so this is held over my head.
- ANSWER:
  Screw what the family thinks! Go to the police and tell them what she's done and have a "no contact" order put on her. And it's worse than stalking since she actually broke in your place and did things on your computer and such. You can only be so relenting, and this goes past the privacy point and in to thinking about personal safety. Go to the police. Trying to just scare her will probably make things worse , so let the cops handle it and she'll get arrested next thing she does if you report it.
QUESTION:
is this a good scary story that i wrote? still working on it?
Located on the shores of West Bay Lake, in the far northeast regions of Wisconsin, are the ruins of a once grand mansion that was called Summerwind. The house is long gone now, but the memories remain ... as do the stories and legends of the inexplicable events that once took place there. Summerwind is perhaps Wisconsin’s most haunted house, or at least it was, before fire and the elements of nature destroyed her. Regardless, even the ravages of time cannot destroy the haunted history of the house.

The mansion was built in 1916 by Robert P. Lamont as a summer home for he and his family. Nestled on the shores of the lake, the house caught the cool breezes of northern Wisconsin and provided a comfortable place for Lamont to escape the pressures of everyday life in Washington D.C., as he would later go on to serve as the Secretary of Commerce under President Herbert Hoover.
But life was not always sublime at Summerwind during the years of the Lamont family. For those who claim that the ghost stories of the house were "created" in later years, they forget the original tale of Robert Lamont’s encounter with a spirit. Legends of the house say that Lamont actually fired a pistol at a ghost that he believed was an intruder. The bullet holes in the basement door from the kitchen remained for many years.

Two photos taken at Summerwind the bullet holes that were fired into the basement door by Robert Lamont! The legends say that he was shooting at a ghost at the time!
(Photos courtesy of Todd Roll)

Upon the death of Robert Lamont, the house was sold ... and sold again. It seemed that nothing out of the ordinary really happened there, save for Lamont’s encounter with the phantom intruder, until the early 1970's. It was in this period that the family living in the house was nearly destroyed ... supposedly by ghosts.

Arnold Hinshaw, his wife Ginger, and their six children, moved into Summerwind in the early part of the 1970's. They would only reside in the house for six months, but it would be an eventful period of time.

From the day that they moved in, they knew strange things were going on in the house. It had been vacant for some time ... but it had apparently been occupied by otherworldly visitors. The Hinshaws, and their children, immediately started to report vague shapes and shadows flickering down the hallways. They also claimed to hear mumbled voices in darkened, empty rooms. When they would walk inside, the sounds would quickly stop. Most alarming was the ghost of the woman who was often seen floating back and forth just past some French doors that led off from the dining room.

The family wondered if they were simply imagining things but continued events convinced them otherwise. Appliances, a hot water heater and a water pump would mysteriously break down and then repair themselves before a serviceman could be called.

Windows and doors that were closed would reopen on their own. One particular window, which proved especially stubborn, would raise and lower itself at all hours. Out of desperation, Arnold drove a heavy nail through the window casing and it finally stayed closed.

On one occasion, Arnold walked out to his car to go to work and the vehicle suddenly burst into flames. No one was near it and it is unknown whether the source of the fire was supernatural in origin or not, but regardless, no cause was ever found for it.

Despite the strange activity, the Hinshaws wanted to make the best of the historic house so they decided to hire some men to make a few renovations. It was most common for the workers to not show up for work, usually claiming illness, although a few of them simply told her that they refused to work on Summerwind ... which was reputed to be haunted. That was when the Hinshaws gave up and decided to try and do all of the work themselves.

One day they began painting a closet in one of the bedrooms. A large shoe drawer was installed in the closet’s back wall and Arnold pulled it out so that he could paint around the edges of the frame. When he did, he noticed that there seemed to be a large, dark space behind the drawer.

Ginger brought him a flashlight and he wedged himself into the narrow opening as far as his shoulders. He looked around with the flashlight and then suddenly jumped back, scrambling away from the opening. He was both frightened and disgusted ... there was some sort of corpse jammed into the secret compartment!

Believing that an animal had crawled in there and died many years ago, Arnold tried to squeeze back in for a closer look. He couldn’t make out much of anything, so when the children came home from school, he recruited his daughter Mary to get a better look. Mary took the flashlight and crawled inside. Moments later, she let out a scream ... it was a human corpse! She uncovered a skull, still bearing dirty black hair, a brown arm and a portion of a leg.

Why the Hinshaws never contacted the authorities about this body i
- ANSWER:
  i really liked your story! i would definitely read this if you finished it. i liked how it was so detailed and original.
  
  your writing is good as far as i can tell from the short passage you posted. it sounded like a suspenseful, interesting, scary piece and i would really like to read more about the house and all its secrets.
  
  well done! keep writing! if you need more feedback on the story or something, email me and id be happy to read over more of your work. :]
QUESTION:
Replacing old fuse box?
I just purchased a 74 mobile home. I am going to completly redo the entire thing. Just ripped all the old drywall and paneling off. I need to run a line for my clothes dryer as there is nothing there. It currently has a 60 amp fuse (Not breaker) box. I do not know if I can run my new line into there or not. I do not know how to tell if there is enough room for more. I have worked in breaker boxes many times, but never fuse boxes. I have a hot water heater and furnace and just basic outlets and lights running off this fuse box now. The stove is gas, so nothing in there for that. I want to do all this work myself. I do not have a thousand dollars to hire a electrician plus I am fully capible of doing this. There is a black,red,white and green wire feeding this fuse box now. What would be the best thing to do? Replace the fuse box with a breaker box, and if so how do I do this, or adding to the fuse box.
- ANSWER:
  You would be better off replacing the fuse box with a breaker box. the entrance cable is more than likely #6, and only good for 60 amps. It will have to be replaced also. If you're going to add a dryer, 100 amp should be the minimum, with a #4 copper entrance. Be sure to inspect the wiring at the receptacle end also. In '74 aluminum wiring was allowed, and that's not good for today's heavy users like microwaves, toaster ovens, hair dryers etc. Any place where there is a connection on the aluminum, it will likely be loose from years of 'cold flow'. That along with aluminum's reduced capacity is a recipe for an electrical fire.
  As for how, you'll no doubt have to make a bigger hole in the wall. Then pull all the circuits out, replace the box, and start from scratch with the breaker box.
  Good luck, and if you're not sure about something, ask don't guess.
QUESTION:
Estimate on Renovation?
I live in a twin home in Trenton, NJ and would like to purchase the nasty house next door and expand into it. They have knob & tube electric & oil heat, so I'm thinking the best way to go is to gut the place, run new electric, new plumbing, and new radiators/pipes to hook into my gas-powered steam furnace. I wouldn't be putting in a kitchen, or buying a heater/hot water tank, but I think I would want to put in a new electrical service on that side to not put a strain on my current box. I'd tear down an ugly addition in the backyard on the first floor, block two front doors (the house is a two-family), rip out a stairwell, and put a family room, half-bath, and dining room on that floor. The upstairs would be the master suite with a walk-in closet and luxury bathroom (round jacuzzi tub, stall shower, double sinks) which would open up to my existing hallway on the other side. Hard-wood floors throughout. Replace appx 12 windows and fix a leaky slate roof. 1600 sq. feet.

Can anyone give me a ballpark figure as to what it would cost? Is gutting and starting over the best way to go with all the new wires and pipes? A house with everything I want in my area is over 0k. My house cost 125, and was completely remodeled with a great kitchen, and I can buy the house next door for 60.
- ANSWER:
  Your description leads me to believe it may be financially wiser to tear down the house next door and re-build it on the existing foundation. The type of renovation, remodeling and retro-fitting you are talking about will run you between 0.00 to 0.00 per square foot. New construction on an existing foundation will cost you between 0.00 and 5.00 per square foot.
  
  Do the math. Either way, if you are confident the property will appraise for 0k after renovation you do not want to spend any more than 0k in renovation. If you spend under 0k you will be able to get a minimal return on your investment(approx. 5%) in case of an emergency sell.
  
  Good luck. Sounds like a large but exciting project.

best home hot water heater

↧

Trending Articles

Practice Sheet of Right form of verbs for HSC Students

September 22, 2019, 11:40 pm

Download: FK ft Shenky – Nakuyewa ”Prod by: Shenky”

February 16, 2017, 4:24 pm

How to win at Markstrat (Markstrat Tips and Tricks) – Vodites

January 5, 2014, 10:34 pm

Ominde Commission Report and Recommendations – Ominde Report of 1964

March 16, 2015, 5:14 am

Bureau of Internal Revenue: Regional Offices (Directory)

January 9, 2014, 11:06 pm

GO 53 on Enhancement of Ex-gratia upto 5 Lakhs Toddy Tappers in Telangana

March 26, 2017, 11:23 pm

Cakewalk CA-2A Leveling Amplifier v2.0.1.97 WiN, v2.0.1.96 OSX Incl Keygen

October 17, 2016, 7:20 am

Mp3 Download: Mdu - Kunjenjenjena

December 7, 2017, 8:16 am

How the kill the job , when DTP request running for long hours.

July 26, 2013, 2:41 am

Microsoft Intune から展開しているアプリのアップデートについて

October 17, 2016, 4:11 am

18-year-old girl was beaten for half an hour by two Northampton men in 'an...

September 1, 2017, 10:00 pm

Car crash in Dunton Bassett leaves driver in critical condition

October 7, 2014, 7:51 am

Macky 2, Two Others In Road Accident

March 29, 2015, 5:34 am

Application log 00000000000000089514: Could not convert queue DLVST90CLNT

May 14, 2015, 11:27 pm

Detroit mafia: D’Anna Brothers agree to plea deal

April 21, 2016, 6:56 am

Delivery block field greyed out using VA02

January 26, 2016, 2:52 pm

Muloraki Au

June 22, 2016, 1:44 am

【個人撮影】スマホのプライベート映像♪「中に出さないで///」カラオケ屋での生ハメ撮りが流出ｗ【リベンジポルノ】＠PornHub

October 12, 2017, 2:23 pm

BREAKING NEWS: Diamond Platnumz Is Reported Dead After Ghastly Car Accident

February 9, 2018, 4:56 am

FIAT 500 B0111 B0112

July 5, 2018, 10:31 am

© 2025 //www.rssing.com