Does anyone have any tips/tricks that actually work and are useful? Any area of interest is fair game. I'll start- Every quarter or so, I use the compressor to blow out all of the vacuums in the house. I also clean the fans like this. It works amazingly well and then, I don't need to buy new filters.
Next time your water heater needs replaced, buy a hybrid heat pump water heater. They use 1/4 of the electric than that of a standard/traditional electric/resistance water heater. Big orange has been running a special on Rheem 50 gallon for $849. You could save $300/year on electric. (Would pay for itself in 1-2 years. Maybe faster if you run a dehumidifier in your basement)
I saw that flour, sugar and baking soda in equal parts will kill mice and rats. I might need to try this one.
If you have an interior door in your house that closes or opens by itself here is a quick and easy repair fix.... Pull the hinge pin out of the top hinge and lay it on a scrap piece of wood and hit it with a hammer putting a slight bend in it. Then replace it. If the door still swings open then do the same to the middle hinge or the bottom hinge. You can use a small screwdriver or a nailset to tap the hinge pin up, bend it and reinstall it. (Friction is your friend!) It will only take few minutes even if you have to take it outside to hit it and make the slight bend. Fast, easy and it works every time.
My best trick if you need to run a generator needs to be outside cords through an exterior door can go through a removed dead bolt
Hello My tip is to skip installing a Transfer switch to install a genie and go for the Interlock panel to power any combo of outlets you may want. Add current meters for a good safety check and do not forget to add Panel mount surge breakers for appliance safety too! Well, since I could not fit another wire in the old 100 Amp Challenger Circuit Panel (Not the best panel we had since the 100 Mains melted one summer! LOL) we decided upon a very needed upgrade! To eliminate the birds nest and add whole house surge protection with a Generator Interlock and outlet, it is a welcome addition. Now the shed has the 30 amp breaker like it should. The old meter box and wires along the side of the house had to be changed as well as the circuit panel The a new Eaton Cutler Hammer panel was installed with nipples to a panel meter box on the upper left side. The current transformers must be installed in the circuit panel box on the 2 mains. A 120v switched outlet with a 120vac to 12vac step down transformer to power the current monitor displays and circuitry on the lower left side. The 30 Amp generator breaker must be installed in the top right next to the whole house surge protector breakers so the interlock slide works properly. Also put the genie socket outside the garage for easy and safe hookup. There is a new ground rod on the outside now so if lightning hits the wires it will not travel into the house! I know it is more needed in Florida where the lightning is more fierce but still good to have here and is also in the new electrical codes! Pic 1-4 Old 100 amp Challenger Panel Pic 5 - Old service head Pic 6-7 Old meter socket and house wires Pic 8-9 New outside wires and meter socket with ground rod going into the ground! The interlock allows the home owner to select what circuits may be run on a generator! A nice inexpensive alternative to a transfer switch! Pic 10 - Meter in new meter socket Pic 11 - Doing a little wiring! Luckily the new box is good for 50 Breakers! Pic 12-16 New 200 Amp 50 circuit cutler hammer panel Only 3 slots left in the new panel! LOL Pic 17-19 New Generator socket outside of house. Socket is under overhang on the right side of the garage. I added some needed new paint, Ashbury Sand color. In case you ask? Yes this was inspected and accepted by the town inspector! Pic 20 - New panel Pic 21 - New paint but wires are still exposed. Pic 22-23 - Custom Current Meters
How many you got???? JK I have been known to take a spensive yellow Shopvac bag and carefully unfold the end, cut the glued seam, empty that spendy sucker and staple the ever living F outa that thing- Whammo! Brandy new!!!
When I clean out ash from the woodstove, I prop up the end of the shop vac hose near the top edge of the ash bucket. When I dump a scoop of ash into the bucket, the vac draws the dust away as it tries to get out of the bucket. Works well.
I see what you are doing Eric, my vaccum collection is not for sale. Seriously though - those shop vac filters are expensive.
Hello Now that COVID-19 is getting better and the home heating oil prices are going back up, I installed an ECO Smart On Demand Instant Hot water panel if or when the electric price becomes cheaper than the oil price. Also I can still use the 40 gallon Super Store Tank which is near my pellet stove so the 45 Deg water coming from the street will warm up to 80 Degs overnight for a huge efficiency boost. However if or when the 40 gallon storage tank leaks and needs repair or replacement, I can switch out the tank and only use the electric on demand panel so no loss in hot water during the service.
I made a “hood” out of some HVAC duct pieces that sits over the door- 2” Shopvac hose plugs in opposite end... Gets fly ash rising up from ashcan and fly ash trying to exit stove- works super-dee-duper... when my wife uses it.
Hi Tim I got the ECO Smart 27kw (3 - 40 Amp Breakers for 120 Amps - Had to install a 125 Amp sub Panel for it and my Welder & Plasma cutter!! ) I thought that 3 - 40 240 VAC breaker ECO Smart unit would be good enough with a 40 gallon storage tank. In the winter the water coming in from the street is about 40 to 45 Degrees F but coming out of the tank after sitting all night is 80 Degs F It works good for everything except the bath tub which is 4 gallons per min. I forget if I tested it with the storage tank or not so when I switch back I will try again. I still have to work on that. Maybe I can cut the flow rate down to 3 gals per min? Any ideas? Which model did you get? Did you have enough breakers in your box to install it? How does yours work, do you have enough GPMs?? See chart below
I have the 27kw. (Pulls up to 112 amps) The tub can run all day with water thats too hot to sit in (not sure the actual temp but plenty hot). My (well water) is probably coming in at 54° With the typical restrictors in the faucets and shower heads it can get way too hot so i set the temp at 132. I'm am 100% happy with the Eco Smart after 10 years of use. How are you preheating your storage tank?
I guess the main difference is we have town water from the street that is quite cooler. Hmm That is good, do you know the GPM of your tub? Just time how long it takes to fill a gallon jug. My pellet stove is right near the storage tank.
