Anyone got an idea for a store where I could find some simple, cheap rubber boots? I tried Walmart but they only have steel toed rubber boots. Bass Pro Shops only had expensive fancy boots.
I’ve got a house from 1950 with a very poorly ventilated attic. Attic is about 900 square feet. It has two soffit vents on opposite sides of the house which have been painted over (see last picture) and probably aren’t doing a lot of venting. The soffit is pretty narrow - about 4.5 inches. Would it work to install more soffit vents or is the space too small? Or any other intake vent system you’d recommend? Thanks!
Edit to add: it’s a pyramid roof
Just bought my first house as a single homeowner. It’s from 1950. I decided to get the attic sealed and insulated to help keep it a little cooler since xcel has great rebates for this. My house has no cooling and I’m in Denver where it gets hot! Got a few quotes and went with a guy who had great reviews. This week his team has been taking out the old insulation that’s from the 50s and beyond. Next week they will air seal and install R-60 cellulose insulation.
I perhaps jumped into this project too soon after buying the house. Since the project started I’ve been reading more about attics and learning that ventilation is actually way more important for attic cooling than insulation. My best friend’s boyfriend is a roofer and he said he’s happy to help me vent the attic. Can this happen after the insulation is installed?? I know the soffit vents would need baffles but I’m also not even sure soffit vents will work! The soffit is super narrow - only about 4.5 inches. If work is done in the attic after the insulation is installed would the insulation get compressed and lose R-value? Do I need to pause the attic insulation until venting is done?
Would love any advice you have for a first time homeowner just starting to learn how houses work lol. Thank you!
Moved into a new house with a microwave that is 6 years old. It’s yellow inside and has a little odor. I tried dawn power wash and also microwaving water and vinegar but they do nothing for the yellow stains. Anything else I can do?
I inherited an express water RO system in my new house. The house seller left behind most of the filters to change, but I need to order a new RO membrane which depends on the GPD. How can I tell if this is 50 or 100 GPD?
Just bought a new house that came with an express water RO system installed 2 years ago. The faucet is leaking a lot and the water tastes terrible from the system. Should I remove it or could a plumber fix it? So far two plumbers have looked at it and both recommend removing. However one guy wanted me to get a $7000 (!!!) RO system from their company so I don’t know how much I can trust them. I know nothing about RO systems and have no idea if this is a good quality one! I do potentially have lead pipes coming into the house so I’d like to have some kind of filter on the water that will remove lead. Thanks.
Anyone get drinking water delivered to their house? Who do you use and what’s the cost? Thanks!!
I was planning to replace this drain myself but I asked a plumber about it while he was over today looking at other things in the house. He said if I use a drain wrench myself it would be easy to break off the prongs and that a professional should do it. Thoughts?
Edit to add: Thanks all! You have convinced me to have the plumber do it. :)
First time home owner here! Just moved into a new house with a reverse osmosis filtration system that was installed under the kitchen sink 2 years ago. The handle is leaking and when I try to turn it on the water comes out of the faucet with barely any water pressure - a small drip. Is this something I can fix myself or should I get a plumber? Will the water pressure be better after the leak is fixed? Should I buy a new faucet before the plumber comes so they can install it? Thanks!!
I’ve gotten a few quotes on radon mitigation systems which all use 6mil plastic for the vapor barrier, however I’m also reading that for crawlspace encapsulation 12mil plastic is the norm.
What will be the difference in lifespan for 6 vs 12? I don’t use my crawlspace for storage but do have to go down there to change the furnace filter. I will be putting a line of door mats down on the route to the furnace to protect the plastic.
Should I pay extra for 12mil? It’s about $800 more.
I’m closing on my first house next week! It has an absolutely massive yard. I’m thinking of building a studio shed in the back that I could use to sew and work in. Has anyone else done a project like this? Would love to see your sheds!!
Im beginning the process of getting licensed as a foster parent. I know any other adult who lives in the house needs to get background checked. What if my cousin came to visit for 3 nights while I’m fostering a kid? Would they need to get a background check done to be able to stay in my home? Not sure at what point an adult needs to be background check! Thanks.
I’ve got a 1950 house in Aurora. The crawlspace is currently vented but I’m considering encapsulation. Do we need crawlspace ventilation in Aurora? Anyone do encapsulation who could tell me the cost? Thanks!!
I’m about to buy my first house in Aurora, CO built in 1950. It’s 973 square feet and has a vented crawlspace.
I want to insulate the crawlspace for better heating efficiency in the house. I am assuming I need to close the vents to do that?
I’m also planning on getting a radon mitigation system installed that will put a vapor barrier down in the crawlspace. If I want to seal the vents, should this be done before vapor barrier installation or can it be done after?
Edit: radon reading in my bedroom was at 11.6 pCi/L
I just bought a 973 sq foot, 3 bedroom house from 1950 in Aurora, CO and I’m considering a heat pump. The house currently has a gas furnace with ducts and no cooling system. I’ve been reading in here that air leaks make the heat pump less efficient. My house is old but got flipped in 2020 so windows are all new. I would assume that’s a common source of air leaks? Would it still be worth doing an xcel audit to find out where the air leaks are before I get a system installed?
Also the current gas furnace is from 2007. Would it be a good idea to get it replaced when the heat pump gets installed or wait for it to quit on its own?
I’m about to buy a house from 1950 which doesn’t have any cooling system currently and I’m looking into options. Do any folks have a heat pump? I’d love to hear if you like it or not!
Im moving out of my apartment and want to get the kitchen sparkling. The cabinets have some grease splatters as well as just grime from the handle being grabbed to open them. I’ve tried water + dish soap and water + vinegar but they didn’t do anything. I want to get them clean without ruining the wood at all. Any tips?
I am closing soon on a 3 bedroom house from 1950 located in the suburbs of Denver. The house has no cooling system. I’m debating what the best way to stay cool would be given that I don’t have a ton of extra money right now. I’ve always lived in older apartment buildings in Denver without AC so I’m kinda used to it but do want to be comfortable. The house has tall trees all along the south side of the house which I’m hoping will help.
I have not yet gotten quotes cuz I’ve been focused first on radon and the roof and quite frankly feel overwhelmed by everything as a single woman who knows nothing about houses. Hoping folks here can provide some guidance.
I assume AC would be very expensive to install. I know mini-splits are less. I’m also wondering about just installing some ceiling fans in the house. But if that’s going to cost thousands to buy them and get them installed and everything then maybe I should try for a mini split? It sounded like a mini split would connect to the furnace? Not sure if that would make more sense to install once the furnace dies inevitably? It’s from 2007. The house has duct work already from the heating system so maybe that would make things easier to install?
Or maybe for this first summer I just use floor fans to stay cool and figure this out next year! Appreciative any advice.
Hey! I'm looking at buying a house for the first time. One house I really like is about 1400 square feet and has 3 bedrooms and a swamp cooler that has a vent in the living room. I know the piano can't be in the living room, but would it be okay in a bedroom? My piano is not too fancy - just an spinet piano.