The Benefits of Home Ownership?

[cramx3]

That's been me since last December.  I have had a negative balance with the electric company of at least -$350 since then.

Any idea how to collect that money?  my electric company bill is similar, I think closer to -$500. Obviously we have different providers, but maybe there's some similar process.

[Stadler]

Any idea how to collect that money?  my electric company bill is similar, I think closer to -$500. Obviously we have different providers, but maybe there's some similar process.

I have no idea; I'm still trying to get the state-level rebate that comes with the production (whether I use it or it goes back to the grid).

[lordxizor]

I just got to pay $175 for a drain guy to pull a stick of deodorant out of my kids' toilet.

[jingle.boy]

I just got to pay $175 for a drain guy to pull a stick of deodorant out of my kids' toilet.

jingle.son dropped his airpods case down the toliet a couple years back.  I just took the toilet off and replaced it.  Smashed the toilet after we got it off, but the airpods were hooped.

Sounds like you would've been better off to do the same thing!

[lordxizor]

jingle.son dropped his airpods case down the toliet a couple years back.  I just took the toilet off and replaced it.  Smashed the toilet after we got it off, but the airpods were hooped.

Sounds like you would've been better off to do the same thing!

Had I known that's what it was I would have done it myself. All I knew is that it was clogged and the plunger and auger weren't working.

[Stadler]

What does "hooped" mean?  Is that Canad for "jacked"? 

[TAC]

What does "hooped" mean?

I had the same question.

[jingle.boy]

What does "hooped" mean?  Is that Canad for "jacked"?

Don't think it's Canad specific at all.  https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hooped

[Herrick]

That's been me since last December.  I have had a negative balance with the electric company of at least -$350 since then.

My first bill was a little lower than usual. The next month I had a negative bill. Then this month it's $300. I'm like what the fuck?

[wolfking]

Don't think it's Canad specific at all.  https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hooped

Never heard that over here either.

[Stadler]

Don't think it's Canad specific at all.  https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hooped

WOW, this is getting worse. I've never heard the "ass" referred to as "the hoop", and I WORK IN THE RAIL INDUSTRY and didn't get the rail reference. 

I should go back to sleep.

[hefdaddy42]

Don't think it's Canad specific at all.  https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hooped

Never heard that.

I think a Canadian wrote that UD entry.

[cramx3]

Never heard it either 

[jingle.boy]

Never heard that.

I think a Canadian wrote that UD entry.

That would explain it then.

[Nick]

Damn! You could build a serious fort under that thing!   

Are you able to generate everything you need with that array, Tesla charging included? Any kind of home battery to go with it?

It's a massive system that should completely cover us. Keeping in mind we use a lot of electricity. We have a heat pump for two of our 3 floors, charge two electric cars (Jennie has a Nissan Leaf), and she has the hot tub now which has continued to be used through the winter.

In total it's 36 ground and 7 roof panels, each being 410w.

[lordxizor]

My kitchen sink drain decided to clog yesterday. Pulled it all apart and scooped out some stinking gunk. Ended up having to get a long drain auger. Probably got it 30 ft down the drain before it would finally drain. I'm sure I just pushed the clog into a wider pipe at some point so I finally cleared out. What a stinky mess. But proud of myself for fixing the problem for only $37 instead of having to call a plumber

[Jamesman42]

My bathroom sink is also clogged. I tried to detach the thing drain plug and just clean that off, it helped some but I will need to buy one of those plastic snakes to clear out some of the stinky gunk. Just cleaning the plug was nasty alone.

[orcus116]

I haven't tried it on a kitchen sink but for the bathroom sink and tub this stuff worked amazing. Just pour some down the drain then wait for about an hour or so then you should be good to run water to clear anything out. I recommend putting a small bowl or something over the hole in case some gas comes back up but it's a great thing to use once you've done the simple cleaning of the plugs and shallow plastic snake.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Instant-Power-67-6-oz-Hair-and-Grease-Drain-Openers-Chemicals-1970/100169339

[Grappler]

When it comes to bathroom sinks, it seems like gunk builds up around the drain plug, rather than further down into the sink drain. 


My current "fun."  Wife and kids want a pool heater - we have a 24' above ground pool.  We used a solar cover last year, which retains heat already in the water, but isn't the best about building heat.  The water was a temperature we like by late July/early August, but it was a touch cooler all other times. 

Cost of the pool heater - $2,300.  We got 10% off with the pool store's anniversary sale, so about $2,000 plus tax, pushing it back up to $2,200. 

Had a pool contractor give us an estimate to install the natural gas line and run it from the meter to the pool....a distance of 133 feet.  Quote:  $4,200.  I'm sure it's almost all labor cost, but this is looking to be a $6,000 purchase. 

[TAC]

So much for the pool heater...

[Grappler]

So much for the pool heater...

I think we'll still do it - it eliminates the complaining from the kids that the water is too cold.  We can invite people over to use the pool and not have to worry if it will be too cold for them to use it.

My wife talked to her step dad and he'll give us the money and we can pay him back monthly, just so we're not seeing a substantial hit to our savings account and can space it out the cost by a few months.  It eases her mind that we're not suddenly broke and can work to replenish the savings a bit quicker than it might seem.

[TAC]

I think we'll still do it - it eliminates the complaining from the kids that the water is too cold.  We can invite people over to use the pool and not have to worry if it will be too cold for them to use it.

 

[cramx3]

The front steps to my house have been demolished today and the rebuild has begun:



The steps were crumbling and becoming a big safety hazard as the hand rails were also falling apart from it.  Needed to be fixed, but a basic fix job would have resulted in further crumbling sooner than later since he gut of the steps was mostly hollow apparently.  Going to cost me extra to replace the entirety of it, but seems necessary for the long run. There goes a bunch of money, but hey, the house has skyrocketed in value!

[Grappler]

We don't have any major projects scheduled this year.  We just bought a pool heater, which was an interesting experience. 

$2,000 for the heater, on sale.
$4,200 for the installation of a gas line from the meter to the pool.  I got the contractor down to $3,900 by offering to pay cash. 

Pool company comes to place/install the heater.  They're great.
Contractor comes in to trench my backyard and run the gas line.  133' trench, 18" deep.  They do a decent job, but a day later, I notice that they had moved the heater to line up with their trench - and smashed it up against the pump.  I got the pool up and running, heated the water, all is good.

A week later, I wake up at 5am and see that the pool level is down 5".  When they smashed the heater up against the pump, it compromised one of the hoses, and I had been pumping water out of my pool overnight.   

Had to repair the hose, then all was good again....except for having to grow grass over the 133' of dug up yard.  We're in the process of doing that now - and it's been hard work.  Had to tamp down all of the dirt that was pushed back over the trench, then lay down seed, some dirt, and then stake a layer of burlap down to keep my dog from digging in the dirt. 

[cramx3]

Front steps came out looking nice, but the rails we initially bought aren't quite right so we are in a holding pattern until we figure that out, but otherwise, it's done.  Took the trash out the front door last night to use them for the first time officially 



Sadly it went over the estimate and I'm not happy about it nor the way this contractor talked to me during all this so while I think his work was good, I'm not a fan of the guy.  Oh well.  It needed to be done out of safety.

[TAC]

They look great Marc.

Contractors are assholes.

[jingle.boy]

They look great Marc.

Contractors are assholes.

the majority of them.  Especially the ones that grift ya for $40k, then vanish.  I speak from personal experience.  The second one I dealt with was mostly very good - some challenges, but did a great job on time and on budget.

[cramx3]

They look great Marc.

Contractors are assholes.

Thanks, and yeah, it's quite frustrating to deal with.  I still haven't paid him though so  (I will, but not until the railings are done)

[Cool Chris]

Contractors are assholes.

Hey!!!

[gmillerdrake]

Stairs look great Marc….Im sure the rails will work out. Just hope you don’t get killed on the cost.

[cramx3]

Stairs look great Marc….Im sure the rails will work out. Just hope you don’t get killed on the cost.

Killed, probably not, but it does seem like it'll cost more than expected to get some to fit just right.

[Awaken]

Love the new look front entry, cram!  No doubt a pain in the ass process, but the value add will certainly make the hassle all worth it.

[Stadler]

Yeah I hope the cost wasn't too much over budget, but it looks like the craftsmanship was certainly all there. I love that look. 

[chknptpie]

How do you know when you need a new roof? I've had tons of door to door roof people stopping by in the last year saying our roof looks bad but I don't see it. I'm also less likely to trust someone knocking at my door (not sure why?). If we do need a new roof, do we start with a contractor or go straight through to claim on insurance? I dunno how any of this works and I should... I'm almost 40 and owned this house for 13 years. It had a new roof when we bought it.

[Grappler]

How do you know when you need a new roof? I've had tons of door to door roof people stopping by in the last year saying our roof looks bad but I don't see it. I'm also less likely to trust someone knocking at my door (not sure why?). If we do need a new roof, do we start with a contractor or go straight through to claim on insurance? I dunno how any of this works and I should... I'm almost 40 and owned this house for 13 years. It had a new roof when we bought it.

Assuming you have asphalt shingles, you would need a new one if the grit is worn down and the shingles are very smooth, or if there are a lot of spots that look worn down or have holes from hail or animal damage.  You could probably google some additional information about how to determine whether or not the roof is truly worn out.

Insurance only covers sudden and accidental damage - if a windstorm ripped up a portion of the shingles, or if a large hailstorm damaged them.  It won't cover wear and tear from age. 

I would contact a roofing contractor that is local to you and ask them to come out and see what their opinion is - they can get up on your roof for a closer look.  I'd trust them more than someone who is going door to door.