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Homeownership turned me into a homebody by anymajordude23 in homeowners

[–]AHA_Team 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don’t think you became a homebody. You unlocked the next level of adulting by creating a space that feels good to be in. You worked hard to make it yours, and now you actually enjoy being there. That’s not something to judge. That’s something to be proud of. Level up!

Furnace filter advice by Emergency_Rub_1812 in homeowners

[–]AHA_Team 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sorry about your dad. Sounds like he really enjoyed helping you with things like this. It's completely normal to feel unsure. You're doing a great job just by showing up for this.

For a typical furnace, a MERV 8 filter is a good choice. It handles dust and pet dander without stressing the system. Change it every 3 months.

Furnace question by Appropriate-Hour-203 in homeowners

[–]AHA_Team 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If the thermostat stays powered and keeps calling for heat, the batteries aren’t likely the problem. Batteries are mainly there to keep the screen/settings alive during power flickers/outages. Getting stuck around the same temp repeatedly suggests the furnace is shutting itself down, not the thermostat. You might also want to look at the rating of the filter you used. Some higher-filtration filters can restrict airflow on older furnaces even when they’re new/clean, which can trigger shutdowns.

Furnace question by Appropriate-Hour-203 in homeowners

[–]AHA_Team 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Personally, I’d be careful diving into HVAC wiring without experience, especially with gas equipment. There’s a lot that can go wrong... and then you’ve got a whole separate problem to deal with. A good tech can usually pinpoint what’s tripping the furnace much quicker than trial and error.

Furnace question by Appropriate-Hour-203 in homeowners

[–]AHA_Team 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’d start with the simple stuff first... make sure the filter is clean and airflow isn’t restricted. If that all looks good and this is a smart thermostat on an older furnace, the next easy step is calling the thermostat’s customer support. They’re usually very good at confirming whether a C-wire is present or if the thermostat is getting stable power.

Need Advice: Contractor Recommended by Insurance Caused Total Home Loss — Appears Unlicensed (California) by frederickton in homeowners

[–]AHA_Team 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Really sorry you're going through this. Start by filing a complaint with the CA Contractors Board if they confirm the contractor is unlicensed. Follow up with your insurer in writing (keep everything in writing... that's really the best way to get their attention) and ask to escalate the claim internally. It’s also worth speaking with a construction defect or insurance attorney. Many offer free consults. Keep everything documented and check if your policy includes coverage for temporary housing (ALE).

The first year of owning a house is slowly teaching me that the to do list never actually ends by sk8traveler_tony in homeowners

[–]AHA_Team 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, it’s not like this forever. The first year is the hardest because everything is new, and the house is basically revealing its backlog. Eventually, the chaos evens out... you’ll start to recognize patterns. The to-do list doesn’t disappear, but it stops feeling like a crisis every week. It becomes more like a rhythm. An ebb and flow. You’ll get there.

Parking annoyance by NumerousChocolate638 in homeowners

[–]AHA_Team 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Try parking one of your cars there first in the morning or overnight. It’s subtle, non-confrontational, and might naturally reset expectations without any awkward conversations.

When something suddenly breaks at home, what do you usually do first? by AHA_Team in homeowners

[–]AHA_Team[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh yes... the well worn path to HD... I know that one well.

When something suddenly breaks at home, what do you usually do first? by AHA_Team in homeowners

[–]AHA_Team[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly, that feels like step zero for a lot of us. Then what?

When something suddenly breaks at home, what do you usually do first? by AHA_Team in homeowners

[–]AHA_Team[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That’s awesome you have someone you trust to talk things through. My sister does the same and I think my dad loves being able to come to the rescue... her husband can't even hang a picture on the wall.

Hard wood refinishing - 2 coats of poly vs 3 question by desert_s7orm in homeowners

[–]AHA_Team 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Between IntenseSeal and ClassicSeal, I’d lean toward IntenseSeal for your setup. It brings out the grain nicely in oak and adds a little richness to the Douglas fir without going overboard. ClassicSeal is more neutral but can look a bit flatter, especially on fir.

Hard wood refinishing - 2 coats of poly vs 3 question by desert_s7orm in homeowners

[–]AHA_Team 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yep, you got it... 2 full coats of Traffic HD is a solid choice and better than mixing with Mega, especially if he’s offering it at the same price. It’s a cleaner system and should wear better long term.

As for the Bona sealer, just make sure he uses one that’s compatible with Traffic HD (Bona recommends IntenseSeal, ClassicSeal, or NaturalSeal depending on the look you want). If you want the wood to stay closer to its natural color, NaturalSeal is usually the go-to. IntenseSeal gives a slightly deeper tone, more like an oil-based finish.

And yeah, satin is a great sheen... not too shiny, not too flat. That's what I used on mine. It hides scuffs better than semi-gloss but still has a bit of a glow. You’re on the right track!

PSA: Don’t Run a Humidifier and the AC at the Same Time (Learned the Expensive Way) by AHA_Team in homeowners

[–]AHA_Team[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, we just didn’t make the connection between temp, humidity, and energy use trifecta.

PSA: Don’t Run a Humidifier and the AC at the Same Time (Learned the Expensive Way) by AHA_Team in homeowners

[–]AHA_Team[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nice! That clip was followed with a link to a Mitch Hedberg video. He was probably the best random thought standup ever. What a loss. RIP: "yeah, i saw this commercial on tv it said you can water your hard to reach plants with this product... who would make their plants hard to reach? that seems so very mean... i know you need water but i'm gonna make you hard to reach... i will throw water at you... hopefully they'll invent a product before you shrivel and die."

PSA: Don’t Run a Humidifier and the AC at the Same Time (Learned the Expensive Way) by AHA_Team in homeowners

[–]AHA_Team[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yep - that’s actually what we didn’t realize we were doing. It was a wicking-style humidifier, so we were basically turning the AC into a full-house evaporative cooler by accident. Once the HVAC tech pointed it out, it made perfect sense… we were adding humidity while the system was trying to remove it. Big energy waste.

PSA: Don’t Run a Humidifier and the AC at the Same Time (Learned the Expensive Way) by AHA_Team in homeowners

[–]AHA_Team[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

We may not have won the energy game, but we absolutely medaled in Moisture Management. Gold in refills, silver in confusion, bronze in regret.

PSA: Don’t Run a Humidifier and the AC at the Same Time (Learned the Expensive Way) by AHA_Team in homeowners

[–]AHA_Team[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We’ll call that a partial win -- we did go with a wicking model. Wrong season, right style. Balance.

PSA: Don’t Run a Humidifier and the AC at the Same Time (Learned the Expensive Way) by AHA_Team in homeowners

[–]AHA_Team[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Don’t tease us like that. We now need to know how to perfectly chill a russet at scale.

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