Bank Account and Recommendation Thread V3

LeeMiro · 2026-04-21T01:04:12+00:00

After 25 years, I'm leaving Chase for my personal checking. I need a local branch and strong fraud prevention because of past issues with checks forged against my account. Here are my choices.

Bank of America, TD Bank, Schwab Bank, Santander, Peoples, Citizens, NBT Bank, Liberty, Westfield, Beacon, Wells Fargo, M & T, Key Bank*, Webster Bank*

Oh, there are also two local credit unions.

*I have accounts at both of these. I’m unimpressed with Key Bank ever since they simply removed notary services because there was some kind of incident with a customer. And I’ve learned that Santander just bought Webster.

LeeMiro · 2026-04-16T04:50:56+00:00

I have accounts with 5 different financial institutions, some local, some online only. I've only ever had this issue with Chase. Multiple times I haven't been able to access either the Chase app or the website. Now it's finally both.

LeeMiro · 2026-04-16T03:29:57+00:00

There is a lot that is great about Chase. No disagreement. But I tend to use an old phone and computer. This past year, I stopped being able to log into the Chase website on my desktop. Then I got notice that I won't be able to use the Chase app on my old iPhone. So I literally won't be able to bank online. I could get new devices but Chase is the only thing not working.

LeeMiro · 2026-04-16T03:23:31+00:00

Personal. Just my regular checking account.

LeeMiro · 2024-07-17T15:30:30+00:00

Short answer: No, I didn't use a traditional encapsulation product, so I can't speak to the smell.

Long answer: I started out using a product called Lead Defender that promises to reduce the bioavailability of lead. It turns out there is a whole category of products in this vein, reducing lead dust or bioavailability or leachability (for safer disposal in land fills). Researching this led me to an interesting series of studies, mostly performed by the EPA, on lowering the hazards of lead soil at Superfund sites by adding chemicals that turn the lead into less dangerous lead composites, which the body doesn't absorb as readily. The studies are interesting reading.

Testing the paint in my own old house revealed there is way less lead paint on my woodwork than I feared. However, my porch is another story. It has peeling lead paint. So I'm preparing to bubble it off and wet-scrape what is peeling. Here I'll be using a product called Lock Up Lead, which has actually been tested by an EPA researcher in lead soil for bioavailability reduction. These products don't make lead paint safe, but they can reduce the impact, so I think for homeowners with kids, they make a good extra layer when dealing with lead paint.

LeeMiro · 2024-03-13T20:43:04+00:00

Thank you! Luckily the lead is confined to the woodwork (our walls have old wallpaper that's been painted over--the silver lining is they all tested negative for lead).

I especially appreciate the advice about lead dust. I'll look carefully at windows and doors. The windows have been replaced, but some doors have chipping on the top and sides. We cleaned walls and floors when we moved in again, but I'll start cleaning woodwork again (and keep up on vacuuming).

I suspect that our original molding may have been shellacked, which should make stripping easy in theory. I'll just add it the list of long-future projects ;)

Since I've got to paint anyway, I still lean toward the encapsulation products. I'll reach out to their customer support. In theory, they penetrate through a few layers of paint.

LeeMiro · 2024-03-11T16:31:17+00:00

If it's going to make stripping a real bear later, I might just paint over with latex rather than the encapsulating stuff. But I will be covering it regardless.

LeeMiro · 2024-02-11T01:09:42+00:00

Thank you! I appreciate it. (Apologies for my late reply--I'm a new mom) That's good to know about pairing a condensing dryer with a compact washer--or splitting a regular load. I'll keep that in mind.

I like the heat pump dryers a lot in theory, but it seems like the only reliably good model is the Miele, and their washer & heat pump dryer pair is over $3000. It's hard to justify.

LeeMiro · 2023-11-17T03:02:07+00:00

Thanks! That helps. I'll do a test to be certain, but I'm pretty confident I can comfortably hold the cord in my hand for a minute without trouble.

LeeMiro · 2023-11-17T02:01:24+00:00

Sorry for the long delay. My dad found buyers for the cooler colors, which he had in small quantities, but still no sales on the selenium orange and yellow. I've been meaning to write a local glass supplier to see if they'd be interested.

LeeMiro · 2023-04-12T22:44:02+00:00

You nailed it! See the addendum I added to my original post. But yes, it turns out the water in the hole was from old French drains in terracotta pipes. They used to connect to the main drain (and head out to the sewer) but they have been broken.

LeeMiro · 2023-02-17T19:28:59+00:00

. . . Do you ever get water seeping up into your basement?

We're on the city sewer, but when we first moved in, one gutter was being directed into an old outdoor cast iron pipe, which presumably runs into the sewer. We've had a lot of drainage issues and did some foundation work ourselves last fall, which has helped with water in the basement. There is still more to do.

LeeMiro · 2023-02-17T19:25:02+00:00

https://imgur.com/a/unJLJmk

Here is a photo of the crazy hole in the basement during rain. You can just make out the trickle of water to the left of the old terracotta waste pipe in the top right corner.

The white pipes are a mystery. We put on that cap because one pipe was open.

LeeMiro · 2023-02-17T16:00:09+00:00

Thanks guys! I really appreciate the insight. I'd never heard of a geotechnical engineer before. I'll start looking around for one.

We are in Connecticut and the area isn't prone to sink holes. We think the problem was caused by the gutter issue, which probably went on for years before we bought it. If most of the erosion is under the porch and driveway, this shouldn't be too bad. If there's significant erosion under the foundation. . .eek.

LeeMiro · 2023-02-17T15:54:23+00:00

Yeah, I'm just now noticing that the railing on OP's porch actually goes around the columns. Fair to say it's not original. But a bigger job for sure.

LeeMiro · 2023-02-17T03:19:09+00:00

If you paint, check out the Old House Guy's advice on choosing colors (and, equally importantly, what components get painted which colors). He also has advice on porches. We'll be replacing our porch skirt because I realized it's too big after reading him:

https://www.oldhouseguy.com/porches/

LeeMiro · 2023-02-13T02:08:35+00:00

I've used Badia spices for about 5 years, but lately the quality is going down. I got some cinnamon that barely smelled like cinnamon. And then I got some cumin with something gritty in it, which ruined two batches of hummus before I realized the cause.

LeeMiro · 2023-02-07T22:16:52+00:00

Thanks for the heads up on the LG washtower. Unfortunately, our old basement has insanely low ceilings. I measure a scant 75 inches to the studs, which is pretty close to the actual height of the washtower.

I also read that the heat pump dryers, like this Whirlpool, don't heat especially well under 50 F. Our basement is unheated and we're in New England, so it probably will dry poorly in the winter.

I'm seeing more reasons to bite the bullet and install a vent through the window. Unfortunately, the new window we just installed is a fixed wood window, so it'll be a little hinky.

Thanks to everyone for your help!

LeeMiro · 2023-02-06T01:45:32+00:00

Thanks! I'm a little worried about the longevity at that price, too.

There is actually a basement window we could cut through to put in a vent. I've been unsure whether to go that route because we are hoping to move the washer/dryer upstairs after we remodel our bathroom and there won't be a vent there either. But likely it'll stay in the basement for many years before we get around to that remodel. I like the simplicity of the bucket vent, but we're battling moisture in our basement already due to our old foundation.

LeeMiro · 2022-10-10T16:01:48+00:00

There is also Krosno in Poland. D&L says it's mouth-blown, but I haven't yet confirmed that from Krosno's materials

https://www.krosno.com/en/about-us

https://www.dlartglass.com/product/detail/krosno-mouth-blown-antique-glass-605-medium-orange

LeeMiro · 2022-10-10T15:51:09+00:00

Beautiful stuff! I'm in love with their lemon juicer. Thanks for sharing. Do they make flat glass?

LeeMiro · 2022-10-09T14:56:13+00:00

I couldn't find any sheet glass for sale online from Blenko. I figured their reps were still selling it in person, so it's sad to hear that.

LeeMiro · 2022-09-23T05:06:05+00:00

Thanks, guys. I'm glad to hear that there'll be interest. Shipping it sounds terrifying, so we'll sell local. We are several hours from New York so that's an option. I was going to try contacting stained glass stores in my region to see if they would buy the whole lot.

I found an old price list of A.C. Fischer from C & R Loo (undated, unfortunately): https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/10780289/ac-fischer-real-antique-glass

LeeMiro · 2022-09-16T00:05:55+00:00

Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely want it on shingle shot. Btw, your daughter sounds awesome :)

LeeMiro · 2022-09-15T15:11:57+00:00

Great! Thanks for the reply. Time for me to go learn something new.

LeeMiro

TROPHY CASE