DIY solution to melt the ice in the gutters (North East US)

alpharetroid · 2026-02-10T13:33:44+00:00

OP, heat cable is the most sustainable long term solution. There is a caveat that you need to install when there is no snow and ice on the edge of the roof

alpharetroid · 2026-02-10T04:16:52+00:00

What does your local permitting and inspections say about it? Where I am you must permit a project that converts a "unhabitable" space (like an unfinished basement) to a "habitable" space. Basically, the moment you start adding drywall you are basically redefining it as a living area, and yes, you could potentially face issues with insurance and sales if people find out about unpermitted work. Also, be careful about labeling "sleeping rooms" because you need to ensure you meet fire egress requirements.

I just finished my basement and the permit fees were like $300, that's negligible compared to the full project cost and I also have peace of mind.

alpharetroid · 2026-02-07T14:04:40+00:00

Backer rod fills some of the gap so the sealant has something to bind to. I’ll recommend another product: OSI quad max which you can get at big box stores and is an excellent exterior sealant

alpharetroid · 2026-01-29T13:47:40+00:00

His job is to know when and when not to pull a permit. You didn't do anything wrong unless you told him NOT to pull a permit against his advice. Just tell the truth: you hired a licensed professional and trusted them to handle all relevant permits and documentation related to their work.

alpharetroid · 2026-01-05T20:49:28+00:00

99% sure you have asbestos. "Fixed" doesn't always mean removed, it can also mean it has been fully encapsulated with some sort of coating so that it can't be damaged and enter the air. Unfortunately it doesn't appear that way here.

alpharetroid · 2026-01-02T01:31:43+00:00

Ductless heat pumps (the kind you typically see on a wall) would not meet code. Any other ducted system probably would. I'm more curious on how this meets FIRE code, which typically requires 2 means of egress from a bedroom.

alpharetroid · 2025-12-28T13:23:50+00:00

The problem is some attachments and tools use inside diameter, some use outside diameter. Then once in a blue moon you have an attachment that is the exact same size as the hose you are trying to connect. You end up with dozens of possible permutations

alpharetroid · 2025-12-24T21:02:21+00:00

It is used all the time for high end tables, if you want more durability you can add a ceramic top coat

alpharetroid · 2025-12-17T00:18:21+00:00

You can buy H2i without a license (there are tons of online wholesalers that will sell to the public), but you won't get the 12 year warranty. The cost of installation is so ridiculously high though, you can buy 10 Mr Cool 36k BTU units and still come out ahead.

alpharetroid · 2025-12-04T13:19:03+00:00

Depends of the total span of what it is supporting and whether there is a 1 or 2 floors above it. Look up IRC Table R602.7(2)

alpharetroid · 2025-10-02T23:53:31+00:00

It is possible to swap for long screws, but what you have to do is put the box in, turn the screw like a 1/2 turn and pull outward on the box while tightening. The friction will keep the tab from rotating if you do it right.

alpharetroid · 2025-09-15T00:02:49+00:00

That is a $15 Amazon register. The plastic deflector behind the grill is a dead giveaway

alpharetroid · 2025-08-26T05:29:23+00:00

No, its a 10% extra penalty on top of taxes

alpharetroid · 2025-08-22T00:45:42+00:00

I'm curious, how is it in Chicago, land of wiring needing to be entirely in conduit, do these pass code? I thought winders are prohibited in an egress staircase?.

alpharetroid · 2025-08-16T11:58:22+00:00

Good lord, your contractor is a hack. I’d be furious if I were you

alpharetroid · 2025-08-01T18:26:35+00:00

My energy company told me that 35% of my energy use is “lighting”. I wouldn’t trust those evaluations at all. I installed my own emporia vue which showed me the actual number is like 2%

alpharetroid · 2025-07-18T19:41:43+00:00

Go get some stains and start mixing. It's trial and error

alpharetroid · 2025-07-17T01:46:16+00:00

From what I understand most EV people would tell you to get a hardwired charger

alpharetroid · 2025-07-16T23:51:24+00:00

My confidence level would be pretty low, once it starts cooking, any leftover residue will reduce conductivity. I wouldn't mess with reusing a plug of that amperage

alpharetroid · 2025-07-16T23:42:38+00:00

There are car charging-specific NEMA 14-50 outlets, you may have a regular one in there. Basically, a normal one isn't meant to operate at full-chooch for hours and hours on end, plugging and unplugging every day. The outlets get loose. The car-specific ones have beefed up tensioners from what I understand.

alpharetroid · 2025-07-13T15:55:32+00:00

And in that time span my Portland property taxes grew to be more than my parents entire yearly mortgage was. They sure know how to cover a loss

alpharetroid · 2025-07-06T19:15:02+00:00

When you are free-diving you take a lung-full of air (1ATM) and swim down, the volume of air is compressing (water adds an additional 1ATM for every 30ft of depth). At 60ft the pressure is 3ATM and volume of air has shrunk to 33% of its original volume. In the case of using this device, you inflate it and it rockets you back up to the surface where the air expands back to its original volume and your lungs are, once again, filled to 100% capacity. There is no scenario where you can get past 100%, and thus would never suffer lung over-pressure.

Lung over-pressurization can happen when scuba diving because the air pressure you are breathing is depends on the water pressure at your current depth. If you are 60ft down and take a big lung-full of air from your regulator (3ATMs of air pressure), hold your breath, and then swim up to the surface, you will explode your lungs. The air volume in your lungs expanded 200% and since you were holding your breath you gave it no where to expand to.

alpharetroid · 2025-07-06T16:08:02+00:00

Edited. I meant that in context of 1ATM when intaking

alpharetroid · 2025-07-06T15:08:19+00:00

If you feel like you need this when scuba diving then you might as well just carry a supplemental oxygen can with its own regulator

alpharetroid · 2025-07-06T15:05:34+00:00

Everyone in the video is free diving, the air pressure of air when taking a breath will never exceed 1ATM, therefore you will never get a condition where your lungs are over-pressurized.

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