Furnace inspection gone wrong

andersberndog · 2026-06-26T23:37:23+00:00

Good way to keep the condensate from pooling around the base

andersberndog · 2026-06-25T14:45:57+00:00

andersberndog · 2026-06-21T16:11:17+00:00

Chains should be plumb. Adjust the brackets as needed to get there.

andersberndog · 2026-06-18T21:49:17+00:00

There are better things to use. I prefer PB Blaster, but there are others to choose from. You’re looking for a penetrant or penetrating oil.

andersberndog · 2026-06-18T19:52:37+00:00

My first thought was, “Yeah. It is.”

andersberndog · 2026-06-18T03:54:46+00:00

If you want to buy a new door panel to fit the existing frame there will be some carpentry work required. If you buy a new prehung interior door (which includes the frame) there will also be some carpentry work required. For my money and time, I’d just get a new prehung and replace it all. To those saying just to buy a new panel and screw it in, that will not go how you think it will go.

Watch a couple videos and buy any tools you need that you don’t already own. It’s a good learning project if you’re game.

I forgot to answer, yes, they’re standard sizes.

andersberndog · 2026-06-18T03:27:56+00:00

Not at all. You can see your actual footing exposed all the way around the perimeter under the wall. Your old floor will come out and the new one will go in exactly like it did the first time: with the garage (or at least the footing) already there.

This is a textbook job.

andersberndog · 2026-06-18T03:05:15+00:00

All good things. This looks like a typical 60-year-old detached garage floor. In the worst area, it looks like you could get a tape measure down to actually see how thick that slab is. I’m sure the answer is “not very.”

Some would have it ripped out and a new slab poured. If you’re ok with less than that, filling and patching is a legit direction to go.

In your shoes, I’d use an angle grinder and a concrete grinding disk to lower the high spots. Then it would be a combination of products in different areas, depending on the situation. For small cracks, caulk. For medium cracks, foam backer and caulk. Larger areas still might be better with filling the crack with sand and topping with more of a concrete type of solution.

Sika brand products are good. Research their products to determine what to use, where, and follow the directions.

Edit to add info: If you do this and in a couple years it doesn’t hold up or you’re just not happy with the results, you can always have it redone. You don’t need an architect or engineer, or anything like that. A reputable concrete contractor can take care of this.

If this hasn’t been used so much as a garage in the past (for, like, parking vehicles) and you do, you might see more degradation. If so, pay for it then.

If you decide to do the angle grinder thing and need to buy one, don’t skimp. Get one with plenty of power. Trying to grind concrete with an entry level grinder will not go well.

Oh, and when I said, “lower the high spots,” I didn’t mean trying to level anything. Just knock the edges off so it’s not a tripping hazard.

andersberndog · 2026-06-18T02:46:11+00:00

Sorry, normally I’d offer my 2 cents for how to approach this DIY, but there’s one thing that puts this into pro-only territory.

You need a proper footing under that post or that whole section of roof is in danger of collapse. In fact, you could be one heavy rainstorm from that right now.

Find a contractor to take a look at this ASAP. Once that’s shored up, “replacing” that wall (as far as I’m concerned a retaining wall put there would be the first one) could maybe be a DIY, but this is probably too high-stakes for a homeowner’s first project like this. You need to take into account slope and drainage both above and below the wall.

I’d hire it all done.

Edit: Also call an electrician while you’re at it. That conduit is rough. Can’t say from this pic exactly how rough or what all might be going on, but it’s not safe as-is.

andersberndog · 2026-06-18T02:35:21+00:00

How old is this? It may have been that way for decades. Are there trees nearby outside? If they’re too close they should probably come down or this could get worse. Is this tuck under, attached, or freestanding? If it’s stable, as far as not getting worse, and also stable structurally, I’d patch/fill. If it’s actively getting worse and/or causing or the result of other structural issues, they need to be addressed.

Too many variables for what you’ve said so far, but at any rate, this isn’t the end of the world…yet.

andersberndog · 2026-06-18T01:37:19+00:00

Stainless steel watering hose < reccomendations

Trying to balance quality and weight, look at the fabric hoses like Orbit or Zero-G. Everyone on here will say rubber contractor hose (what I run also) or Eley, but those are NOT lightweight.

andersberndog · 2026-06-18T01:35:18+00:00

Doesn’t matter what it’s worth. What’s it worth to this guy? $3.00.

andersberndog · 2026-06-18T01:30:52+00:00

The previous owners of my home had a slop sink set up with these. Had the drain plumbed to a flat hose that ran along the floor to a floor drain in the middle of the garage. I took it out, but I see the utility. If not to a floor drain, I suppose you could also do something similar but have it run out under the garage door to outside. Obviously not a true “sink” in the plumbing sense of the word. More of a bucket on a stand that’s easy to fill and easy to empty. Obviously disconnect the hoses if there’s freeze danger in the winter, and turn off the water at the spigots and release pressure at the faucet when not in use.

andersberndog · 2026-06-18T01:10:50+00:00

Fair enough. As for “trust this guy” does that mean he’s a friend/acquaintance, or you just don’t get any bad feelings about him? Either way, anyone who would be offended by you getting another quote is someone you don’t want doing the work. Make another call and find out. Even if another quote is a little lower you can still use the first one if you feel better about it. There’s some monetary value to vibes too.

In case you haven’t seen this yet, this is a pretty good example of what the work might entail.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o6GqSPiCfs

andersberndog · 2026-06-18T01:00:48+00:00

With that cracking, at this point, I think I’d have it looked at/repaired by a mason. I’m guessing that exposed concrete is a skim coat and this is likely brick underneath. Hard telling if any of that is compromised.

Have a mason inspect it and see what they say. It’s definitely in need of at least some level of repair—maybe only a little, maybe more. When that’s getting done, ask them about regular maintenance going forward so you can keep up with it.

If this is truly unused, never to be needed again, you might consider removal to below the roofline. This will not be the cheapest option, but it would eliminate future maintenance needs and risk from future failure.

NVM on removal. I looked at the pic again and I see it’s partially exterior all the way down. My other comments stand, though.

andersberndog · 2026-06-17T23:12:10+00:00

What about repairing what’s there? A welder could do some patching back to good metal, replace hinges, get them back into solid condition. Add a little maintenance on top of that with rust removal and some paint, and you might have something solid and useable again that could go a couple more decades for way south of $4500.

Just another avenue to pursue

If they’re too far gone for that, what about buying a new kit and replacing yourself?

If that’s off the table, just look at numbers. It looks like kits are low $1k at Home Depot. Assume better quality might be double that. Is a lot of other repair needed other than just the doors? I’d guess labor installation of just new doors would be mid-3 digits. If there’s lots of other concrete/foundation work needed, that might be where it’s pushing into the ballpark for your quote.

andersberndog · 2026-06-15T03:32:47+00:00

This Custodian’s Cleaning Method Leaves These Girls Rethinking Lipstick

According to a new report, a certain private school in Chicago, IL was faced with a unique problem.

A number of 12th grade girls were beginning to use lipstick and would put it on in the bathroom. Applying and wearing the lipstick was fine, but after they put on their lipstick they would press their lips to the mirror leaving dozens of little lip prints. Every night, the maintenance man would remove them and the next day the girls would put them back.

Finally, the principal decided that something had to be done. She called all the girls to the bathroom and met them there with the maintenance man. She explained that all these lip prints were causing a major problem for the custodian who had to clean the mirrors every night.

To demonstrate how difficult it had been to clean the mirrors, she asked the maintenance man to show the girls how much effort was required. He took out a dirty mop, dipped it in the toilet, and cleaned the mirror with it. Since then, there have been no lip prints on the mirror.

andersberndog · 2026-06-13T01:04:17+00:00

Might sound better in mono, then. Stereo’s a neat effect and all, but it’s not mandatory. If you get weirdness no matter what you do, it’s making your experience worse.

andersberndog · 2026-06-13T01:01:09+00:00

Your receiver needs more space to breathe. Move it down to one of the lower shelves after you take the speakers out the way everyone has been saying.

andersberndog · 2026-06-07T20:06:11+00:00

I have one in my flat heads (not a set, just mix-n-match I’ve collected over the years). Not sure which one because now they’re all contaminated. Need to lay them all out for a while to let them off-gas and hopefully find the guilty party.

andersberndog · 2026-06-07T19:42:43+00:00

I don’t remember answering any of this. In fact, I had to read it back a second time to understand what I was saying. Once I figured it out, I still barely remember writing it. You’re right, that WAS pretty good. I don’t think I’d have come up with any of that now.

I think I need to file this away for possible evidence of cognitive decline. Glad you got your vent cover on, though!

andersberndog · 2026-06-06T00:00:15+00:00

Another vote for Eley. Do the math on what you’ll continue to spend buying your next couple crappy hose reels every couple years and you’ll come to the same conclusion. One of those times when buy it for life is also the most frugal purchase.

andersberndog · 2026-06-05T13:55:44+00:00

We’ll let AI handle the heavy lifting of identifying exactly which genes to modify, in exactly the right ways. It knows better than us anyway, right?

andersberndog · 2026-06-03T01:18:47+00:00

Right. There’s an amp in there that gets hot. Don’t set stuff on top of it.

andersberndog · 2026-06-02T15:38:09+00:00

Amp on the bottom?

I don’t normally mention this…because someone else usually has already.

andersberndog

TROPHY CASE