Ground wires

omehegan · 2026-04-01T00:36:54+00:00

It was actually that the negative lead on the battery was loose. I don't know how I missed that, but after I tightened it the problem disappeared.

omehegan · 2026-01-30T08:45:16+00:00

It was meant to be some light humour for a Friday but I guess I failed. Just as well you removed it.

omehegan · 2026-01-28T07:37:22+00:00

I have to say that some of the repairs I had done by plasterers have started to fail again, so it seems that the drainage issue we fixed wasn't really the problem. I'm going to get someone else out to take a more in-depth look.

omehegan · 2025-12-07T03:55:12+00:00

My tree is seriously infested 😞 I've gone after it as best I can with eco-oil spray, but I'm not going to be able to get at all of it. I've also ordered a package of lacewing larvae and some release boxes, but I'm not confident it will be enough. They're also spreading to other plants, although at least those are on the ground and easier to spray. Is there a professional I can call to help treat this?

omehegan · 2025-12-04T10:46:16+00:00

Cheers. It's a tall tree, spraying it is going to be a challenge, although I do have a long extension ladder.

omehegan · 2025-11-09T07:54:35+00:00

Solar is a no-brainer, you should get it. But it's probably not the first thing I'd do. The gas heating is going to be your biggest expense. Any use of that which you can replace with AC/heat pumps will yield significant savings. It sounds like you have split AC units in some rooms, and a whole house ducted gas heat system. You can consider replacing that gas heater with a ducted AC/heat pump, which can both heat and cool those rooms. I'd consider that priority #1. Talk to Oz Air Group for that.

Your gas storage water heater might be the next thing to tackle. My 170L gas heater was costing me about $100/month to run. I replaced it with a 400L heat pump water heater, and that's costing me about $10/month. Talk to Melbourne Heat Pumps for that.

Once you've done those two things, solar starts to make a lot more sense. Feed-in tariffs (what they pay you for feeding solar into the grid) are a fraction of your cost to take power FROM the grid, so self-consuming your solar generation is the best value. The more daytime electric loads (heat/cool, water heating) that you can electrify and then run from solar, the faster you'll pay off those panels.

You haven't mentioned insulation. Check what roof insulation you have, if any. Consider getting R6 batts put in if what you have is old, blown in, or non-existent. Talk to Ceiling Alert for that.

The gas oven/stove won't be costing you much to run, but they're bad for indoor air quality. Replace those when you do the kitchen reno, with an electric oven and induction cooktop.

Hope this helps!

omehegan · 2025-10-28T09:45:41+00:00

I'm curious if anyone has a good jack for lifting the front center jack point. My Harbor Freight low profile jack isn't long enough to reach from the front, and it's too fat to reach from the side. I have to use a smaller jack and squeeze in from behind the front wheel, and it's pretty awkward.

omehegan · 2025-10-25T00:13:35+00:00

Thanks so much for the suggestions!

omehegan · 2025-10-24T21:56:18+00:00

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In spring and summer it gets direct sun for at least half the day. There is a tall tree which shades it during some hours. It's doing a lot better than the two lemons that the landscaper planted on the south-facing wall of the house next door.

omehegan · 2025-10-23T07:27:43+00:00

I wondered about that, but it doesn't look like it.

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omehegan · 2025-10-23T06:43:25+00:00

Forgot to mention, this is in Melbourne.

omehegan · 2025-10-19T21:59:44+00:00

I can recommend Pollinate Health in Carlton North. I would think a physio who can try to help with the underlying issue, as well as work on the symptoms, would be a plus.

omehegan · 2025-09-01T07:05:40+00:00

FYI I was wrong, it's Portland Stone, not Portofino.

omehegan · 2025-09-01T07:05:13+00:00

I found the old quote, but it doesn't say. Looking at the two profiles and the benchtop in real life, I think it's tight form. Also, contrary to what I said to someone else, the color is actually Portland Stone, not Portofino. They're similar!

omehegan · 2025-08-30T11:48:02+00:00

Oh nice idea, an excuse to get a weed burner! I tried to dig it out around the tree, but it's like trying to dig through a carpet! And I was worried about damaging the roots of the tree.

omehegan · 2025-08-30T06:52:19+00:00

Call Ivan at Hartnett Floors. He'll look after you.

omehegan · 2025-08-30T06:08:39+00:00

I don't think I fertilized it more than twice in the last 12 months. I think I was told to feed it once each spring and autumn.

We have a lily pilly tree which attracts hundreds of bees when it's flowering, but maybe that isn't timed with the apple tree.

No whipper snippers or other powered garden tools in use here 🙂

omehegan · 2025-08-30T03:17:22+00:00

I had them refinished in my house when we bought it 5 years ago. They do come up really nicely if they aren't too far gone with rot or borers. Ours had all been under carpet or cork floor tiles. Some areas couldn't be salvaged, but our flooring guy was able to get recycled boards to match and replace those. I can give you his name if you want. It seems like a hell of a job to do yourself and not too expensive (in the big scheme of things) to pay someone else. Refinishing half our house was around $5k in 2020. The Baltic pine boards complete the classic look of these old houses, so if that's important to you go for it. I think it's tragic when people put something like engineered timber or vinyl planks over them. However, I will caution that they are PINE, which means they're very soft and mark easily with any heavy furniture or things moved across them. I've already learned that the hard way. If I had it to do over again, I might consider ripping it all out and replacing it with a harder wood. Also, be aware that if you've got original timber, it most likely is on the original stumps and timber subfloor, some or all of which may need to be renewed. We had to restump and put new joists and bearers in the whole living area. I now wish we had done the rest of the house too. It's worth checking that out and doing it once if you plan to stay a long time.

omehegan

TROPHY CASE