What home improvement work did you do today?

Been awhile since I posted any progress on the new shop. If I get everything sorted and moved in by summer, I'll be amazed. 50yrs of accumulation. The project starts on page 441.

 

wow.... I just replaced my whole unit last year and am hoping to go tankless in a few years... but that is absolutely crazy and a great reminder!

Beautiful!

 

How old was that?

 

8 years, and we don't have that hard of water here.

I've looked for it before but I didn't think it had one.
Had to dig out 2" of foam to find the plug.. now i know!

 

In my experience, digging the foam out is the second worst part. Followed by breaking that sum bitch free from the water heater. The new model I have, I asked about that and swapping out the bottom drain to a more open one and they informed me that it immediately voids the warranty. So I will wait a couple more years before checking on it

 

No joke man, I tried a breaker bar but it took my 1/2" impact to bust it loose.

Mine has a brass drain valve, I guess a lot of the new ones are plastic.
Figures..

 

You think I should replace the anode rod on my 52-year-old water heater?

It's been working fine for that amount of time....and given that, and given our water is perfect (0ppm for anything except some minor sediment), I'm wondering if replacing it is worth it.

 

PSA: Get a tankless heater.

 

Considering the age, i wouldn't even talk about it, touch it, hell....i wouldn't even fart in the same room as it. leave her be and let her finish off her days serving you peace

 

What he said.

 

Nah.
Ain't got no gas up in here

 

They make electric versions for the hippy crowd.

 

i've heard installers say they hate them. less efficient, usually have problems. typically under warranty, but you're still without hot water for "x" time

 

Almost like natural gas is the superior energy source. I'm shocked, shocked I tell you.

 

Yeah, I've heard nothing good on the electric units.

 

The electrician finally came back out and fed my wife a line about water possibly getting in the box and causing and issue, but I think they left something loose and he's just covering his ass. So far, it's been since Monday and the GFCI cord hasn't tripped. Knock on wood. Other than than took down the Christmas lights.

 

LOL that's pretty much been my conclusion. I mean hell - a *FIFTY* year old water heater? Let the thing run. lol

 

Thanks for all the suggestions on this.

Turns out there was a little junk in the impeller i didn't see before. Also, the housing where the impeller spins was not smooth. I don't know if it was from the casting or cavitation.
Either way, I took 2000 grit sandpaper to the housing.

Reassembled everything, turned the water on, purged air and she's back! Almost instant hot water at every fixture

 

That’s a win!

 

Couple days ago 0F outside, heat pump dies again. Thermostat stuck at "waiting for equipment" and house getting cold. Amateur hour youtube troubleshot up and down again - eventually learning that anytime there is a call for any heat/air/defrost anything from outdoor unit, it blows the 3 amp fuse. Also "waiting for equipment" on honeywell means the power has just gone out and it's protection the compressor from turning on again too soon. AHA! Gotta be a 24v wiring issue. Found the yellow fan wire from air handler to outdoor unit is shorted to ground somewhere. Swapped to a different unused wire in the bundle and it fired up again like nothing ever happened. I think I can close this one now. knock on wood.

 

For now!

Saving all your info for future use.

 

Welp. So much for tankless. Can't really wing $3,000 extra on install. Quotes came in high, both said they couldn't re-use the vent stack in place, new PVC had to go in, and $3k-4k. So $850 on a new tanked unit and hopefully get it swapped this weekend. Fucker is heavy and awkward enough I'll need to find some hands to help

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Hello Everyone! I am in search of a bell and can't find one, this forum constantly surprises me with the brain power so I thought this was the thread to ask.

We are currently building a small chapel to add to our buisness, and we want a bell in the cupola. With all the energy code and whatnot (yay mass!), we aren't going to bother with a pull string, and access doors, it will be for looks, not function. So with that, we don't need a very expensive 1850's saved bell, we could make due with a plastic/new metal/ 3d printed etc... bell that was much lighter and cheaper.
Does anyone know where to source one of these? Or able to print one and wants an order? Size wise we are thinking around 24" circumference.

Thanks in advance!

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/286026360198

There are some smaller ones, but that may be a good bet. Try searching for: Antique school church bell large

Seemed to net a gaggle of results for me. Some are smaller 19" units like this one: https://www.ebay.com/itm/286185932338

But there's a lot to be seen.

 

I had found some real ones, my wife has been searching for the artificial, her google-fu isn't the best. Thanks for the tips I'll pass those along and see if she doesn't get more hits.

edit: looked at the ebay link. We are trying to find a lighter weight one one, but besides that, that's exactly the style.

 

I'd skip general Googling, and go straight to the popular online classifieds:

• eBay (for national, but potentially local)
• Facebook Marketplace (for local)
• Craigslist (for local)

Sometimes adjusting the search radius (in any of those platforms there are filters to do that), if you're willing to drive, will net some good results. A lot of what you're going to find will be "pickers" (salvagers) so the price may have a premium.

I'd personally go with the real deal vs. a 3D printed replica, only because it's a talking point, and generally really awesome to highlight a piece of history like that. And it wouldn't be hard to do a simple 12v or similar low-volt motor, which you could operate off a general doorbell power supply and button, to throw the strike back/forth. Hell you may even be able to simply repurpose an actual doorbell to gut the parts you need and make it happen.

Just throwing out some ideas of how I'd tackle it.

 

New addition to the home theater came today
1600 Watts of lovin.
I unearthed it from the crate and brought it in,I will hook it up in a bit.

 

Thanks.

I have seen some automated options for the bell, I am unsure how I feel about that, but it is something to think about certiantly. I agree that something metal would be better as well, look more authentic and if we found one with some interesting history, maybe add a little plaque about it.

I appreciate your tips and suggestions, I'll get searching my local spots!