I feel the basic toolkit absolutely needs to have slip joint pliers. There's no way the combination of needlenose and vice grips are going to be able to handle a 1 1/2" fitting. Those are the fittings you use for the waste pipe connection to the p-trap under sinks. It'll also allow you to get around the joint for…

Another great question to ask yourself is "Can I go back and do the project all over again if I'm unhappy with the results?" It's one thing to decide that you dislike the new ceiling fan over the bed even after having to run a new circuit for it. It's another thing entirely to find out the new window you installed…

Your radiators should have either steam or water in them. A combination of both is a symptom of trouble. A quick google search will show you the difference between hot water radiators and steam radiators. Clanking radiators tend to be a sign that there's air in the system and they need to be bled. If you've never bled…

And please observe a safe, proper distance from the flash pots.

As I former Tyson's employee (The Game Keeper), and someone who was born and raised in Fairfax, Tyson's has taken major hits over the last decade. Granted, Tyson's management has known how to roll with the punches to stay alive.

Professor Ex animus?

Are you from Saint Pierre And Miquelon? I can understand not trying to make a cake like that flag.

When you set up a heat pump, you have to take into account the balance point of the system. This is the point where the heat pump is unable to remove enough heat from the outdoor air to supply heat to the house. This temperature varies by region and is directly related to the outdoor temperature. The fact that a shady…

And see, that's indicative of my main problem with it. It's grabbing the local weather report, rather than my actual weather. That's why I prefer Honeywell's Redlink stuff or Ecobee's Smart thermostat. Both can have outdoor sensors hooked up to them which give more localized data to control the system. I can also hook…

I'm an HVAC tech, I've helped people install them, I've helped people take them out and replace them. It's not a bad thermostat; it's just offloading the thinking to the device rather than the customer.

It learns based on the first week of programming. Then it sets your schedule based on it's own energy saving algorithms. In an area like mine (DC), the weather can swing wildly during a week and give the Nest some screwy baselines.

My biggest problem with the Nest is the fundamental idea that you are letting something else dictate your home comfort. I don't want to have to keep correcting my thermostat. I want it to be the temperature *I* want, not what it thinks I want.

Most jurisdictions will place the legal burden of the building permit on the homeowner if a permit was never pulled. Homeowners are responsible for the work done at their home; either by doing the work themselves and pulling a homeowner's permit or by hiring a licensed contractor.

When we received a F review, we responded on Angie's List with a list of reasons the complaint wasn't just negative, but false. Our response included quotes from both the manufacturer and Building Code. We were told the only way we could get the review removed was to give Angie's List a copy of our customer list so…

Back in the `80's, a fair number of air conditioners did not have any protective switches in them. When they were in black/brownout conditions, the compressor would start immediately. This put a heck of a strain on the grid as well as sometimes causing the compressor to turn on and off rapidly while the power was…

If you're running a home off a generator by tapping into the main panel, you need a true transfer switch installed. The transfer switch isolates the house from the electrical grid during a power outage. This is not only to help manage the house, but so that you don't backfeed to the grid. If you're not isolated, you…

For my house, it was simple. Replace all the windows, invest in heavy drapes and window coverings, Paint the house a lighter shade, take care of the five story tree keeping the house in shade and stop using the oversized attic fan. The structure of the mid-80's house is adequate, not great, but adequate. This does…

Don't get me started on rental units. I hear a ton of "What do you mean there's a filter?"

AC units freeze up for one of two main reasons: lack of airflow starving the indoor coil for heat or lack of refrigerant due to a breech in the sealed refrigerant system. Run time will not contribute to the evaporator freezing up.