Yeah We Do That

How to fix a wobbling ceiling fan.

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 21:03:01 EST

Welcome to Yeah, We Do That’s Tip of the week. This week I am going to talk about how to repair a wobbling ceiling fan. I have had several calls for this service and also have seen it in homes that I am working in. If left uncorrected it can damage and/or shorten the life of the fan.

Clean The Fan:

The first thing you should try is to clean the fan and blades. I like to use one of those Swiffer Dusters. Believe it or not just an excess of dirt on the blades can make the fan wobble.

Inspect The Fan:

The next step in the process is to take a close look at the fan. Inspect the blades to make sure that they are not damaged or warped. If you find a blade(s) that show signs of damage then you should replace all the blades. Replacing only one blade can make the wobble worse if the replacement blades are not the exact weight as the other blades; it is easier to replace them all. You can find replacement blades at most of your big box improvement stores. If the blades check out okay then check to make sure all the screws are tight on the blades and where the arms mount to the motor. Also try the fan on different speeds as some fans only wobble on one setting.

Balancing The Fan:

Okay so you have cleaned the fan and checked it for loose screws and damaged blades and it still wobbles; now we are going to balance the blades. You can get a ceiling fan balancing kit at most hardware stores; it should have a “C” clip and a weight. The “C” clip is the temporary weight you will use to find the wobble. Start by attaching the clip to the end of one of the blades, then turn the fan on and see if the problem has been corrected. If not remove the clip and attach it to the middle of the same blade and turn the fan on again. If it still wobbles attach the clip to the same blade up close to the motor and turn the fan on again. If the fan still wobbles then start the process over on the next blade and repeat until the fan no longer wobbles. Once you have found where the weight needs to be, remove the clip and attach the permanent weight following the manufacturer’s instructions. Your fan should now run smoothly. This can be a tedious process and take up to an hour but it is certainly better than replacing a perfectly good fan.

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--Greg

tags: How to fix a wobbling ceiling fan.

Does Your Bathroom Have An Exhaust Fan?

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 17:19:50 EST

Welcome to Yeah, We Do That’s tip#27. This week I am going to talk about an easy way to help reduce the humidity and mold in your bathroom.

As I am sure you know while taking a shower you greatly increase the humidity in the bathroom which can be spread throughout the entire house encouraging mold growth. All mold needs to grow is 60% or greater humidity and a surface to grow on. Keeping the humidity level down is essential, especially in the summer months when the humidity levels are already high. The best way of removing excess humidity is through proper ventilation and use of your bathroom exhaust fan. If you have an older home that does that does not have a fan you may want to consider having one installed. You may also consider upgrading your existing fan as well. There are many options on some of the new fans including lighting that can be controlled separately from the fan and heating units to give you some extra warmth when you step out of the shower on a cold day.

The biggest complaint I hear about the fans from customers is I know I should use it but when I turn it on to get the humidity out of the room I forget to come back and turn it off and leave it running all day. A great solution for this is a bath fan timer switch, Lutron makes a nice one that you can set it to run for 5 minute increments up to 30 as well as just having it on until you turn it off. After you take your shower just turn it on and set it to 30 minute close the door and forget about it. Again, keeping the humidity down you will see fewer molds, peeling paint and all the other issues associated with high humidity in your bathroom.

--Greg

tags: Bathfan, Exhaust Fan, Humid bathroom, Mold in Bathroom, Peeling paint

Is Your Concrete Pitted And Chipped?

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 14:17:11 EST

Welcome to Yeah, We Do That’s tip#26. Even though we have had a mild winter this year you may have noticed some damage to your concrete or had some existing damage that has become worse. This week I want to talk about a product I have recently found that works great on your concrete repairs.

The product is made by Quikrete and is called Zip & Mix and is great for repairs. It is in a zip bag and you just add water and kneed the bag until mixed which is around 3 minutes. This is a polymer-modified concrete which means it has an additive in it that makes it stick to the concrete being repaired as well as allowing you to apply it to vertical surfaces and even can be applied to overhead surfaces with care. It is a high strength fast setting concrete and can be applied up to two inches thick which is far better than the quarter in of most vinyl concrete patch products.

Before mixing and applying the patch you need to make sure the area is as clean as possible and free from any loose pieces of concrete. It will not do you any good to apply a patch repair to concrete that is loose and ready to come up. You can also apply a latex additive to the surface of the area to be repaired and let it dry before mixing and applying the patch, this will increase the bond between the two. The additive should be sold in the same area as the Zip & Mix. If you would like to read more about this product here is the link to the manufacturer’s webpage. Now just follow the directions on the package to complete the repair.

--Greg

tags: Repair pitted chipped and damaged concrete up to 2 in. thick..

What Improvements Get The Most Money Back When I Go To Sell My House?

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:38:56 EST

Welcome to Yeah, We Do That’s tip #25. This week I am going to talk about a question that I talk about all the time with my customers when considering a remodel. We will discuss what the return on your investment will be if you decide to sell your house.

Below is a list I was able to find that shows many different types of home improvements and what the expected return on resale is. Remember this list is an average; you should work with your contractor and real estate agent to guide you on getting the most out of your remodeling dollar if your goal is to maximize resale return .

Interior Paint 70% to 300%

Exterior Paint 70% to 300%

New Flooring 50% to 300%

Kitchen Remodel 75%

Bathroom Remodel 75%

Bathroom Addition 75% TO 100%

Addition to Home 40% to 60%

Finished Basement 55%

Landscaping 50%

Inground Sprinklers 50%

Patio or Deck 50%

New Windows 30%

New Siding 65%

New Heating 45%

Central Air 50%

Built-in Dishwasher 75%

Fireplace 65%

Central Vac System 60%

Water Softener 35%

Swimming Pool (25) to 50%

Garage 75% to 100%

--Greg

tags: Remodeling Return On Investment

How To Dispose Of Oily Rags.

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 15:14:04 EST

Welcome to Yeah, We Do That’s tip #24. I saw a story on the local news two nights ago that broke my heart, a family lost everything in a house fire when a rag soaked with linseed oil spontaneously combusted and set fire to the home. Fortunately they were able to get out and save all pets but the house is a total loss. This week I want to talk about the proper storage and/or disposal of oil soaked rags.

We use linseed oil along with other solvents and finishes mainly in wood working projects to bring out the beauty of wood. The finished product is beautiful and will last for years but we must use care in the disposal of the rags and disposable brushes we use during the project. You would think once a wiping rag has become dirty or soaked you would just throw it in the trash like any other disposable item but this is very dangerous and has led to many fires, loss of property and life.

What is spontaneous combustion? It is defined as a type of combustion without any external ignition source. So how does this happen? As the oils in the rags oxide it can generate heat, when the rags are crumpled up it can act as an insulator and can let enough heat buildup to ignite. Once ignited an oil soaked rag becomes a large wick and will burn for quite a while allowing any surrounding materials to ignite as well. In the photo attached to the article a wadded up linseed oil soaked rag was placed in a paint can, it was below 100⁰F when placed in the can. Within seven minutes the internal temp rose to 350⁰F and five minutes after that it hit 500⁰F and ignited. Here is a video I found on YouTube of a company where someone had set some oily rags on a plastic container and walked away, they came back a short time later and the rags were smoking and about to ignite and had already started to melt the container,.

So now we know how dangerous these rags can be, but how do we dispose of them? When I am on a job and must use these product I carry new unused paint cans with lids that can be purchased it any local big box home improvement store. While working on the project as I finish with a rag I take them and place them in the can and seal the lid. Once I am done for the day if there is a place where I can safely set the can away from the home and anything that will burn like dried grass or leaves I will place the can in that area on a flat rock and burn the rags in the can. If I cannot do that on site I will add water to the can until the top of the rags are covered and put the lid on it, mark the can with what is in it take it home and set it next to the garbage can until trash day. On trash day I empty the water and reseal the can and place it in the garbage. Anytime you are using a product you are not completely familiar with you should read the directions and warnings on the can, an extra 5 minutes can save your home or even your life!

--Greg

tags: Spontanous Combustion Of Oily Rags