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GFCI Outlet Torture
There’s this exercise machine commercial which has actors ask “Do you want some more?” This is the usual exhortation letting you know more pain and torture is needed if you really want to get in shape. Well, replacing Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets is one way you can get more torture—but only if you…
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Should We Smudge the Attic?
We never did figure out what was making the knocking noise in our attic. I guess we’ll have to find out what to do about it. We did get the ladder and check out the attic, though. As a general rule, animals don’t knock. They usually lack good manners, especially the Chupacabra and its cousins.…
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Final Chapter on the Pella Bottom Door Seal Saga
Today, we finally got the right bottom of the door weather seal—only not from Pella. We gave up on them after they crapped out after the third try to ship us the right seal. The third one was an even worse failure than the second. It was 51 inches long and the barbs were not…
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We Are in Hot Water!
We have a new water heater today! What a relief. We spent a whole week on pins and needles waiting for the hot water to stop flowing again (maybe abruptly), and put us back on the cold shower regimen. But the plumber was in and out in 2 hours flat. He was personable, knowledgeable, efficient,…
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New Manual Dual Wheel Edger!
We were out doing yard work today. I usually do the edging with an old-fashioned manual edger to trim grass off the sidewalk to get a cleaner look. I think that’s difficult to achieve with a gas or electric powered trimmer. Sena did some extra mowing with the reel mower, which is also not a…
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Hot Water Heater Out, Cold Showers In
Our hot water heater went kaput yesterday and I’ve now endured the only 2 cold showers I’ve ever taken in my life that I can recall. Sena will be doing sponge baths, even though I’ve told her cold showers are great, easy, and healthy. Her hesitation might have something to do with my screams while…
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Planet Pella
I thought I would bring readers up to date on what’s happening with our panel bottom of the door weatherstrip seal replacement. Notice how I’m picking up the vocabulary of Pella door and window replacement parts? I’ve concluded that the Pella corporation I’ve been dealing with over the telephone must be another planet. It’s probably…
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Weather Sealing Your Door Jambs
The other day I mentioned that I put off replacing the weather sealing around our sun room door because of the heat. Yesterday, I did it in the morning before it got to 100 degrees, because there was another Excessive Heat Warning. I saw a YouTube video of how to do this, and a guy…
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Replacing a Two-Hole Faucet
I’m the least handy person on the planet. If I can replace a two-hole faucet, then even Bigfoot can do it. Replacing the two-hole faucet is probably one of the easiest DIY jobs you can do. That doesn’t mean I didn’t have a problem or two with it. When you get to the step in…
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So Much Depends Upon the Serial Number
You’ll probably think I’m nuts and you’d be right, but a problem with ordering a replacement part for something from Pella Windows and Doors Company made me think of William Carlos Williams’ poem “The Red Wheelbarrow.” The poem is in the public domain because it was published before 1927, so I guess that means I…
Go Retire Psychiatrist 