Home Improvement

lsiunsuex

13:57

news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5373500

Tester101

Not sure what to do with this...

-1

A: Is it possible to use a dryer vent as a heat source in the winter?

It seems that many of the people here are simply answering based on their personal experience for their particular scenario. Fact is, in the winter most homes NEED more humidity hence the reason people by humidifiers that they run in the winter time. So to say that it’s not a good idea because of...

Seems like a lot of writing for spam.

lsiunsuex

Bubba’s Shrimp
216 Elm Street
Washington, MO
636-388-2808
(Fax)

call them and ask for billy

maps.google.com/…

interestingly enough, no street view available

probably a drug / maffia front

Aaron

nooooo google reader being shuttered

►

Tester101

14:34

Do we handle legal questions?

2

Q: What should I do if I'm unsatisfied with my recent roof replacement?

I had my roof replaced this past summer . The old roof was torn off and new insulation and a whole new roof. It is a flat roof, new plywood and two layer torch on, on a 12x60 mobile home . The roof has leaked in 4 different places over the past 8 months. The roofer has been cooperative and I wi...

roofing

Tester101

15:02

@HerrBag Good call on the lateral load connector device. Bonus points if you can quote the code that requires them.

HerrBag

@Tester101 IRC 502.2.2.3 or so

Tester101

IRC 2009 502.2.2 Decks. Where supported by attachment to an exterior wall, decks shall be positively anchored to the primary structure and designed for both vertical and lateral loads as applicable. Such attachment shall not be accomplished by the use of toenails or nails subject to withdrawal.

Where positive connection to the primary building structure cannot be verified during inspection, decks shall be self-supporting. For decks with cantilevered framing members, connections to exterior walls or other framing members, shall be designed and constructed to resist uplift resulting from the full live load specified in Table R301.5 acting on the cantilevered portion of the deck.

IRC 2009 502.2.2.3 Deck lateral load connection. The lateral load connection required by Section R502.2.2 shall be permitted to be in accordance with Figure R502.2.2.3. Hold-down tension devices shall be installed in not less than two locations per deck, and each device shall have an allowable stress design capacity of not less than 1500 pounds (6672 N).

HerrBag

Oddly still stated as prescriptive, Still no specs on WHAT lateral loads ARE, technically must be written by engineer

Chris Cudmore

15:56

The problem is that Lateral Loads are almost always accidental. You can't design for them.

The best we could do would be to determine typical lateral loading scenarios, and come up with a 2-sigma probability limit. I'm willing to bet that's where the 2 x 1500 lb solution came from.

Note that it doesn't even specify the size of the deck. Big or Small, same anchoring requirement.

Aaron

17:02

dang, 3 rep short of 2500

Niall C.

Has anyone else been watching this question:

1

Q: What can I do to make my 3 lightbulb ceiling fan greener, yet maintain brightness?

My ceiling fan takes 3 candelabra (E12) base bulbs; the bulb slots say 75W - 125V. The fan light is dimmable. I traditionally use 3 60w incandescent flame tips here, but I want to move to LEDs because GREEN. I have only been able to locate LED bulbs with candelabra bases that are 25w equivalen...

lighting ceiling-fan led bulb

And the original question on Sustainable Living, specifically the comment thread:

1

Q: Are there any bright candelabra base LED bulbs equivalent to a 60-75 Watt incandescent?

My fan takes 3 candelabra (E12) base bulbs; I traditionally use incandescent flame tips, but since they're behind frosted glass, I don't really care. Having just replaced my dimm-able recessed light with Utilitech dimm-able LEDs, and being quite pleased with the results, I want to do the same ...

light

Specifically this comment:

Yeah, that's not really the purpose of the "no shopping recommendations" guidance. sigh — blog.stackoverflow.com/2010/11/qa-is-hard-lets-go-shopping — Robert Cartaino 36 mins ago

Tester101

It's not a great question in my opinion. And any way you word it, the poster wants to buy a light bulb but can't find one.

Do we have a question that already deals with watts and lumens?

Niall C.

@Tester101 I think lqlarry had one

Nope. Henry Jackson. diy.stackexchange.com/a/21804/22

Tester101

17:19

The answer: No they don't exist. You can try to find an adapter, you can stick with incandescent bulbs, or you can buy a new light fixture.

Niall C.

I was more concerned with the "They're doing it wrong" comment from Robert Cartaino.

Tester101

@NiallC. That's his opinion. Not all StackExchange sites are StackOverflow. We have the freedom to bend the rules to our liking. If Robert can't understand that, he's doing it wrong.

Chris Cudmore

@Tester101 Then post that as an answer.

I'm not looking at it as a shopping request. I'm looking at it as a "Does a solution to my problem even exist? A 75W equivalent bulb would be one solution. Any others?"

Aaron

yeah, "does this product exist" is really a fundamentally different question than a shopping question

Tester101

"does this product exist?" is a sneaky way to ask a shopping question. The answer will typically be "Yes. Follow this link to the product so you can purchase it".

2

Chris Cudmore

17:35

I disagree. I think the question should be rolled back to it's original form an reopened. (Or closed as exact dup if it applies.)

Tester101

@ChrisCudmore Do you have a link to an 850lm LED bulb with a candelabra base?

Chris Cudmore

No, but that's not the point.

Tester101

Do you really feel this question is useful to millions of future visitors?

Chris Cudmore

If the answer is: These do not exist, Here are your options, then yes. Although I'll use a very loose definition of "Millions"

Tester101

What happens in the future, when these bulbs do exist?

Chris Cudmore

17:39

I don't know. What happens when the next version of the NEC comes out?

Tester101

I start quoting from that instead

Chris Cudmore

The point is that every answer has a lifetime.

Aaron

What happens when the sun runs out of hydrogen?

Chris Cudmore

@Aaron Well, Travel.SE is certainly fk'd.

Aaron

I forgot to wear my pi shirt today :(

Chris Cudmore

17:46

I question the future utility of this one:

0

Q: How can I update this very stubborn antique bed frame so the mattress fits properly?

How stubborn you ask? Well the bed frame has three issues, but really only one and the other two are only a result of the first: The rails are too short. Not by much, maybe an inch. Maybe even less. Just enough so that our last two beds never rested naturally in the rails, resulting in my gi...

furniture metal bedroom

wax eagle

@Aaron shame

Chris Cudmore

Tau. Tau. June 28

Aaron

Chris Cudmore

Pi was a mistake that propagated.

wax eagle

@ChrisCudmore lol

Chris Cudmore

17:48

tauday.com/tau-manifesto

Tester101

@ChrisCudmore I agree, that question has a very limited audience. However, the OP is not asking us to search Amazon for them.

Chris Cudmore

He makes a really good argument.

Read the question as written now.

Tester101

The wording is a bit better, but he's stuck on LED. So he's still asking for brighter LED bulbs with candelabra bases.

Chris Cudmore

If the question had been originally posed as it is now, would it have been closed?

Note that it didn't get 5 close votes. You came in with the mod-vote at 3

Don't scare off the noobs.

Tester101

@ChrisCudmore If the mods didn't step in, almost nothing would get closed.

There aren't that many users that cast close votes.

Chris Cudmore

17:54

...granted...

Tester101

@ChrisCudmore I'm not trying to scare off noobs, I'm trying to prevent the site from being overloaded with "Does this product that I can't find on Amazon exist?" questions.

Chris Cudmore

And blow the egregious examples away. I'm saying that the original wording was an edge case, and he's shown good faith in the edits. Help the guy out, don't blow him off.

Tester101

18:15

I think that question needs one more flag.

Chris Cudmore

ON the pending blog post -- Is there a simple way to shift the images right?

Tester101

@ChrisCudmore Like centered? or just slightly to the right?

You mean to line up with the bullet points?

Chris Cudmore

More or less with the list margin. (not the bullets, but the text.)

blockquote seems to work.

No it doesnt'

Works in Visual editor, but preview barfs on it.

BMitch

@Tester101 I think I've already dismissed 3 or 4 of them.

Chris Cudmore

I don't want to get into a bunch of styled dives.

Tester101

18:24

@ChrisCudmore WordPress formatting sucks (in my opinion).

I spend more time trying to line stuff up and getting the preview to look like the "preview", than I do researching and writing posts.

Chris Cudmore

Yeah. I was playing with it. It hardly seems worth the effort.

Tester101

Maybe something better will eventually come along.

Chris Cudmore

I'd rather go straight html and do it myself.

These HAML variants (half-assed markup languages) don't do it for me at all.

Tester101

@BMitch Is there a way to ping all site mods from chat?

Chris Cudmore

Flag someone. The mods will come here.

BMitch

18:32

in the TL you can

"diy mods: bla bla bla" I think, don't spend enough time there to remember the exact syntax

I was right...

13

A: Moderator Cheat Sheet

Migrations and cross-site communication How can I contact the moderators on another site? All moderators have access to the Teachers' Lounge, where you can discuss mod-to-mod issues. This is a private room specifically for this purpose and should be considered confidential (i.e. no migrating ou...

If it's regarding a question/answer, you can also raise your own custom flag and we'll all see it

Tester101

If I do it here, will it ping me too?

wax eagle

@Tester101 doesn't do anything outside of TL

BMitch

it won't work here, only in the Teachers Lounge

Tester101

Boo.

BMitch

You're early, Halloween isn't until October 31st :P

wax eagle

18:36

but SL doesn't have mods yet anyways

Tester101

@ChrisCudmore Was picking on me, and there were no "blue names" to be found.

BMitch

@Tester101 Didn't they tell you that would happen when you signed up? This isn't a cool job, we're the designated scape goats.

Tester101

No. They said it was all blue names and fancy powers.

BMitch

This is where @aarthi should walk in and do a Space Balls impression: "Fooled you!"

Aarthi

GOTCHA BOYS

2

Tester101

18:44

Whoa!

BMitch

@Aarthi @Tester101 needs a hug

Aarthi

aww hugs @Tester101

Tester101

Did you guys rehearse that?

Aarthi

negative!

BMitch

she's just cool like that, always appearing at the right moment

Aarthi

18:46

:D

Tester101

I'm just feeling the love lately. I'm going to start clearing flags and keeping my head down from now on.

Aarthi

<3

BMitch

Lately, you've been picking up my slack, I've been way too preoccupied. Just remember a messy mod hammer is a properly used mod hammer. :)

Tester101

@aaron is physically abusing me.

Mar 11 at 15:07, by Aaron

/me stabs @Tester101 in the face

Mar 11 at 15:15, by Aaron

punches @Tester101 in the face

@ChrisCudmore is beating me up over a closed question.

BMitch

The beatings will continue until morale improves.

4

Tester101

18:49

We need more PENCILS!

Wait... Is today Thursday!?

wax eagle

@Tester101 yes

Niall C.

Daylight saving time

BMitch

Yep, we could always answer Josh's question in PUT where it'd be more on topic

Niall C.

PUT thinks it's UTC

BMitch

doh, that's right, too the scheduler I go, I cut it off at DST

Niall C.

18:52

That's why you're not getting the notification

Stack Exchange

BMitch has added an event to this room's schedule.

BMitch has removed an event from this room's schedule.

BMitch

Sorry about that, I'm always forgetting.

Tester101

More flags \o/

Aarthi

flaaaaaags

BMitch

You can't schedule these things more than a year out, so I couldn't make a bunch of entries, just have to remember.

Aarthi

18:57

a year? 6 mos

Niall C.

Revision 9. When does auto-CW kick in?

wax eagle

@NiallC. 10 I think, but not sure

14

Q: Stop auto-cw for self-edited posts

The Problem Right now, if a post is edited 10 times by its author, it will be automatically converted to CW (Source). I think that this is flawed logic, and should be removed. The Argument I'd argue that having the auto-cw feature is a deterrent to authors maintaining high quality posts. Wit...

discussion community-wiki

yes, it's 10

but I (and others) would argue that good faith edits should be excluded and changed back by modrators.

Aarthi

ok gents. I gotta go take of some stuff in the next couple of hours.

sigh I miss spending time with you guys

BMitch

Welcome to Project Update Thursday

Chris Cudmore

@Tester101 I wasn't beating you up. It never got personal. It was existential discussion over what we should be.

Tester101

19:03

Bye @Aarthi. Come back soon.

wax eagle

@Aarthi new meta request "give aarthi less to do on Thursdays so she can hang out for PUT"

Aarthi

:D

wax eagle

and coming soon CUT!

Aarthi

that would be rad

CUT?

wax eagle

@Aarthi compost update Tuesdays...

Niall C.

19:04

in The Garden Shed, Sep 10 '12 at 18:10, by Aarthi

compost update tuesday

Tester101

@ChrisCudmore I know. I'm just over dramatizing it.

Aarthi

ooo

i was joking but

that would be awesome

EVERYONE CAN COMPARE THEIR TEA

wax eagle

@Aarthi I'm seriously considering posting to meta asking about interest

Aarthi

do it do it

Tester101

@waxeagle How about CUW or CUF. So users can attend both.

wax eagle

19:07

@Tester101 we're talking tuesday not thursday

Aarthi

It'll have to become PUR

and then unilever will sue us

BMitch

You should make it COW, just have to figure out an O.

Chris Cudmore

Damnit. Now I have to beat up @BMitch over that question.

Aarthi

compost opening wednesday

BMitch

@ChrisCudmore pulls out my mod hammer ... go ahead, whacha got punk?

Compost Observing Wednesday, you can all watch the worms poop. :)

Aarthi

19:11

yes

BMitch

Compost Offering Wednesday, you can all bring suggestions to be recycled into the yard

Aarthi

let's do that

hahahaha

ALL THE COFFEE GROUNDS

Chris Cudmore

I'm just so glad we have municipal compost pickup here.

Aarthi

oh wow

Chris Cudmore

Not something I want to get into.

Aarthi

19:12

that's nice

ew no

Chris Cudmore

If I want compost, I can pick it up for free from the city. But I don't have to DIY.

Tester101

@ChrisCudmore Compost pick up? Isn't the point of composting to use the fertile soil it creates on your garden?

Aarthi

omg @KarlKatzke

HE LIVES

Karl Katzke

@Tester101 My main concern is that I'm replacing the drywall in the adjoining bathroom.

@Aarthi Barely!

Aarthi

SO GOOD TO SEE YOU

Chris Cudmore

19:14

No, they pick up my organics.

BMitch

Woah, @Aarthi and @KarlKatzke, together again, it's a miracle!

Karl Katzke

hahahahaha. It's like old home week

Chris Cudmore

I can go down to the city and get the end product for my garden if I want.

But I don't have to feed the racoons in my back yard.

Aarthi

all we need is shirlock

Tester101

@ChrisCudmore Oh. That's cool. You Canadians think of everything.

wax eagle

19:15

@ChrisCudmore yeah I've got an opossum hanging out by mine...

Chris Cudmore

It was really a shortage of landfill space.

wax eagle

should really get a .22

Aarthi

uh

Chris Cudmore

We've got 3 bins. Blue - Recyclables, Green - Organics, Black- Anything.

Karl Katzke

Oh we used to have a squirrel problem. Kept chewing a hole in the roof trim. Then my dogs caught the squirrel. Saved us $500 in trapper/exterminator fees

Tester101

19:16

@KarlKatzke I don't follow.

If you're not touching the electrical, and you're not building the closet, it should not be a problem

Karl Katzke

@Tester101 I'm modifying the space in the adjoining rooms by replacing the drywall and moving light switches and whatnot. I'm concerned that the inspector is going to flag the room as modified and force me to move the panel to the exterior. Is that a justified concern?

Tester101

What do you use the closet for?

Karl Katzke

It's the master suite's closet, unfortunately, and it has a clothes hangar over it. I'd planned to wall off the area around the panel so that clothes aren't hanging there.

Tester101

If you're not modifying the panel in any way, I don't see why the inspector would say anything. But I guess it depends on the inspector.

Are you changing the closet at all?

Karl Katzke

We're moving a light switch and removing the hanagar rod that runs over the panel.

Tester101

19:21

I'd take pictures to prove it's existing, and maybe make a call to the local government to ask them about it.

If you're not doing work in or on the panel, it should not be an issue.

Karl Katzke

Ok. Thanks. I was sort of worried about the project after reading that question and your response with the associated code issues.

Yeah, the only work that's been done to the panel was adding a circuit breaker for a new circuit for living room lights.

Tester101

You usually don't have to bring things up to current code, unless you are making changes to that part of the system.

Otherwise every time you changed a light switch, you'd have to bring the whole building up to code. That would be expensive.

If the closet is existing, and the panel is existing, it must have been inspected and passed at a previous date.

Karl Katzke

Yeah, that's what I'm hoping is going to be the case. The problem is that I mostly do my own electrical, and I'm pretty good at keeping it up to code (i've passed all of my inspections except the time I forgot to use a green ground screw) ... but the inspectors are sometimes leery if it's not one I know.

Tester101

The inspector should be able to look up passed permits, and will be able to see when it was passed, by who, and if there were any notes.

You didn't install the panel without a permit, did you?

Karl Katzke

The panel's original to the house as far as I know.

The date stamps on everything match to it and all of the breakers except the one I installed being original as well.

And yeah, I wouldn't install a panel or subpanel without a permit. And probably would call a pro in to do that.

Current code around here though requires the panel on the outside of the house, which I agree with. Moving it out there would be kind of difficult because of the structure of the house in that area and around the meter.

It'd require either a complete rewire of the house or a very large junction panel up in the attic to lengthen the wires.

Chris Cudmore

19:32

Why would code require it on the outside?

Karl Katzke

They want to be able to shut off the power to the house in case of a fire.

Steven

FYI I noticed that the PUT message on the site isn't appearing lately...

Chris Cudmore

Why not put a shut off at the meter?

Karl Katzke

Because that would make sense.

Aarthi

@Steven it appears in the community bulletin now. all chat event notifications do

Steven

19:34

@Aarthi what's the community bulletin?

Chris Cudmore

forcing the panel outside seems foolish to me. So now you're outside in the middle of winter trying to trip a breaker.

wax eagle

@Steven top of home page, right hand side

Aarthi

@Steven yellow box on the right sidebar, below the logo

Tester101

@KarlKatzke So your neighbors can come by and shut all your lights off, or stick a fork in the panel?

Karl Katzke

@Tester101 That's the way that all of the houses in the area are built right now, yes. The panel is usually located behind a fence, but not always.

Steven

19:35

wax eagle

@Steven ah, it's gone because half hour after start of event

shirlock homes

Good afternoon Boys and girls

wax eagle

21 mins ago, by Aarthi

all we need is shirlock

now it's a party

Karl Katzke

woooooooooo

shirlock homes

LOLOL Where did my girl so?

Aarthi must have known I was coming on, so she split. lol

wax eagle

19:38

@shirlockhomes seems so

shirlock homes

Found one of those nasty FPE panels on a job today. Home owner wasn't impressed

What's the hot topic today?

Chris Cudmore

What's FPE?

shirlock homes

Federal Pacific Electric

BMitch

@shirlockhomes I believe the hot topic is harassing moderators, but I suggest a change of topic.

shirlock homes

I'm good at harrassment. lol

Chris Cudmore

19:42

No. Harassing moderators is fun.

big blue meanies.

Steven

agreed, what is the point of having super computers in our pockets if we can't start flaming wars online

shirlock homes

what did u guys do this time? lol

Chris Cudmore

They closed a question!!!!!!!

2

Q: What can I do to avoid incandescent bulbs for my 3-bulb ceiling fan, yet maintain brightness?

My ceiling fan takes 3 candelabra (E12) base bulbs for lighting. The bulb slots are labeled 75W - 125V. The fan light is dimmable and I currently use 3 60w incandescent flame tips. I plan to switch to LEDs or flourescent bulbs, but so far I have only found candelabra-based LED bulbs at 25w eq...

lighting ceiling-fan led bulb

Steven

sorry that question's abuse might be partly might fault..

BMitch

Those blue bast.... oh, wait.

2

shirlock homes

19:44

I had a tenant put CFLs in a dimmer circuit and blew up the dimmer

BMitch

Cool! Or was it hot?

Karl Katzke

probably hot.

shirlock homes

fried!!

Karl Katzke

Possibly magic smokey

shirlock homes

did it in two rooms.

Tester101

19:46

2

BMitch

@shirlockhomes If at first you don't succeed, try again until the house burns down.

Chris Cudmore

Is this even legal?

shirlock homes

Ya pissed me off, it was in my other house. never called just let it roast to a crispy brown. Then said there was something wrong with the lights

Aarthi

whoa!

all three of us!

WHAT MAGIC IS THIS

shirlock homes

it is inventive!

Tester101

19:49

Yes. The second box is a cord and plug device, is not covered under electrical code.

However...

shirlock homes

extension cord! lol

Tester101

It's not listed... So it would be up to the AHJ

shirlock homes

probably been cheaper to get a longer cord and install it in dryer.

Tester101

If that's an unfinished basement, it should be GFCI protected.

wax eagle

@shirlockhomes yes, those plugs are expensive

shirlock homes

19:51

No GFI on 240vac single use appliances

actually, no Gfi required on any single use motor load appliance

as long as it is not a duplex outlet

same rule as a fridge on a home run in the kitchen

Tester101

@shirlockhomes Correct on 240V not requiring GFCI. As of 2008, that dedicated appliance exception is gone.

shirlock homes

Really!!!! OMG, I'm in trouble

Tester101

All unfinished basement and garage receptacles must be GFCI (2008 and beyond).

shirlock homes

Damn, I got a few I gotta fix!!!!!!

I never put freezers in GFI.

Tester101

If it was a gas dryer and was within 6' of the laundry sink, it would have to be GFCI.

Karl Katzke

19:55

What's the line for finished basement or garage vs. unfinished? drywall?

Tester101

for purposes of this section, unfinished basements are defined as portions or areas of the basement not intended as habitable rooms and limited to storage areas, work areas, and the like

shirlock homes

Tester is the autority on NEC. I go with what he says

Tester101

Garage is a garage, there is no unfinished distinction there.

shirlock homes

If I wasn't retiring, I'd go buy the new book

Chris Cudmore

@shirlockhomes Buy it anyways. It will be good beach reading.

shirlock homes

19:57

No beaching for this boy... Pearl riding!! lol

Chris Cudmore

What's Pearl Riding?

Diving?

shirlock homes

got a new 900 lb pull windless for the Pearl. Boat goes in April 15th!!!! yahoo

My boat is named the "Black Pearl"

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