Colin and Dan join the program from wewillfixit.com and that is what we do, help people fix things.
These guys know a thing or 2 about maintenance.
And this week we walked people through a raised dog feeding station the entire project.
Here is the March 7th show.
And here are all the notes from the 2 shows!
Intro:
· Busy week in WWFI/ EM Towers- started to look for new warehouses. Difficult to find a suitable warehouse with parking for 60 plus vans! Found an amazing one. Only 10 times the size we were looking for!!
· Summer is Coming- Accuweather data
· Questions Over The Week:
o -Q. lock is sticking on the door to the apartment and have used wd40 as you suggest needs constant repeat any idea what is going on? Sprayable lithium grease
o -Q. How easy is it to convert fluorescent lights to LED or ....Really easy now. Retrofits (usually need replacement ballasts). Mobile phone up to fluorescent lights.
o -Q. The seal on the base of the faucet where it connects to the sink is deteriorating are these an easy replacement and where do you buy that? Faucet= tap. Do you mean seal or do you mean locking thread nut that’s usually nylon?
o -Q. Any traditional lumber yards in the UAE? Yes. Al Quoz or Jadaf but usually only sell in quantity. Lots of machined wood outfits like Timberwolf. We are not specialists though…..
o -Q. Grout between the marble steps is falling out any easy fix? No. Scratch it out & reapply.
Section 1: Tool of the Week
· Candidates for tool of the week-
o The driver of the Toyota HiLux that tried to take out Dan near DIP yesterday.
o Any installer of garden electrics using white interior wiring!!
o Jigsaw- Intricate cutter for mainly wood or metal, cheap to buy
o Adjustable Joint Pliers- ‘Crocodiles’
· …and the winner is- Adjustable Joint Pliers
Section 2- The Build- Elevated Dog Feeder & Food Storage
What is It?
A small storage box with 2 holes cut out of the top when you insert bowls for food & water. Lid lifts up so you can get to the food which is stored inside.
Why build one / Positives
- Elevated feeding position keeps food & water off the ground and stops bowls sliding while in use
- Stops dogs “paddling” in their water
- Provides storage for pet food
- Can get creative and customise to match your kitchen cabinets
- Fun to build, get the kids involved in the sanding (maybe not the painting!!)
Negatives
- Need some power tools such as a jig saw to cut the circles in the top. Brushes, mohair rollers, paint sprayer for the perfect finish.
- Requires some carpentry skill to measure & cut the wood to size and build the box.
- Could take up to 4hrs to complete including downtime for primer to dry etc. but sense of accomplishment!
Section 3: The Case for Adhoc vs Annual Maintenance
· What’s the difference?
o Adhoc- Book one job at a time
o Annual Maintenance- Sign an annual maintenance contract with a company to look after your home maintenance need for a year.
· Which is Better?
o Depends on your situation:
§ Peace of Mind- Annual contract
§ Transparency- Job by job better- you get what you pay for or you don’t pay! Limitations of annual contracts- READ THE CONTRACT VERY CAREFULLY:
· Out of hours callouts- usually only for a total AC or electrical failure in the entire property & not just one room.
· Number of Callouts- enough for your maintenance needs?
· Cleaning only filters or a full AC Service- Needs to be done properly every 3-4 months.
· Charge for Gas- Lots of companies do this but no practical method of measuring how much they used.
§ Value- For the same amount of maintenance an annual agreement would be cheaper as you are committed. However most companies include extra things you don’t need to bulk out the contract:
· Cleaning driveways
§ Landlord- Easier to agree an annual amount rather than contacting every time something is needed.
DIY Hour- 7th March 2018
Section 1: Tool of the Week
· Its Just Like the Oscars! What are we wearing?
· Candidates for tool of the week-
o Almost Every Landlord
o Somebody whose name rhymes with Ronald Dump
o All Spanners- I know quite a few but adjustables are the best!
o Dremel Multi-Tool
· …and the winner is- Dremel Multi Tool!
· Acceptance Speech- On behalf of the Dremel Multi tool I’d like to thank my attachments & especially my sanding head. I’d like to dedicate my tool of the week award to Bailey Colin’s dog. Use to do his nails. Good for cutting & grinding in tight spaces- not much else can do this. Portable vs corded.
Section 2: Odd Smells
We need to treat this subject with care or we might get deported (if tool of the week hasn’t done that already!)
· Why do we seem to get some many odd smells here- temperature, spare rooms, high density housing- air balancing
· Where can the smells come from- everywhere!
o Toilets & Sinks- Obvious but normally happens due to a leak or blow-thru of the water lock in the u-bend. Regularly turn on taps & flush toilets.
o Previous Leaks- Leak may be fixed but if the water was not cleared up effectively, it can cause mold & bad smells etc.
o AC- both originating from the AC itself & from everywhere else due to air circulation.
§ Drip Tray- needs to be cleaned & disinfected every 4 months
§ Evaporator Coils- Cold radiator that fine dust sticks to= Bacteria, mold & smells. Clean every 18 months to 2 years depending on usage.
§ Ducts- Obvious & people understand better than coils.
§ Mold- Can be within the unit itself or on vents or even the walls due to condensation from the unit.
o Under Appliances- If not regularly removed & cleaned, they can get very mucky. Needs regular cleaning & disinfection. Easier said than done when heavy!
Section 3- The Build- Elevated Dog Feeder & Food Storage
What is It?
A small storage box with 2 holes cut out of the top when you insert bowls for food & water. Lid lifts up so you can get to the food which is stored inside.
Why build one / Positives
- Elevated feeding position keeps food & water off the ground and stops bowls sliding while in use
- Stops dogs “paddling” in their water
- Provides storage for pet food
- Can get creative and customise to match your kitchen cabinets
- Fun to build, get the kids involved in the sanding (maybe not the painting!!)
Negatives
- Need some power tools such as a jig saw to cut the circles in the top. Brushes, mohair rollers, paint sprayer for the perfect finish.
- Requires some carpentry skill to measure & cut the wood to size and build the box.
- Could take up to 4hrs to complete including downtime for primer to dry etc. but sense of accomplishment!
Section 4:Randoms
- Chilled Water vs Split Gas- Usually split based on property type
- Modern Apartment- chilled water
-Installing co2 and smoke detectors best practice suggestions?
-Back home we have a central vac system are we seeing any of those in the UAE?
-Changing out the plastic kitchen and powder room sink pipes for mental for greater durability with the heat of the water here does that sound like a good idea?
-How easy it is to install door stops on a tile floor.
-Kitchen cabinets have taken a beating from water leaks how easy is it to replace the facing wood, we rent, landlord not interested, thinking economy.
-automatic garage doors easy to install see the machine at ACE.
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