This is avery fun time of the week, tool time on the radio.
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 14th show.
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
-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.
