Category Archives: Home Repair

Miscellaneous home repairs and improvements.

Drill press squeak fixed!

Posted on June 4, 2013 by Jim

I think since the day I got it several years ago, my drill press has squeaked.  It happened – every time – when I turned the chuck by hand a little to orient the hole for the chuck key to … Continue reading →

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Sump leak from new disharge line

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Jim

The morning after the first rain after installing a new sump discharge line, I was greeted with a loud water flow kind of noise.  It was a big leak, but thankfully (if amazingly!) confined within the sump, with no water … Continue reading →

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Rain gauge repair

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Jim

The rain gauge hardware out on the garage roof feeding info to my home automation system is pretty old.  It’s been in service I dunno – six years?, and on a shelf waiting to be installed for maybe 10 years … Continue reading →

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Fridge coil cleaning and attendant yak shaving

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Jim

While looking at dirty filter pictures for a future project to put a larger air filter in my furnace, I stumbled across an article about cleaning the main condenser coil under a refrigerator.  The before picture of the coil with … Continue reading →

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Leaf vacuum repairs

Posted on October 20, 2012 by Jim

It’s that time of year again – time to get the old leaf sucker into shape to perform its annual duties.  I’ve had this thing for just 20 years now, and there’s always something that needs fixing.  It’s worth it, … Continue reading →

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Sweep first

Posted on October 5, 2012 by Jim

I’ve been drinking Instant Breakfast (for breakfast) for I dunno – 20 years? – and have always used a favorite old glass.  Today while I was washing it, it popped out of my hands, fell on the floor and broke. … Continue reading →

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Furnace repair

Posted on September 26, 2012 by Jim

The furnace failed to fire up the other day when I tried it for the first time this season.  I learned a fair amount about its components and how they work as I tried to figure out what was wrong … Continue reading →

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Du(h)ll mower blade

Posted on June 25, 2012 by Jim

This picture could be right out of a textbook showing grass cut with a dull blade.  But it isn’t – it’s my lawn.  And it’s the same all over. While I don’t know much about lawn care (or at least … Continue reading →

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Repairing Melnor Time-a-matic

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Jim

Against the common recommendations, I leave the hoses (and the high side of the manifolds feeding various watering systems) in my yard under pressure all the time.  While it’s convenient to pick up the hose and spray, if a hose … Continue reading →

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Oops – bad mulch

Posted on May 20, 2012 by Jim

I just learned a little lesson about mulching. I’d finally gotten around to seeding the ugly 6′ circle of dirt and wood chips where the stump was ground out after a tree was removed from the front yard last fall.  … Continue reading →

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