Homeowner Forum / Repair / October 2008

Is there such a thing as using too much lime on a lawn? What would happen if
the soil was too sweet if there is such a thing?

I have owned a seasonal cottage in WNY for 10 years.  The plumber who used
to winterize it for the previous owner showed me what to to, and I have been
doing it since.
In addition to the obvious, there is a valve in the ground a few feet from

I need to insulate 900 sqft of space. When I look at R-30 batts from
home depot they are marked 53.3 sqft. The actual measurment is
10"x16"x48". Unless my math has failed me the measurment for sqft is
lengthxwidth. If you do the math for the HD R-30 insulation it comes

I did something unusual for me. . . .  Actually read the paint can
before priming my newly installed drywall.    It says I should wait 30
days for the wall to cure.   I've never done that and never had a
problem.   I've always just waited for the shade of moisture to

I have a 12v Model CFV Type 1 Black & Decker Cordless Floor Vac which
uses a 12v transformer which I have temporarily misplaced.  In the
meantime, I found one which I'd like to try out, with two different
settings -- one with 100 mA and the other with 300 mA output.  Would

McCoy's Hardware tamping bar 30670 price 32.99
Ace Hardware 30670 price 21.99
Also picked out some lumber for hurricane preparation and they
wouldn't sell it - said they were holding it for their own employess.

My new fridge says it costs $43/year to run. Call it T$
What test conditions lead to that number?
If I let it run and never open the door, it will cost me X$ to run.
So, the annual cost of opening the door is Y$ = T$ - X$.

I seem to remember that this topic was covered way back but seeing how I
just scrubbed and powerwashed the front of my house I thought I would ask.
Apparently I have spiders living under the trim and soffets of my aluminum
siding.  The reason is that over time (weeks) I get ...

I have a flat roof with air conditioning duct work on the roof that is
leaking near the penetrations. I am going to have the roof torn off and
put on a new roof. Should I use torch or hot mop? Can you folks share
pros and cons of each. Thanks.

Little Homelite Bandit, in service maybe 10-12 years. Flex-cable takes
about 70 degree curve between motor and cutting head.
It rattles when running. Could be in the tiny 2-stroke motor, but I
suspect something in the drive.

I have a Craftsman self propelled lawnmower it is about 7-8 years old
Model number 917.376281. I need to replace the drive belt but cannot get
the shroud off under the mower deck as it will not slip over the blade
adapter. Can I pull the blade adapter with a wheel puller or is there ...

Do winter gas blend start arriving now in the midwest, doesnt it
reduce milage, no luck so far on google.

I have a Whirlpool side by side with water and ice.  One of the things
the tell you to check is the pump.  The water dispenser works fine so
I was wondering if someone could tell me if the the ice maker and
water dispenser use the same pump?

Not for keeping animals IN but for keeping neighbors OUT. I'd like to
put enough voltage on the fence to pain so much pain you'd scream and
possibly loose you bowl/bladder controls but NOT enough voltage to do
permanent harm or death.

I went to use it today and found the ecothrottle switch was broken off.
It started up and ran fine, but it now has the throttle permanently on.  I
always use it that way anyhow, but the instructions say to start it with the
ET off.