Maintenance & Repairs - December 2007

Our furnace ran out of oil yesterday and our landlord had some delivered. However, the furnace went into lock-out mode and had an air bubble in a tube (or something?). Anyway, the landlord gave me instructions over the phone on how to get the air out; however, when I adjusted the valve/screw thing some oil spurted out and got on the inside of the furnace.

I wiped it out and then cleaned it out with soapy water to help cut through the oil. The landlord said this happened to him before and that the smell in the house is essentially just the oil that wasn't removed burning off. From what I understand it's kerosene. I'm not sure of the make of the furnace but it's forced air upstairs.

It totally stinks and I basically just want to make sure that:

a) It's not dangerous (i.e. breathing it in won't be harmful, a fire isn't going to start, etc.)

b) How can we get the smell out quicker? Additionally, for those who have had this problem, how long does it generally take to get the smell out

2007-12-12 12:37:27 · 4 answers · asked by drunkenlovesong 2

In order to know exactly how much electricity is being used by the person living in a room seperated from the rest of the house is there a way to install an electricity meter and if anyone has done this how much would it cost to do that?

2007-12-12 11:13:35 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous

It's weird man, got something rusty in the metal, i never seen that before. I would like to know how to remove it. i tried to wash it already

2007-12-12 10:35:23 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous

My boyfriend seems to think that turning the heat wayyyyyy down (to like 50-55) when you leave the house saves money. I say it is a waste because we both leave around 8:30am, but I get home at 12:30pm and then turn it back up and I believe it takes more energy to get the house heated again than it does to just leave it at 65 all day long. What do you think? Also, when we go to bed he turns it way down too, so in the morning I am freezing my butt off in the shower and turning the heat on only for an hour and a half, TOTAL WASTE in my opinion!

2007-12-12 10:28:00 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-12-12 10:10:30 · 2 answers · asked by karel 1

I live in Ct where it snows and has I guess average rainfall.

2007-12-12 10:08:51 · 8 answers · asked by Aura 2

The directions say to wait until you have 48 hours without rain and temperature above 50 degrees farenheit. Our weather was supposed to be cloudy with no rain for 48 hours, but it drizzled onto the deck about 26 hours after the application. The water beaded, but I am wondering if I am going to have to strip the sealant and reapply. Does anyone know what to do in this situation?

2007-12-12 09:36:58 · 3 answers · asked by quintscafidi 1

I have a small electric Craftsman air compressor. When I turn it on, it will only fill to about 20 pounds of pressure. Any idea what could cause that?

2007-12-12 09:08:42 · 6 answers · asked by David B 2

It is brand new and the snow is not falling. How can I fix it?

2007-12-12 09:07:19 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous

The Briggs is on a lawn tractor and runs but the starter died and cost to much to replace. So if you have any ideas or know how to start it please tell me.

2007-12-12 08:59:23 · 4 answers · asked by Aaron P 1

I know that they are supposed to spark back by the brushes. But is it normal for them to spark if they are brand new. I mean I just took it out of the box to try it and it was sparking. Is that ok?

2007-12-12 08:42:29 · 8 answers · asked by brooke n 1

2007-12-12 08:29:05 · 4 answers · asked by brooke n 1

there is the main part of drill and then the part that turns, and on the end of that the part that holds the drill bit, the part of mine that is BROKEN is the very first part that is off the main part, i was using my drill to make holes in concrete using masonary bit doing 3rd hole and it just unscrews itself !! so now i have the main handel with a screw pointing out and the parts that turn ,i dont know what to do i need to drill 3 holes in some 2x4 today and this is holding me up PLEASE help is there any way to fix this ????? this is a crafts men 30amp? drill and i got from sears awhile ago .

2007-12-12 08:11:02 · 4 answers · asked by hi people 3

how much should it cost to clean this up ??? if you cant see the picture - heres a mental image --- threre are limbs and trees all over my house and yard.

http://s173.photobucket.com/albums/w50/rzsiempreperdido/?action=view¤t=ericssm.jpg

2007-12-12 07:50:31 · 10 answers · asked by charcoal 2

I live in an apt complex. I was just vacuuming when all of a sudden, the vacuum and some of the lights went out. I checked the breakers, turned the one on and off and it didn't do anything. I shut them all off, then on (had them off for just a second), still didn't matter. The same lights and my vacuum are still out. We don't have anything else in the plug I was using and I didn't have other things going on while vacuuming. (i.e. Dishwasher, tv, radios were all off). Could there be something wrong with the breaker? This never happened since we've lived here. One thing that popped in my mind is the construction they are doing in the unit below. Could all the electrical tools they are using have blown my fuse? I called the maintenance and am expecting someone to come look at it, but I can't just ask if all the stuff they are working with below me did this.

2007-12-12 07:03:08 · 5 answers · asked by karly 4

I recently rented a condo owned by another person. The main entry door requires one of those electronic pass devices (not a card reader) but one that you hold up to the keyless entry. The condo association wants over 100.00 dollars for a duplicate. Is there anywhere I can take the only one I have and get a duplicate made?

2007-12-12 06:51:45 · 2 answers · asked by imight25705 2

2007-12-12 05:25:01 · 8 answers · asked by employsthebodger 1

Notta darn thing has work at all fof ,me

2007-12-12 05:09:10 · 8 answers · asked by defenseonly 3

I live in an older apartment, and unfortunately I live directly above the room with the generator. Last night the power went out in the middle of the night and I woke up to what sounded like a jack hammer just outside my window. I quickly figured out that it was the generator, but that didn't help me sleep with the awful noise. The volume was comparable literally to having a construction site with jack hammers just outside your window. In addition, my whole apartment smelled like gas in the morning.

I called the landlord and she said that generators have to make some noise and that they smell. She said the generator is necessary for keeping some systems running. I can understand SOME noise, but this was a lot more than some...does anyone else know if this is normal or if my landlord is just trying to pass off an outdated and improperly maintained generator as normal?

2007-12-12 04:58:17 · 4 answers · asked by fishfry 1

In my house I have 9 radiators upstairs and 6 radiators downstairs and all have thermostats on them. When the heating comes on they all come on apart from two (one upstairs and one downstairs). I have bled the rads and they are fine, but they never get hot no matter what setting I put the thermostat on. Does anyone have any ideas?

2007-12-12 04:35:54 · 14 answers · asked by sledge250672 2

2007-12-12 01:22:22 · 11 answers · asked by Will P 1

It's been raining here for days, and I have plywood sheets in contact with the wet ground. the moisture has begun to cause the plywood sheets to come apart. I have a plentiful supply of linseed oil, but if there's a better product to use on wet plywood I'll use it.

2007-12-12 00:49:22 · 5 answers · asked by Kurt H™ FC Steaua Bucureşti 3

2007-12-12 00:10:01 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous

Im wondering if i should become an electrician or plumber. Im asking any workers out there of their opinion, eg. how much you get paid, how easy the work is etc. I might go into plumbing because i got told is simpler but im also thinking of going into electricity becasue the knowledge i gain from it could be used for something better.

2007-12-11 23:48:02 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-12-11 23:24:23 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-12-11 23:12:16 · 5 answers · asked by Paul C 1

A water leak has stopped.... I thought I must have had a water pipe bust.... but now what? What are my options. I will eventually be remodeling anyways.... would it just seem smart to replace the old piping now anyways? This house is almost fifty years old. Thanks for your help............

2007-12-11 20:44:52 · 5 answers · asked by stanton7771 2

water was leaking into my basement for the last few days and it has now stopped. There was some snow on the ground and I shoveled it away yesterday. Now a day later it is no longer leaking into my basement. Can it be because of the snow or maybe the ground is frozen around the leak? It is pretty cold outside. What do you think? I am getting ready to pay close to 2 grand to put a new pipe in. I will be remodeling soon... so maybe it's a good idea either way.... it's an older house and has old piping. Thanks for your thoughts.

2007-12-11 20:04:06 · 2 answers · asked by stanton7771 2

2007-12-11 16:25:49 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous

I want to throw (old) once important papers away., What are suggested guidelines for saving important papers and where can I find them? For example: banking save for 5 years or never and throw out , paid bills 3 years etc....

2007-12-11 15:46:32 · 3 answers · asked by punkiy 1