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Who is out there? Hallooooo?

We haven't had a lot of time to check the stats side of the site lately, but I have to say...

A majority of you are looking for solutions to a similar set of problems that we're experiencing with the house. In summary, these problems (so far in the month of December) seem to be:

Number 1 issue! Almost 300 of you were looking for help with your steam radiator and boiler within the last 16 days.

Number 2 issue! 200 of you were looking for information about tubs. Slipper. Clawfoot. Subfoot. Repair. Refinishing. Salvage. A real range of issues here.

Number 3 issue! 150 of you were looking for information on removing part of your structure that is LOAD BEARING. See my panicked notes below.

Number 4 issue! Fishing coaxial cable through the walls of the house. 100 of you in the last 16 days.

Number 5 issue! Smelly. Smelly. Basements. 40 of you in the last 16 days.

Well, at least we don't feel so alone :)

Here are some lessons we've learned about what you're looking for and a quick list of the more, um, unusual requests on the site.

Number 1 issue? Steam radiators.

We have a one-pipe steam radiator. This is different than a water radiator. Use sites like Heating Help and Boiler Room Home Forum as suggested by our fearless readers, Dave and Jeff. Get the specialty booklets on whatever radiator type you have. Spend some quality time with your radiator. Map out where the pipes go. Have a technician give you a crash course on maintenance. I feel more comfy with the radiator now than I did one month ago. The maintaining of steam radiators is an ART!

Things I wish I knew about the boiler/radiators before we started:

1) Our boiler needs monthly "drain-off" maintenance for the organge-y slag water in the bottom. (Your mileage may vary.) I keep these episodes tracked on our house calendar. We also keep a bucket and scrub brush on hand...and keep an eye on that water level tube so it doesn't get too close to the top. We drain that stuff off until the water runs clear whenever we can. Then scrub our bucket clean for next time. A scrubbed bucket makes it easier to see cloudy water.

2) Shutting off one radiator entirely created knocking in a bunch of others for us. Our system has interdependent features. We have to tune it up like a guitar and keep experiementing until we "get it". Usually, it's good to have one person working on this to keep track of changes.

3) A little bit of pressure can create a WHOLE LOT of steam. So, the pressure gauge shouldn't be registering very high unless it's a super sensitive gauge (originally I had read 5 -7, but I was wrong. It should be MUCH lower --like .5 - 2). I was really frightened when our pressure gauge wasn't registering. But the lowest reading on it is "1". So, if we aren't exerting a lot of pressure to heat the house, no big reading.

4) Knocking is caused by the cooler water in the radiator (that was created from the steam) rolling back down the pipe and hitting new steam coming back up. We've put our radiators on a tilt toward the "draining pipe" by "shimming" one end. Since our house has settled (or pieces of it have settled), we're gong to check on the incline of the pipes back to the radiator...they might need to be readjusted. Insulating the pipes should keep steam and water from cooling too fast.

5) STEAM radiators that are spitting water are a cry for help. "Too much water in my boiler! Too much water in my boiler!" Water radiators....wow, I don't know. It could be so many more things that I'm not knowledgable about at all.

Number 2 issue: Tubs

Gosh. Honestly? I'm at a loss here. We had one tub refinished and we are purchasing another clawfoot tub that has been "reclaimed."

Things I wish I knew about tubs before we started:

1) I wish I could have inspectd to see if the previous owners provided adequate support under heavy things like tubs. Cutting into the joists to fit the plumbing in for a tub and not having something else to transfer the weight to? Bad idea. Joists need to support the weight of a tub full of water. Which can be quite heavy.

2) We had an iron/porcelein tub refinished and now we are redoing the whole bathroom. We should have refinished the tub close to last. Not first. We've already chipped ours when a tool dropped on it from a great height. Plus, we didn't realize until later the extent of our bathroom redo. We should have planned it ALL out before impatiently getting work done just to SEE something.

3) Luckily, we found out the height and width of our second floor joists BEFORE we got too far into designing a bath up there on the second floor. For what we want to do, we are going to have to rip up floors and ceilings and reinforce because we only have "old house" 6 inch joists. That the previous owners cut into. For other plumbing.

Number 3 issue: Load bearing walls

We reached out for an experienced person before doing this--A's dad. Loads are nothing to mess around with. Different types of wall construction may require different solutions. Bearing loads...one of the most important things a house will do for you.

Things I wish I knew about tubs before we started:

1) To have been SO freaked out. With some REALLY QUALITY guidance, this was a DIY project.

Number 4 issue: Fishing Coaxial Cable

I'm going to have to defer to A regarding questions about this one.

Number 5 issue: Smelly basement

Ours have involved the battle of the drains. We filled with new water everyday there for awhile, and then covered 'em. (Definitely less smell.) Not wanting to completely ignore the problem and create gas build-up, we are going to try some mineral oil down the drains to slow evaporation.

WACKY OR CONFUSING SEARCHES FOR DECEMBER 1st - 18th

No kidding, these are some of the search terms that have led folks to our website. We can understand some of them...others are a total mystery.

-india hicks - Ummmm. Huh?

-st. nazianz

-curse of the goat collectible - This sounds hilarious. Unless you know the Cubs.

-tiki tissue holder - One of the only things we HAVEN'T found in here.

-photos of lady cleaner vacuuming a floor

-how can i identify picasso s signature

-k&d liquors - This is...nevermind.

-things to fix in a house - Like, everything.

-decorative rubber stamps planet earth

-the freak house - Ouch. This one hurts.

-brief explanation of earth - We attempt many things. But not this.

-what is the brief explanation of history - Again, this is a tall order.

-i don t like my tile

-who invented the mistletoe - I think it just grows.

-fake cardboard fireplace - Hopefully, they are looking to UNinstall one.

-wood dimensional cat tissue holder - For when your cat needs tissues.

-getting racoons to go away

-how to build a life size gingerbread house - If successful, the raccoons will never go away from this.

-clay dingman - Who is Clay Dingman?

-tacky 70 s decor

-moping companies directory - Cool! There are companies who will mope FOR you?

-Lewis Weil - WHO IS LEWIS WEIL???!!! I HAVE TO KNOW!!!!

Posted by jeanne on December 20, 2003 at 11:07 AM (5)

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