Recent content by falconbrother

I need to replace my main water shutoff. I plan to use a Sharkbite ball valve (3/4 inch) to pex. Any actual experience with these? One of the plumbers where I work suggested Sharkbite as a good and super easy option.

My main water shutoff won't shut off. Everyone I talk too says replace the gate valve with a ball valve. The plumber where I work says use Shark Bite fittings as they are quick and easy. I looked them up and I think this is what I will use. They also recommend that while I'm at it I go...

My house is 21 years old. Most of the gate valves no long actually shut off what they are supposed to. My house is plumbed with pex. I turned off the water at the street today and drained the house. I could not get the valve to screw out of the main shut off. I was pretty sure that I was...

I replaced a 40 gallon with a 50 gallon that I bought off the shelf at slows (Lowes). I just bought whatever was a decent price and installed it myself (gas). There's nothing to it and it has worked great for years. The step up to a 50 gallon was awesome. We never run out of hot water.

What's a good way to redo stairs in a modern house that came with carpet on the stairs? I know that under that carpet is rough wood. Can I strip it, sand it and stain it? Is there a product consistent with vinyl plank that will cover it? I intend to end up with a carpet runner over wood or...

I have been fixing and replacing parts on my 20 year old system for 13 years. It was trouble free for 7.5 years. The singer system before that went 28 years with zero repairs..28 years.. Anyway, my draft inducer fan on the gas pack is dying and I have one on order that should be here tomorrow...

Is there a vinyl plank product that covers stairs? I have seen laminate stair covers (and they are expensive).

I want to put down some vinal plank due to it's ability to stand up to pets, the reasonable cost, and I'd like to also do my stairs. How do I pull the carpet off and cover those stairs?

I replaced the motor in my air handler this winter. Came home from the Caribbean too 22 degrees and no heat.. Anyway, there was a label on the old motor and the replacement motor that laid out where all the wires go and/or what they do. Glad you got it running. Good idea.

I have a 2.5 ton Goodman air conditioner condensing unit. I was having a problem where it would burn up the contactor which would then eat the transformer. I had a service guy come out and said that I had a "tight compressor" which he used a two wire hard start kit to get running. It worked...

If you have a burned out transformer there is a good chance that the contactor shorted and burned up the transformer. There is no good way to test the contactor. You can get one cheap off of ebay. I always keep a 30amp double pole laying around. Last spring my transformer went and nothing on...

I spoke with an HVAC friend of mine and he laid out the typical scenario for a bad transformer. His opinion is that during the spring within the first few hot days lots of people turn on their AC. The power company switches phases and sends a jolt of electricity down the line and capacitors...

Hey, the problem seems to have been a shorted contactor. I have bypassed the cities contraption, they no longer use it anyway. Thanks so much.

You were right, the Transformer was burned out. I inspected the 24 volt wiring as best I could and replaced the transformer. The unit worked with fan and heat. But, when I switched to AC the outside unit did nothing and the new transformer burned up. Nice! I have a theory and I think I have...

My crappy old multi meter was working intermittently. I bought a better one at Harbor Freight and will check out the transformer. Thankfully it is still reasonably cool here in NC. But, soon it's gonna get hot outside. Again, I really appreciate all the help. I am one of those people who...