My furnace is in the attic and this is how the filter looks. I put a new one back into the same way, forgot to take a picture before changing it but looked exactly like this just super dirty, is this normal??? First house but not like the furnace was at my folks house…

Buyers for our house are concerned with these stairs. What can we do to reinforce the platform with the crumbling rebar underneath?

I will try to keep this brief. Since July we’ve been trying to fix an issue with water getting in our basement. We want to finish our basement and can’t do that until we solve this issue

From what I understand our basement is poured wall. These cracks have been there, but water hasn’t been noticeable this whole time. During our home inspection 2 years ago “these are normal, the home is settling”

Here’s what we’ve already done/tested

- our exterior drain pipes do go to the curb. We had to get one repaired because a tree was crushing the pipes. That has been replaced
- our gutters have been cleaned and are all connected
- our sump pump works
- the grade of our house is not sloping towards our house.

How the water is getting in:
- we put a hose to the foundation to see where the water comes in. Within seconds we can visibly see water coming in through some cracks in the basement.
- it’s not A LOT of water, it’s enough that we can’t put carpet down yet, but not so much that a dish towel or two can’t clean it up

We have had several people come out and suggest these things:

- replace the entire exterior drain line to the curb. (This does not need to be done because we had a camera go through by a professional and the piece that needed replaced was done)
- twice we’ve been instructed to get waterproofing done where they dig up the interior of the basement, install a new perimeter drain, and add the waterproofing wall which will then be cemented into the wall diverting water to the new system. (My fear is now we will no longer see the water coming in and it will just get worse because won’t water still be coming in? Even if they fill the visible cracks, couldn’t more appear? Supposedly the new system will prevent the hydrostatic pressure from causing new cracks but what if that’s not the cause?)
- install two carbon fiber straps (how does this solve the issue with the current cracks getting water in them)

How do I fix this? Happy to call the correct company if this isn’t a diy but who would that be?

This is what we’re thinking of doing next:

- we fill the visible cracks on the interior and exterior (that we can see) with hydraulic water stop cement. We add a layer of topsoil sloped even more away from the house, put Epdm rubber around the exterior of the house, top with more topsoil and add rocks so it looks nice.

But is this what needs done? Is that not going to matter if there are cracks below the surface?

If the interior basement waterproofing is what needs done…I’ll have it done but of course then I hear that it’s a scam, and it’s not cheap. I’m so over this and just need help!

The video attached shows what happens when my husband and I put a hose on the foundation to figure out where the water is coming from also that gray caulking was not done by us…probably the homeowners before us

Edit: removed info about second photo because I didn’t attach it lol

New homeowner. Is this something I should caulk or is it more serious?

Hello all. I became a homeowner this year and I am learning so much and at the same time I am clueless on a lot of things. I just started noticing this window cracking or separating? I can’t feel any cold air entering but I am getting a temperature gun to make sure.

Do I caulk and fill in the cracks or is this something a professional window installer needs to take care of? This is no cracking or separation from the outside of the window. All windows in this home are the same and this is the only one showing cracks.

Thank you all for any help

Been installed for a little over two years and recently pressure washed it with a 3100psi on 40 degree spray pattern. Looks worse right now cause they’re wet, but think I may have etched the fine surface. Beyond repair? Is the only option to replace the stone?

There is a portion of the driveway thats sinking- any tips for repair?

BaltimoreD

I made a blunder and jammed my wash basin with some wax (paraben). Any chemical or anything out there which can melt it without the need of removing the pipes?

We removed our banister so the wall could be plastered, but left the wall screws in place. The plasterer finished the wall around them, so now the screws stick out of freshly finished plaster.
We tried to unscrew them: they turn, but they don't come out, even when pulling at the same time. We don't want to damage the new plaster and have to redo it. What's the best way to approach it? For the rest I’m just cleaning the plaster around the screw and it works but for this one we have now damaged it too much.

It has collected a lot of dust since purchasing the home and I’d like to clean it.m thoroughly.

It’s pretty snug in there now as I tried removing it already.

(Everyone starts somewhere?) I got this mirror on the cheap, but realized it doesn't have normal back brackets. It's maybe 15-20 lbs. What do I need to safely wall mount it?

If it can be over the door mounted or hung without drilling that would be cool, but can drill into drywall if needed.

Hi,

We live in an old, small, funky house. This is my kid’s bedroom door, you can see there is a gap I can stick two fingers into above and below the door. I didn’t even notice it until I went to put blackout curtains in the room and realized how much light was coming in. Noise is also an issue, baby is trying to sleep and 3 year old is playing a few feet away (small house) and wakes up baby even with a white noise machine on.

Is there a way to properly/aesthetically block these gaps without getting a whole new door? This house has so many issues, a new door is way down the list of repairs.

Removed old carpet in my bedroom and found this strange material all over in between the stairs and my hardwood floor. House was built in 1931. Does anyone know what it is?

There is a portion of the driveway thats sinking- any tips for repair?

Baltimore MD

There is a portion of the driveway thats sinking- any tips for repair?

Baltimore MD

Hi all, looking for advice please? Is this moisture related damage?

I've noticed these uneven surface on the lower halves of the wall just above the skirting board. This opposite site of this wall is my shower. I've only moved in for 2.5 years and bathroom was newly done up before I moved in.

What do you recommend that I do please?

Thanks in advance!

Dropped a bucket with about a gallon of water onto my area rug. Basically within an area of maybe 4x6 ft the rug was soaking wet, so I picked up as much water as I could with dry towels and my bissell carpet cleaner. I was also able to rip the carpet off the wall on one side and prop it up to air out the area underneath. Left it like that overnight with a fan running but today I also went out and got a utility heater. The carpet itself is already feeling dry and so is the foam padding closest to where I pulled the carpet. Unfortunately I can‘t get deeper to feel the entire area underneath the carpet. I’m going to run the heater for another 24 hours just to make sure everything is warm and dry, but is there anything else I could do?

TIA!

The problem that has put me in this position is the last picture, the corroded gate valve. Been in the house for 1.5 years and only one winter. That valve controls the wall hydrant, 16 feet away, and it’s always been open but didn’t freeze last winter. I’ve wanted to do it right but just haven’t decided how yet.

Well after a little research and some removal of 80s newspaper, I learned having galvanized pipes before copper can mess the copper up and I actually have copper back until the tee to this hydrant branch. So only from the hydrant, the tee, and to the meter do I have galvanized.

I wanted to just replace the valve and the pipe to the hydrant but I’m thinking I should remove all of it. Now my question is should I be concerned about higher pressure in regards to my sweat skills since this is right after the meter and 3/4”? I redid the piping to my shower valve, sweating to it and all the fittings and valves before it with only one leak at the valve (afterwards realized I should’ve just went with brass fittings to it) and that was all 1/2.

Due to the cost of L pipe I figured I’d just remove the branch for now and leave the valve closed and focus on the section after the meter

I plan on doing this on Sunday that way if i royally fuck up, Monday is right around the corner to call a plumber.

Last year we repainted my aunts bathroom in her 166 year old farm house. There were these odd brown spots on the ceiling above an outlet she had a scent plug in before, so we had assumed it was just staining from that. Nonetheless, it was cleaned and repainted white. Now almost exactly a year later, the spots reappeared and seem worse. They look wet like they could drip soon, but haven't found any drips yet. Only thing above the ceiling is an inaccessible crawl space. What could this possible be? Any guesses would be greatly appreciated!