Home Improvement

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Deathwing

<Bronze Donator>
16,746
7,770
Got a cheap hygrometer, wondering if what I see is normal. Humidity went over 60%, ran dehumidifier overnight at 40% for 6 hours. Humidity back over 60% the following night. The weather here has been humid lately(over 70%), I'm just wondering if that's normal, should I expect the run the dehumidifier that often, or do I have a leak somewhere?

We do cook pretty much every day.
 

Draegan_sl

2 Minutes Hate
10,034
3
I run a dehumidifier 24/7 in my basement area. I empty it once a day in the summer and once every few days in the winter.

It's just the air, you don't have a leak anywhere. A condenser can only do so much (if you're saying you have leaky windows) in your AC.
 

Deathwing

<Bronze Donator>
16,746
7,770
24/7? yikes, that's quite the electric bill. Or do you have one that turns on at a certain humidity?

I thought the upper levels would have more humidity. The windows definitely fog up more there.
 

Oldbased

> Than U
28,436
67,419
Update on my infrared heater plan I mentioned weeks ago.
Using 2 4 quartz heaters and 1 6 quartz heater and 1 1 quartz heater all from Lifesmart instead of gas heat this year.
High the past 3 days was 41 with lows around 20. Heating Degree Days averaged for 3 was 32. ( a new system from weather to judge heat/power cost )
Whole 3 bedroom+converted garage maintains 72 degrees and the whole house is 39-44% Humidity. Was about 60% before I turned on heaters.
I am using 750+750+1000+425 watts or 2925 watts. If I ran all 24/7 it would be $7.3 a day or $219 a month at my rate of 10 cents per KWH except it won't remain this cold all month.

Haven't even finished wrapping windows yer. To compare I spent $295 last year for a month's gas when it was frigid all month.
This is definately cheaper, least for me.
 

Draegan_sl

2 Minutes Hate
10,034
3
To do:
Floor trim.
Replace Ceiling
Replace Pot lights with LED pot lights
Wait for new porch door installation next week.
Trim out new door.
Paint eveeeerrryhting.
Done.

Give me 10 days.
Floor Trim done.
Replace Ceiling done.
Replace pot lights done.

To Do:
New door installation
Crown Molding
Trim new door and floor around door.
Paint

almost there.
 

Oldbased

> Than U
28,436
67,419
LED lights the way to go. I expect we'll see prices finally bottom out next year at probably $3 a bulb, and $20 per retro.

Between IC remodel cans being around $10 now where you can just install it where ANY light was before and the LED kits being just over $20 it is a cool conversion easy to do in houses now.

I am tempted to get some of these new kits too, where you can turn any light box into a "can" light. Which is just awesome.
Halo 5 in. and 6 in. Matte White Recessed LED Surface Disk Light 80 CRI, 3000K-SLD606830WHR at The Home Depot
 

Draegan_sl

2 Minutes Hate
10,034
3
I bought some LED lights that I really don't like the white light. So I bought some film gel that sits on top of the lighting. It's used primarily on stage and other professional lighting situations. Might work. Cost me $7 from Amazon.
 

Kuriin

Just a Nurse
4,046
1,020
When I worked in theatre (production manager and sound manager), those gels were almost a fire hazard because the lights would get so hot. Lol. Why not just get the correct color of bulb?

We got some flickering LED lights that we bought at Home Depot about a year ago. It's sporadic, but annoying. Unsure if it's the actual socket or the bulb, ugh.
 

Gravy

Bronze Squire
4,918
454
When I worked in theatre (production manager and sound manager), those gels were almost a fire hazard because the lights would get so hot. Lol. Why not just get the correct color of bulb?

We got some flickering LED lights that we bought at Home Depot about a year ago. It's sporadic, but annoying. Unsure if it's the actual socket or the bulb, ugh.
LED lights won't get near as hot as stage lights.
 

Oldbased

> Than U
28,436
67,419
The flickering is common on the 1st/2nd gen led lights for homes. About 6 months ago most companies switched to different manufacturing methods and all the flickering/delayed on bulbs are being replaced with now instant on flicker free.
I bought 2 remodel can kits with led lights included last month for a job, box looked the same for both but one light had a slightly different heatsink/less weight which was instant on and worked fine. The other one took about 2 seconds to turn on and flickered but the box was exactly the same as each other and after hunting down the sku noticed it was slightly different.
 

Convo

Ahn'Qiraj Raider
8,768
617
So my basement is completely gutted. It's a big room 20X20 or so. I'm thinking about putting a 70+in TV on the wall when I get it done. The other thing I'm considering is putting speakers in the ceiling. Since it's already open. Maybe 4 total. I'm assuming there are pros and cons to this but have any of you tried it?
 

Xarpolis

Life's a Dream
14,661
16,352
What type of paint should you use for ledges/furniture? We've used Behr (Home Depot generic) for almost everything in our house. I have this half wall in my living room. The surface is painted with Behr semi-gloss white. It's been painted for almost 8 years, and things STILL stick to the fucking paint. Doorways as well. This paint never seems to completely cure, or maybe it's just sticky or whatever. It seems like no matter what I put down on the counter, if it sits there for more than an hour, when you pick it up there's a slight unsticking sound. It really annoys me.

Anyway, my wife is in the middle of refinishing these old pieces of furniture that my mother gave us, and I don't want them to permanently stick. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 

Xarpolis

Life's a Dream
14,661
16,352
The other thing I'm considering is putting speakers in the ceiling. Since it's already open. Maybe 4 total. I'm assuming there are pros and cons to this but have any of you tried it?
The pros are easy. A nice clean installation with hidden components. The cons are that sound is directional. It'll always sound like the TV show you are watching is above you. It's great for ambient music, but for TV shows and stuff, you really want ground level sound.
 

Oldbased

> Than U
28,436
67,419
Behr Marquee is expensive but it is by far the best paint I've used ever. Far better than PPG/Sherwin/Valspar.
You have a painted counter?
If so you need a paint kit made for that, that basically has a gloss/semi gloss/matte food safe finish on top.
You can get them so they look Granite, steel or whatever now.
The Home Depot
They put those on special buy/weekly deals every now and then for $35-$40.
 

Convo

Ahn'Qiraj Raider
8,768
617
The pros are easy. A nice clean installation with hidden components. The cons are that sound is directional. It'll always sound like the TV show you are watching is above you. It's great for ambient music, but for TV shows and stuff, you really want ground level sound.
good point.. I didn't think of that. I might even just go a nice soundbar. They seem to be decent enough.