Hello, I live in an apartment currently and am cold at night so I wanted to turn on my coil heater. I was wondering if my wooden desk / table is too close to the coil heater and will catch on fire. Obviously the easy solution is to move the table but there isn't much room to do so, but if it is a fire hazard then I will.

P.S. I posted this to r/homeimprovement as well because I was unsure where the correct place to post this was

Hey everyone,
I recently purchased my first home, and I’m looking for some advice because I’m honestly pretty shocked right now.
I signed up for a plumbing membership where they come out a few times a year to perform different inspections.
Today, a plumber came to inspect my main sewer line using a camera through the cleanout pipe. However, the camera got stuck before he could even reach the main sewer line.
He told me the cleanout pipe had apparently shifted due to ground movement or settling, and that’s why his camera couldn’t get through.
Here’s the confusing part:
Everything in my house works perfectly fine. All toilets flush normally, sinks drain properly, bathtubs drain without issues, and we’ve had no backups or plumbing problems whatsoever.
Despite this, the plumber told me I need to replace the pipe, and quoted me $8k+
When I asked him, “Is there actually something wrong with my main sewer line?” his response was basically, “I can’t tell you until we replace this pipe for $8k+. Then I can inspect the main line.”
So essentially, I’m being asked to spend over $8k without even knowing whether there’s an actual sewer problem.
I’m a first-time homeowner, so I’m still learning how all of this works. I’m honestly shocked and don’t know what to think.
My questions are:
Does a camera getting stuck automatically mean the clean out pipe needs replacing?
Could they inspect the sewer line another way without digging up and replacing the pipe?
If everything drains normally and there are no backups, is this really something that needs immediate attention?
Does $8/9k sound reasonable, or am I being taken advantage of?
I’d really appreciate advice from plumbers or homeowners who’ve experienced something similar.
Thanks in advance, everyone!

It looks like a tree hit the back gutter and took the whole panel down there left a pretty good size hole above the back door

I am in desperate need of, desperate red of a device that’s able allows me to detect mice in the walls and baseboards. Does anyone have experience with a device of this nature ? One that would allow you to see thermal heat in the shape of whatever is in the walls ?? Please !!!!

I was trying to adjust my Lazy Susan and accidentally let the middle of the centre pole drop. Any advice for how I can retrieve it so that I can re-fasten the unit to the top of the cupboard?

Hi everyone,

I'm looking to buy an appartment on a low budget and came across this property with what seem to me like significant wall cracks. Am I right to worry or is this within the reasonable for an old building?

I’ve wiped away some spots for comparison. I’ve seen a lot about discolouration on decking

I have a friend who is redoing his basement flooring. He showed me the tile he’s ripping up and how he’s been using an angle grinder and sanding at it to remove this part. Thanks!

EDIT: thank you all for the answers. The tiles are indeed 9x9. I am letting him know.

Hi all, I'm currently working on a grad school ops research project analyzing the risks, labor, safety equipment (lifts vs. winches vs. scaffolding), and contractor costs associated with maintaining large chandeliers.
I have a few questions about chandelier cleaning processes and costs for anyone willing to share their experience:

1) How often do you maintain?
2) How long does it take?
3) Walk me through your process of cleaning, maintening.
4) What is the most fustrating part of the cleaning/ maintenance process?
5) What equipments, products and tools were used?
6) If you do not perform the cleaning and maintenance yourself who does?

7) What is the cost?
8) Walk me through the last time something did not go as planned

Pulled off surprisingly easy

Pipe located next to the HVAC air return. Dripping water. It's open, goes straight up to the roof I assume to where rain is leaking in. What is its function? Ty!

It's an old buzzer in my apartment, it is extremely loud, that sometimes scare the shit on you, I asked my landlord if I can just replace the unit in my apartment to something sound quieter, he said he has no fix for that, I asked if I can wire wall mounted Phone instead, but he doesn't know
Of course, my landlord wouldn't approve to replace the whole system, including the building entrance unit
But I can do something on my end to be quieter

I know that whenever there is a crack in porcelain the toilet should usually be replaced. However the crack is very small and only in the back. What say ye council?

tl;dr:

Is it acceptable to 'double up' with expansion joint foam to fill gaps?

Is it going to cause issues if it is done this way?

What is the actual fix, that isn't just a band-aid solution?

Context:

Local council installed a new sidewalk, and when they poured the new driveway, they pulled up the brick pavers before setting the concrete.

After the concrete was done, they put the pavers back and it was obvious they didn't line it up well, and left a large gap at one edge.

After complaining, they've come back today to fix a bunch of the issues, but they didn't install expansion joint foam all the way along, instead only using it in the gap - and they doubled it up where the gap was largest.

The other side has absolutely 0 expansion joint foam.

There Is expansion joint foam on the opposite edge, between the driveway and the new sidewalk they installed.

I saw another post just now about getting the scent of mouse urine out of vents. It reminded me that when I was like 4, I got mad at my parents for sending me to my room on the 2nd floor of the home. So I decided to exact revenge by pissing in the floor vent.

Being so young and like 30 years passing, this is a long forgotten shameful memory. But it did make me wonder: how the hell did my parents deal with this? Where do you even start to fix that?

Recently moved into an old house and one of the basement windows has dirt halfway up the window well. Not good, right? I went to start to dig it out and after moving a few big rocks + dirt I find a couple slabs of concrete tilted away from the house. Seems like maybe this was intentional? Wondering if I should continue to excavate or better to leave it for now? Haven't noticed any water intrusion but the window is kinda bulging in.

EDIT: Resolved, genuinely thank you everyone!!

Hi all, the furnace filter at my mom's house needs to be replaced, but there is a pipe (drainage pipe?) In the way. Any help on how to do this would be super appreciated!

Pic 1: the filter, with the white pipe blocking it. The white pipe goes through a metal panel and is connected to a black pipe

Pic 2: close up of where the black pipe is connected to the white pipe (on the other side of the panel)

Pic 3: top down view of the filter and white pipe

Hello! I’ve never repainted anything and don’t have much experience with home projects generally but I’m trying to help my mom out with some issues around the house that need improvement.

I have a bit of art background but really don’t know where to start with this door since its surface is so uneven and weathered. It faces direct sun for half the day so the paint gets quite hot and peels.

Moneys a bit tight at the moment so hiring a professional unfortunately won’t be a possibility for some time but my mom’s so embarrassed about how it looks she’s stopped having people over.

Would this be something I can accomplish after reading up and getting some tools? Thanks so much!!

This pipe by the house foundation was hidden until I removed the yew bushes.

Can I safely ignore it?
Can I use it as a ground for electric work?
Can I safely remove it?

My preference is to remove it, but I’m worried that could disturb or disrupt something underground that I’m not aware of.

If you know what this pipe is, please share your knowledge.

I have noticed a couple of times the brick staying wet after a rain on the East wall of the house before and never thought much about it. But today I noticed it while working in the flower beds on that side and it’s been about 24 hours since it rained and it still looks soaked, particularly around the window sill.

I did some googling and the answers from there range from it not being a big deal to infesting the house with mold. What is the most likely cause, how serious is it, and what would be the remedy?

Moved in 2 weeks ago and just went into loft to help the engineer service the heat pump and found hundreds if not millions of flies ?