Category Archives: Fix It & Use It

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  This is an expansion tank

  Posted on August 10, 2017 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  Ever felt like your head was going to explode because of too much noise/stress/people/bickering of children? What did you do to decompress? You probably got out of the system to relieve the tension you were feeling. It is possible for hot water tanks to feel the same – though for different reasons! Whether you have […]

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  Strap that tank in!

  Posted on July 30, 2017 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  In a recent trip to Europe I noticed how instinctual and cross-cultural it is to wear seat belts, but in France it is a matter of necessity and survival! In a country that hosts the LeMans and Monte Carlo races, belts take on a whole new meaning. Did you know that belts for your hot […]

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  Gutters and signs of life

  Posted on July 20, 2017 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  There are so many things that I find in gutters during my inspection… standing water, leaves, pine needles, moss, cable lines, baseballs, action figures, etc. Keeping these clear is so important because the gallons upon gallons of water shedding from your roof must go someplace. We have essentially installed irrigation canals that are ready to […]

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  Facts about servicing your furnace

  Posted on June 19, 2017 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  While I think our roof is the most important component of our house my wife disagrees. For her the furnace is most important! She wants our house toasty in the cool days. We have regular debates on the thermostat settings. Things would be very unhappy in our home if the furnace stopped operating and things […]

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  Even More Creative Home Repairs

  Posted on May 29, 2017 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  As an eager do-it-yourselfer I have done everything wrong at some point. It’s how we learn, right? I secretly grasp to the hope of future DIO (do-it-OVER) projects of my not so pretty DIY projects. WE DIYers do not usually do it right the first time, or second or third times! In the meantime, I invite you to join me […]

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  Fashionable flashback – a wall mount telephone!

  Posted on May 15, 2017 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  Once in a while I come across nostalgic home features that take me down memory lane. For some (much younger) home buyers I get to explain why these things were once cool and useful. I’ve had similar success as my dad (a retired engineer) trying to explain to me why four different color pens with a ruler […]

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  Another Unwanted House Guest

  Posted on May 1, 2017 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  Meet the granddaddy of unwanted house guests! This is the carpenter ant. These are commonly found on summer days and are recognizable by their bulbous, black bodies. They remind my wife and me of black berries – and that’s a memorable story for another time! They are native of the Pacific Northwest and vital parts of our […]

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  Northwest home fashion and style!

  Posted on April 21, 2017 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  Magazines like Good Housekeeping, Better Homes and Gardens, Coastal Living and the IKEA catalog can be found throughout my house. While house decor and design are not my forte, I’ve learned a thing or two. So I thought I share some ideas from my home inspections to see if I am as skilled as my […]

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  An Unwanted House Guest

  Posted on April 17, 2017 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  It is easy to overlook these holes present in mostly aging structural boards. These are caused by a common wood-destroying organism called Anobiid beetle. They enjoy laying eggs in soft wood like Douglas Fir, then the larvae hatch and consume the wood fiber as they mature into adulthood. Usually they will depart after adulthood but sometimes they […]

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  Possible plastic plumbing problem

  Posted on April 3, 2017 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  Plastic plumbing piping is all the rage nowadays. The PEX supply piping is terrific stuff. What we have today has been developed on the shoulders of some earlier generations of problematic plastic piping. There is one in particular that is especially troublesome called polybutylene. A class action lawsuit brought this material to the forefront of attention. […]

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