Your recent repair? 2013 - 2020

[sengsational]

Mice are trivial to trap with a standard mouse trap and peanut butter. Rats are much harder since they are smarter and more wary of unfamiliar things. Certainly a standard sized mouse trap will not trap them!

 

[aja8888]

We're trying to outsmart rodents getting into the crawlspace. So far the rodents are winning. They can bite right through the vent screens and they are too smart to get caught in the traps. The long term solution is we are going to have to find crawlspace vents made of titanium. Short term today we put motion lights outside the vents to scare them off, and plugged the holes with steel scrubbie pads drenched in mint oil. The mint oil stuff got good reviews on Amazon as a repellent.

Electricity...(or concrete). Works all the time.

 

[NW-Bound]

How about electric rat traps? They are clean, efficient, fast hence humane. See following video (fast forward to 1:40).

For a deterrence, ultrasonic repellers are supposedly good on rodents if placed close to the point of entry.

 

[target2019]

I've been using the traditional traps forever. Lots of mice in this area to practice on! Gonna change course with the electric traps from Victor.

 

[NW-Bound]

Here's something interesting I just found about the rats' ability to withstand electric shocks, from reading product literature on electric traps.

"... the rat steps onto the metal plates, completing the circuit and the trap delivers a quick, humane 8,000 volt shock. Since rats have the ability to restart their heart, the shock is applied for 2 minutes ensuring a high kill rate."​

 

[aja8888]

Here's something interesting I just found about the rats' ability to withstand electric shocks, from reading product literature on electric traps.

"... the rat steps onto the metal plates, completing the circuit and the trap delivers a quick, humane 8,000 volt shock. Since rats have the ability to restart their heart, the shock is applied for 2 minutes ensuring a high kill rate."​

When the world is over and us guys and gals with the big brains are gone, all that will be left to meet the aliens will be rats and roaches.

 

[daylatedollarshort]

How about electric rat traps? They are clean, efficient, fast hence humane. See following video (fast forward to 1:40).

For a deterrence, ultrasonic repellers are supposedly good on rodents if placed close to the point of entry.

Good video. Either they work or that rat was a really good actor. I have looked at these and they are on my list of things to try. I think he is out tonight. The cotton was on the ground and I heard rustling on the fence. Trying the steel wool soaked in cayenne pepper tonight to seal up his re-rentry point with three motion lights on the vent so maybe he will just move on to some place easier to live and nonlethal force will work.

One of our friends was pushing the ultrasonic device, but we have a dog and all the other wild life critters that roam through the backyard at night that aren't pests. I don't know how far the sound carries so I don't want to torment our dog or the resident squirrels.

 

[NW-Bound]

Here's another video showing a BIG rat getting killed instantaneously by electrocution (forward to 0:40). If I have a problem with rats and mice, this would be the thing I get.

I could not find a video I saw earlier, showing a redneck guy purposely testing the trap by sticking his hand inside. He lived.

 

[imoldernu]

Seems as if age brings more small mistake. DW is having a temporary like affair with Ramen soup, and filled the cup with noodles and flavor pack, put it in the microwave, but forgot the water.

Three minutes later... a funny smell filled the house, and the noodles had turned black. I said "let it cool, and I'll clean it up, but, undeterred, she simply made another bowl and proceeded to cook that. Now, not only smell, but same smoke, and the inside of the built-in microwave turned a gold color.

After a fifteen minute session with Mr. Clean Eraser and different kinds of soap, it looked clean, but... the smell got worse and very heavy. Very unpleasant. Opened the doors, used three different air fresheners, and turned on the fans. Febreezed the furniture, curtains and drapes... Some help, but now a week later, still some faint smell from the oven. I expect that the smoke is inside the case.

Every day it gets to be less, so I don't think I'll try to take it apart, or buy new. Of course the first thing I did after it happened was to look on google for help. With thousands of suggestions that popped up right away, I realized I wasn't alone. The most common problem is burnt popcorn. The most common suggestion is vinegar and water (steam) followed by cinnamon sticks and lemon or orange. Tried all of these, and immediately after "solving" the problem, all appears ok, until the next time we cook.

It appears to be a matter of time, until the last vestiges disappear, so we'll live with it. DW thinks the smell is gone, but her "sniffer" isn't as sensitive as mine.

Now I wonder if there is something else I could have done, or could do in the future. A few years ago, I would have taken the microwave apart for cleaning, but now, it's a bit too heavy and more than what I want to tackle. Apart from the self venting filters which only work for the stove below, no easy access.
Any personal experience with this?

 

[travelover]

Here's another video showing a BIG rat getting killed instantaneously by electrocution (forward to 0:40).......

We need to talk about this addiction to rat electrocution porn.

 

[travelover]

......... Tried all of these, and immediately after "solving" the problem, all appears ok, until the next time we cook.
.......

You can get a new microwave for $50 - or a lot less at the Salvation Army or Habitat ReStore.

 

[imoldernu]

You can get a new microwave for $50 - or a lot less at the Salvation Army or Habitat ReStore.

Now I have to convince DW... current one is like this.

GE Profile 1.9 cu. ft. Over the Range Microwave in Stainless Steel with Sensor Cooking-PVM9195SFSS at The Home Depot

Maybe I'll just try to fix:

 

[ERD50]

....

Now I wonder if there is something else I could have done, or could do in the future. A few years ago, I would have taken the microwave apart for cleaning, but now, it's a bit too heavy and more than what I want to tackle. Apart from the self venting filters which only work for the stove below, no easy access.
Any personal experience with this?

You can get a new microwave for $50 - or a lot less at the Salvation Army or Habitat ReStore.

But the built in are more $$$, and not so easy to get in/out.

But here's a suggestion - use some of those cleaning methods again, but this time, after you run the u-wave with the lemon/vinegar/whatever, set a small desk fan in the oven. and leave it running with the door open a bit (will need it open to run the cord in anyway).

This way, you can get air circulating in there all day. It might help push some of the freshening vapors through the nooks and crannies inside, and flush it all out with fresh air. Might take a week of this, but it should help, I think.

Good luck!

-ERD50

 

[imoldernu]

But the built in are more $$$, and not so easy to get in/out.

But here's a suggestion - use some of those cleaning methods again, but this time, after you run the u-wave with the lemon/vinegar/whatever, set a small desk fan in the oven. and leave it running with the door open a bit (will need it open to run the cord in anyway).

This way, you can get air circulating in there all day. It might help push some of the freshening vapors through the nooks and crannies inside, and flush it all out with fresh air. Might take a week of this, but it should help, I think.

Good luck!

-ERD50

Thanks... I should have thought of that... Didn't see that anywhere in the dozens of suggestions I looked at.

 

[Sunset]

We burned popcorn in our microwave, and other than wiping it out with a dishrag (little bit soapy like washing dishes) , we found the smell went away over a short time.

Some have a fan you can turn on, even when not cooking in it, try leaving that on for an hour or so.

 

[samclem]

I agree ERD50's suggestion is a good one. Obviously, if there's a "filter" on the thing (including the filter underneath that services the hood), gibve that a good cleaning. Activated charcoal (you can buy the loose stuff in a pet store for use in aquarium filters) or baking soda left inside the oven while the fan runs might help a bit.
There's probably some reside left inside the inaccessible portions of the case, and it's going to smell a bit when it gets damp from the moisture released when cooking. Over time it will get better.

 

[travelover]

Another basement water leak today.

I noticed that the carpet was squishy and that's a bad sign.

Turns out that the temperature / pressure valve on the cold water heater was leaking. This valve discharges into an aluminum pan that I cleverly installed under the heater, which has a discharge directly to floor drain.

But a hole has corroded in the aluminum pan and the water drained onto the floor anyway. I guess I should have gone for the plastic pan.

Valve has been replaced and discharge rerouted directly to a drain.

Any ideas on how to patch the hole? I can just see it under the heater.

 

[aja8888]

Another basement water leak today.

I noticed that the carpet was squishy and that's a bad sign.

Turns out that the temperature / pressure valve on the cold water heater was leaking. This valve discharges into an aluminum pan that I cleverly installed under the heater, which has a discharge directly to floor drain.

But a hole has corroded in the aluminum pan and the water drained onto the floor anyway. I guess I should have gone for the plastic pan.

Valve has been replaced and discharge rerouted directly to a drain.

Any ideas on how to patch the hole? I can just see it under the heater.

If the pan is dry, try spraying that rubbery Flex Seal into the pan:

As Seen on TV Flex Seal - Walmart.com

 

[Walt34]

If the pan is dry, try spraying that rubbery Flex Seal into the pan:

As Seen on TV Flex Seal - Walmart.com

I was going to suggest a fiberglass/epoxy patch as used on a bath tub but I suppose that would work and be easier to get in there.

 

[bjorn2bwild]

Any ideas on how to patch the hole? I can just see it under the heater.

If you can reach the bad spot, I would use several layers of aluminum tape followed by brush-on cooler coating. I have used this method to repair rain gutters and an evaporative cooler pan. In both cases a durable repair.

 

[travelover]

If you can reach the bad spot, I would use several layers of aluminum tape followed by brush-on cooler coating. I have used this method to repair rain gutters and an evaporative cooler pan. In both cases a durable repair.

Good idea. What is a cooler coating?

I'm also curious as to why it corroded through there. Perhaps the concrete itself is causing the corrosion.........

 

[akck]

Replaced a toilet yesterday. One thing with age is that we find it more comfortable to have higher toilets in the house. Seems it's easier on the knees when you don't have to squat as much or to stand up from a higher seat. All our toilets meet disability requirements, except for the hand rails. Hopefully they won't be needed too soon.

 

[bjorn2bwild]

Good idea. What is a cooler coating?

I'm also curious as to why it corroded through there. Perhaps the concrete itself is causing the corrosion.........

Cooler coating is a tar(asphalt) based product designed to treat corroded evaporative cooler pans. I suppose swamp coolers are not useful in your part of the country? I think a brushable roof coating would be a good substitute.
Yes, the concrete slab would be the source of the corrosion. If you can coat the entire bottom, that should last quite a while. Short of draining the heater, I think that is the best option.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/DIAL-1-gal-Evaporative-Cooler-Coating-5351/100117498

 

[easysurfer]

Fixed my old trusty shaver by replacing the old, corroded battery with a new one by removing the old, adding some solder to the connections, then adding the new.

Feels good going back to cordless rechargeable

 

[aja8888]

Fixed my old trusty shaver by replacing the old, corroded battery with a new one by removing the old, adding some solder to the connections, then adding the new.

Feels good going back to cordless rechargeable

Nine job! That job is in my future soon.