AHI in AR

I see some direct vent fireplaces constructed like this where brick is laid over wood framing to create a sloped roof. While I can't say I've ever seen it happen (yet) I have to believe that water seeping through the mortar joints will eventually rot out the waferboard, causing the brick to fall in on top of the fireplace. I typically recommend installing a metal roof when I find these situations. Have any of you guys ever actually seen a failure in a similarly constructed home? Click to Enlarge 56.17 KB

Perhaps you should consider chrome plating some of your small parts...

That's the birth date for this beauty I found today. Gotta love this beast. Chambers brand, built like a tank. Neat little griddle feature on the left under the cover that rotated up with a flip of the hand lever on the far left. There was a folding porcelainized top to cover it all up when not being used. Note the safety warning -- apparently a forerunner of all the idiotic warning labels we have today. The owner had thoughtfully saved all of the documentation, including the factory inspection tag indicating the date it left the assembly line. At the right rear corner there was an unusual feature. By today's standards, anyway. The burner control knob referred to it as a "well" and it indeed was a recessed area with three fitted aluminum containers. I'm guessing that you filled the well with water then put your individual vegetables in the containers and into the well where they were heated by the water surrounding them. Anyone know if that's right? Click to Enlarge 31.13 KB Click to Enlarge 40.71 KB Click to Enlarge 49.61 KB Click to Enlarge 26.46 KB Click to Enlarge 18.55 KB

The regulators may be mis-adjusted. It's been my experience (although limited) that when they go bad they reduce pressure too much, not the opposite.

Missed me? Wouldn't that imply that one of us went away? If that was you, I didn't notice it. But come to think of it, if I went away I didn't notice it either. I hate it when that happens. Damned meds...[]

It's a substitute habitat for endangered blind cave salamanders. Seriously, though, I think you are right with the cistern guess. Given the age of the home it might have been some goofball attempt at a survival water source in the event of nuclear war.

I was with them for a while when it was ServiceMagic. AVOID THEM LIKE THE PLAGUE. As Mike said, you'll get a lot of inquiries from people who are simply looking for the lowest price. Unless that's you, you'll pay a lead fee for nothing. I got all sorts of just plain bogus leads also. And you can't get your lead fees refunded even when they admit it's a phony lead. They give you a credit against a future lead and you have to waste a lot of time just applying for the lead replacement. Worst of all, I discovered after I bailed out that those A**holes had used my company name to set up listings on various websites that compiled business information but they inserted THEIR phone number! They were sending folks looking for me to my competitors who were still with them. It took forever and the threat of legal action to change that.

But probably not for long...

18th century? As in the 1700's? Maybe I'm wrong, but of all the time I've spent in New Orleans and surrounding areas I've never seen original shingles that contained asbestos on any homes older than the early 20th century.

I've seen Monel tanks. In fact, a small apartment complex my grandfather built in 1950 that remains in the family still has one of them in use. Does this pre-date that?

I found this today in a home that looked to have been built in the early 1950's. My first time to see one of these. Is it possible that it truly has a copper tank? Click to Enlarge 63.27 KB Click to Enlarge 36.82 KB Click to Enlarge 54.95 KB

The texture of that brick looks odd. Are they possibly concrete? If so, it's definitely more susceptible to expansion/contraction cracking. A little of that was sold around here in the 90's. Masons hated it since you had to place a lot of expansion joints to minimize cracking.

To amplify on what others have said previously, I wouldn't be in a hurry to cut the tree down. After all, it and your house grew up together. And the house isn't showing too many signs of problems, correct? Maple trees can have a much longer lifespan than yours have. If there aren't any signs of problems I wouldn't recommend rocking the boat IF you want to keep the tree. As has been mentioned previously, if you cut the tree down the deterioration of the stump and roots will likely cause far larger problems than you have experienced up to this point.

The interior side looks like it has some flaking lacquer finish over stained wood. That would be expected if the door had been stored outside where humidity levels changed. If you can remove or sand that effectively, you could paint it. But depending on how you value your time it might be beneficial to buy a new steel or fiberglass-skinned door. As a plus, either of those would be insulated.

The FIRST thing I'd do is make sure it isn't warped. If it is, it's not of much use. Unless, of course, you have a matching warped basement door jamb. Looks like it has dried leaves on it...where was it stored/found? PS: Stripping down and refinishing a door with a bazillion recessed panels is an absolute PITA. Since it has no true historical or architectural value I'd suggest cleaning it and repainting it if you decide to use it. Lastly, it looks more 70's or early 80's to me based on what I see here. Your area may vary.

I've run across a very few homes around here with a foundation that I'm curious about. All homes I've seen it used on were built within a few years after WWII ended. The material is a precast concrete formed in rectangular sections 6" thick and from 2'-8' long. It would appear that is was made in 1" increments and you ordered exactly what lengths you needed. Running through the center were two cylindrical voids. These were filled with mortar on the exposed ends. The sections were laid on a mortar bed with mortared head joints. Has anyone else seen these or are they a local idea that never took off? Download Attachment: DSCN0861.JPG 709.1 KB Download Attachment: DSCN0859.JPG 896.78 KB

I had a Whirlpool unit (that's who made your Kenmore) and there was a plastic spike mounted to the lid that closed a switch mounted under the rim when the lid was closed. The spike eventually broke. I "fixed" it by wedging a broken pencil in the opening to press against the switch. I operated it for two years that way before I finally got around to ordering the part when a solenoid failed on the dryer and I had to order that. Once you understand how they are assembled it's amazingly easy to disembowel one.

I guess I should have enlarged the photos so I could read the lettering! Too cool. Of course, we don't have basements or boilers around here...

Some kind of vegetable storage? Dee-luxe root cellar style?

Maybe y'all are missing the point. The furnace is designed to be installed vertically, or horizontally on one side or the other. NOT on its back. The burners are firing downward.

Only the furnace is on its back; the evap coil is mounted normally.

Yep...it's installed on its back. And it's been here since 1993! Click to Enlarge 44.01 KB

Looks like there are water stains on the pipe. Are you sure that it isn't simply leaking at the roof flashing?

Kurt... Sorry to disappoint anyone, but the post was in the interiors and appliances forum. Just exactly what were you expecting?

Oven, that is. The house had been owned by an elderly bachelor. He bought it in 1987 and NEVER used the oven. Racks and instructions were still in plastic. I can't confirm it, but the cook top and vent hood looked similarly pristine as though they'd never been used. In a related story, the original built-in microwave was absolutely worn out... Click to Enlarge 45.86 KB