Home Ownership

We have what I fear might be an insurmountable issue. The cast iron sewer stack for our 70 yr old house is rusting out where it passes through the basement floor. It comes down the west wall, goes through the floor, then comes out under the east side of our house. In other words it runs under the floor the length of the house, including under the furnace.

I smeared a tub of Flex Seal around it which slowed down the leakage but there’s still a little sewage seeping out around it. Of course our plumber is swamped with A/C calls and can’t look at it for a while.

I was told Flex Seal would fix any leak. I am highly disappointed to hear this isn’t true.

If you have any luck the deterioration will be isolated to the area near the spot where is enters the floor and not require replacement along the entire length of floor. I have seen plumbers patch in PVC or new cast iron to older underground drains. Good luck as the worst case scenario sounds quite expensive.

I had to cancel the family Hawaiian vacation so we could fund a plumping project of our own last year so I feel your pain.

If you have to replace the stack running through the wall try to avoid PVC as you will hear water flowing every time someone showers or flushes. Cast iron is something I miss from the old house.

It may be that the solution is to:

1) Carefully chip the concrete away from around the cast iron to expose the failed section.

2) Rubber boots are made to facilitate transitions from one type of material to another. A Fernco. It tightens with SS screw clamps. Big hose clamps, in other words.

I have seen cast iron no- hub pipe occasionally used as sanitary (underground) pipe but PVC is so much more slippery. As for sanitary risers cast is nice and I have had it used as vent in certain return air plenums on commercial jobs. The thing with cast iron is weight, labor $, that it doesn’t get used much any more.

Since you need a certain pipe diameter for code and effective insulation adds so much that fitting into a stud space gets hard.

We have the upper bath close to being stacked over main and have a closet backed up to that stack. 3″ PVC is generally what a plumbler uses for waste. Vent really only carries air so no biggie.

Has anyone been assessed for road replacement done on your street? My city is re-doing the roads in my neighborhood next year. I just finished reading the proposal, and it says “Estimated assessment per single family property will be $11,000 – $15,000. This seems shockingly high to me.

Now granted… I live in an older neighborhood that was built in the late ’60’s/early ’70’s. Besides road repair, they also have to replace aging infrastructure (ex: water mains, sewers, etc…). They are also retrofitting the neighborhood to install sidewalks (which I think are unnecessary and didn’t want). Still, I wasn’t prepared for this steep of a bill. I was expecting it to be in the $5,000 range. This is the first time I’ve lived somewhere that will be getting road repairs, so I was wondering if this is normal?

That’s a big number but they’re doing some pretty major work too. They’re putting new asphalt down in my neighborhood only this year and that’s costing us $1000 which seemed pretty reasonable. They did all that bigger stuff 20 years ago according to

My neighbors still here

Usually you can split that cost over a 10 year period as well

For those who haven’t left your lawns dormant have you seen a bigger number of weeds this year than past? The amount of thistleweed I’ve seen has been crazy and I’m starting to see other things as well despite the lawn service coming and spraying things.

For those who haven’t left your lawns dormant have you seen a bigger number of weeds this year than past? The amount of thistleweed I’ve seen has been crazy and I’m starting to see other things as well despite the lawn service coming and spraying things.

YES! The most we’ve ever had, by far. All different types! I went around yesterday individually spraying all that I saw. Next step will be to apply a weed & feed.

I have a big one acre lot in Fargo so most of the time this time of year my yard has gone to weeds because I can’t water my yard and don’t have in-ground irrigation. This year, since it started so early, the weeds aren’t surviving either!!

For those who haven’t left your lawns dormant have you seen a bigger number of weeds this year than past? The amount of thistleweed I’ve seen has been crazy and I’m starting to see other things as well despite the lawn service coming and spraying things.

I use a lawn service for weeds and the. I supplement with an herbicide spray. But I have noticed more weeds than normal. Crab grass was aggressive. But I have a special sauce for that.

We have a pond behind our house and there is a tall grass buffer between lawns and water. The thistle went ridonculous this summer. I never noticed it before and this year they were thick.

I think next spring I’m going to look into some lawn service. The house we bought was a rental since 2009, so there has been some neglect. The inside is actually pretty kept up. Some odds and ends here and there. And most of those are just things we want change, not from neglect. The lawn is a different story and I want to do some landscaping before I call a lawn care co. Along with calling the city of Lakeville and getting the ok to do some stuff.

Is anyone else having a really bad fall dandelion problem right now? I have a corner of my yard where it’s worse than anything I see in the Spring

I’m seriously considering getting a new lawn service because my grass is as green and healthy as it’s ever been. I thought that was supposed to hep keep the weed away

Definitely have more than I usually would. But good chunks of my lawn never recovered from it not raining for almost three months.

Is anyone else having a really bad fall dandelion problem right now? I have a corner of my yard where it’s worse than anything I see in the Spring

I’m seriously considering getting a new lawn service because my grass is as green and healthy as it’s ever been. I thought that was supposed to hep keep the weed away

Dandelions generally don’t get choked out by a healthy lawn. But you should ask your lawn service when they apply weed control with yourself application. Some only do it in the spring Nd depending on your watering situation, I wouldn’t apply it this fall because the grass may not be strong enough to handle it.

Is anyone else having a really bad fall dandelion problem right now? I have a corner of my yard where it’s worse than anything I see in the Spring

I’m seriously considering getting a new lawn service because my grass is as green and healthy as it’s ever been. I thought that was supposed to hep keep the weed away

Dandelions generally don’t get choked out by a healthy lawn. But you should ask your lawn service when they apply weed control with yourself application. Some only do it in the spring Nd depending on your watering situation, I wouldn’t apply it this fall because the grass may not be strong enough to handle it.

That could be what happened. We put in an irrigation system this spring and the yard looks great except the dandelions and thistle has been terrible in a section back by my garden.

I’m sure a bit of it is due to weeds overtaking the garden and spreading beyond that but I’ve never seen it this bad in the Fall with any of the lawn services I’ve used over the years. I think we are going to get rid of the garden which should help but I spent a ton of time pulling stuff before cutting my grass today

Thistle definitely gets choked out by a healthy lawn. Droughts are horrible to bringing in thistle too. It’s just been a tough, weird year.

I have to dethatch half my yard and overseed. Good thing my neighbor is a landscaper.

Is anyone else having a really bad fall dandelion problem right now? I have a corner of my yard where it’s worse than anything I see in the Spring

I’m seriously considering getting a new lawn service because my grass is as green and healthy as it’s ever been. I thought that was supposed to hep keep the weed away

Dandelions generally don’t get choked out by a healthy lawn. But you should ask your lawn service when they apply weed control with yourself application. Some only do it in the spring Nd depending on your watering situation, I wouldn’t apply it this fall because the grass may not be strong enough to handle it.

That could be what happened. We put in an irrigation system this spring and the yard looks great except the dandelions and thistle has been terrible in a section back by my garden.

I’m sure a bit of it is due to weeds overtaking the garden and spreading beyond that but I’ve never seen it this bad in the Fall with any of the lawn services I’ve used over the years. I think we are going to get rid of the garden which should help but I spent a ton of time pulling stuff before cutting my grass today

Thistle definitely gets choked out by a healthy lawn. Droughts are horrible to bringing in thistle too. It’s just been a tough, weird year.

I have to dethatch half my yard and overseed. Good thing my neighbor is a landscaper.

I think I should do this with my front yard especially, but it will be completely covered by leaves eventually and I don’t really want to wind up with a bunch of grass seed in my mower’s bag.

Do it late, after you pick leaves up. It will go dormant in the winter and start in the spring.

What’s people opinions about anode rods in water heaters even if you have a water softner?!?!?!

My water heater is dead. I’m thinking of upgrading from a 40 gal to 50 gal and considering adding an anode rod inside the water heater. The anode rod helps with sediment and corrosive elements. Though is really that necessary when we have a water softner?!?!?!

They are cheap enough that wouldn’t think twice about it even with a water softener. That being said, do you have a basic water softener purchased off the shelf and installed or was your water tested by a professional and you have the proper filters for your water? If it’s the latter, I wouldn’t worry about it I guess, but if you have a basic GE 40,000 grain softener, then put one in.

Anyone else live in AV/Rosemount/Eagan region and have their city water go out? Our water went brown and just stopped coming out of the faucets/filling toilets. Zippo on the city website so not sure if this a planned event or a failure/accident of some sort.

What’s people opinions about anode rods in water heaters even if you have a water softner?!?!?!

My water heater is dead. I’m thinking of upgrading from a 40 gal to 50 gal and considering adding an anode rod inside the water heater. The anode rod helps with sediment and corrosive elements. Though is really that necessary when we have a water softner?!?!?!

The anodes are there to purposely deteriorate so the metal that makes up your water heater does not. They are sacrificial. All water heaters should have them and you should replace them every few years. They greatly extend the life of your water heater.

Finally everything is settled. They are coming out Sat. to put in the new water heater. The wife and I will be in Duluth all weekend, but the in-laws are watching the kids. Upgrade from a 40-50 gallon tank, plus since we are installing the anode rod, our warranty is good for 12 years. Though I probably still have to change out the anode rod every 3-5 years. Though doing a quick search, they run $20 and up.

Up next… the furnace… LoL!!! It’s the original from 1998. Other than than that we are sitting pretty good. Newer roof, dishwasher, stove and AC. Brand new after buying the house; frig and washer/dryer. The carpet will eventually need to be replaced, but with kids 11, 8 and 3… that’s on the back burner. I also want to put in a new patio and widen my driveway from 3 car to 4, with putting in a shed next to 3rd stall garage. As well as updating the master bath and walk in closet. Who ever updated the master closet previously, needs their head examined. Should be a fun winter and early spring for my dad and I, before him and mom head back to the cabin for 6 months.

Up next… the furnace… LoL!!! It’s the original from 1998.

Ours is original too. 1907! :lol:

But each time we have it checked they say the same thing…it will last forever. There’s virtually no moving or electronic parts, it’s a metal hulking beast. We have radiator heat so the “energy savings” of a new furnace is negotiable. Forced air would be different, radiators not so much.

My apt. complex that I managed for many years had a steam radiator. Probably the same radiator since 1916… LoL!!! It’s a beast and I worked on a few times pressuring it. I would hate to have to take it apart and install a new one. Plus, it was a pain in the butt since it heated 22 apts. (4 3-BR, 12 2-BR & 6 1-BR) and trying to tell tenants that there really is no thermostat to control the heat.

Up next… the furnace… LoL!!! It’s the original from 1998.

Ours is original too. 1907! :lol:

But each time we have it checked they say the same thing…it will last forever. There’s virtually no moving or electronic parts, it’s a metal hulking beast. We have radiator heat so the “energy savings” of a new furnace is negotiable. Forced air would be different, radiators not so much.

Don’t you get sick of shoveling coal? :lol:

Converted to gas in the late 20s. Coal room is now my husbands work shop.

We have the classic Halloween scary basement. Stone walls, original dirt floor we covered with a layer of cement. LOW head bumping ceiling. Too many spider webs for my comfort.

The drip/drain pan?!?!?! I currently have a drain pipe, but not a drip/drain pan. The water heater stands right by the floor drain so I really don’t have a problem with standing water.

Up next… the furnace… LoL!!! It’s the original from 1998.

Ours is original too. 1907! :lol:

But each time we have it checked they say the same thing…it will last forever. There’s virtually no moving or electronic parts, it’s a metal hulking beast. We have radiator heat so the “energy savings” of a new furnace is negotiable. Forced air would be different, radiators not so much.

Don’t you get sick of shoveling coal? :lol:

Converted to gas in the late 20s. Coal room is now my husbands work shop.

We have the classic Halloween scary basement. Stone walls, original dirt floor we covered with a layer of cement. LOW head bumping ceiling. Too many spider webs for my comfort.

It’s not one of those Octopus ones is it? A friend’s wife had one and I thought it was so cool, but yours may me 20-30 years before that tech came along

Yup. Massive square thing smack in the middle of the basement. I swear to god you could cremate a body in it.

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I wasn’t sure where to put this but I think it’s interesting. My neighbors next door moved at the end of July and sold their house to Zillow for a price that shocked me. It’s sat on the market because Zillow overpriced it but now it looks like it’s sold and about to close.

Another neighbor and I were taking today and we realized that my wife and I are still the newest people on the block until the closing. What’s crazy about that is that we’ve been in our house for 16 years

When we moved in we figured the neighborhood would turn over quite a bit since our neighbors all around us had grown kids. In this day of people seemingly moving every 5 pr so years it’s just amazing that no one has in our entire time here

I love these stories. I don’t know why. I am living in my 6th house in 20 years. My current house I have been in for 10 years this December. When we bought this one, we are in a rare part of the Fargo area that was developed around us by Fargo but we are our own city. Anyway, I was one of the newest people to move in to this 85 home community 10 years ago, meaning people had lived here since their houses were built. Now I am one of the longer tenured residents. The housing market in Fargo is nuts, people are selling houses in my community for 3-4 times what they paid for them. I bought mine in the very low end of the first housing surge so my value has increased about 250%. I love where I live but we are talking about a barndominium and I am not sure I could tear down and do that here but I don’t want specials or a huge lot to do it.

Anyway, got off on a tangent. I like hearing about how folks think their area will go one direction and it doesn’t.

What’s people opinions about anode rods in water heaters even if you have a water softner?!?!?!

My water heater is dead. I’m thinking of upgrading from a 40 gal to 50 gal and considering adding an anode rod inside the water heater. The anode rod helps with sediment and corrosive elements. Though is really that necessary when we have a water softner?!?!?!

The anodes are there to purposely deteriorate so the metal that makes up your water heater does not. They are sacrificial. All water heaters should have them and you should replace them every few years. They greatly extend the life of your water heater.

We just had out annual plumbing checkup here and we discovered that my water softener is not working any longer. We started noticing hard water a couple days ago but just assumed it was a lack of salt, but now looking back that means I went through 240 lbs of salt in 3 months and that should have alerted me to something being wrong. My last one did the exact same thing when we replaced it nearly 6 years ago.

He also showed me the anode rod in the water heater (a Rheem) and it is completely shot (only wire left). I have pictures of what it the anode rod looked like 18 months ago it’s like someone melted it down to the wire between now and then. Anyways the plumber basically told us it’s not worth fixing on it’s own because the heater itself is likely already starting to rust out too. I’m having a hard time believing that since it’s only 5 years old but I know ones in this part of town don’t have long lifespans anyways because of the hardness of the water.

After seeing what some heavy duty heaters and softeners will cost it’s pretty obvious that those prices have shot up along with everything else and that now is a good time to be a licensed plumber. The water here in Plymouth alone must keep a significant % of them with more work than they can handle.

Ah – the joys of owning a home

What’s people opinions about anode rods in water heaters even if you have a water softner?!?!?!

My water heater is dead. I’m thinking of upgrading from a 40 gal to 50 gal and considering adding an anode rod inside the water heater. The anode rod helps with sediment and corrosive elements. Though is really that necessary when we have a water softner?!?!?!

The anodes are there to purposely deteriorate so the metal that makes up your water heater does not. They are sacrificial. All water heaters should have them and you should replace them every few years. They greatly extend the life of your water heater.

We just had out annual plumbing checkup here and we discovered that my water softener is not working any longer. We started noticing hard water a couple days ago but just assumed it was a lack of salt, but now looking back that means I went through 240 lbs of salt in 3 months and that should have alerted me to something being wrong. My last one did the exact same thing when we replaced it nearly 6 years ago.

He also showed me the anode rod in the water heater (a Rheem) and it is completely shot (only wire left). I have pictures of what it the anode rod looked like 18 months ago it’s like someone melted it down to the wire between now and then. Anyways the plumber basically told us it’s not worth fixing on it’s own because the heater itself is likely already starting to rust out too. I’m having a hard time believing that since it’s only 5 years old but I know ones in this part of town don’t have long lifespans anyways because of the hardness of the water.

After seeing what some heavy duty heaters and softeners will cost it’s pretty obvious that those prices have shot up along with everything else and that now is a good time to be a licensed plumber. The water here in Plymouth alone must keep a significant % of them with more work than they can handle.

Ah – the joys of owning a home

Apple valley has pretty bad water too. Our softener broke, but the response at our house was just to unplug it.

My hair disagrees with this plan. 🤨 (But for now the wallet is happy). 😁

Minneapolis pre-softens their water as well. Though the south metro of Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Rosemount, Lakeville and Farmington don’t. I don’t know why not, in the long run its good for the plumbing through out those suburbs.

Some of the smallest things we’ve noticed since putting in out new water softener. Boiling pasta, the pasta has been tasting better since.

What’s people opinions about anode rods in water heaters even if you have a water softner?!?!?!

My water heater is dead. I’m thinking of upgrading from a 40 gal to 50 gal and considering adding an anode rod inside the water heater. The anode rod helps with sediment and corrosive elements. Though is really that necessary when we have a water softner?!?!?!

The anodes are there to purposely deteriorate so the metal that makes up your water heater does not. They are sacrificial. All water heaters should have them and you should replace them every few years. They greatly extend the life of your water heater.

We just had out annual plumbing checkup here and we discovered that my water softener is not working any longer. We started noticing hard water a couple days ago but just assumed it was a lack of salt, but now looking back that means I went through 240 lbs of salt in 3 months and that should have alerted me to something being wrong. My last one did the exact same thing when we replaced it nearly 6 years ago.

He also showed me the anode rod in the water heater (a Rheem) and it is completely shot (only wire left). I have pictures of what it the anode rod looked like 18 months ago it’s like someone melted it down to the wire between now and then. Anyways the plumber basically told us it’s not worth fixing on it’s own because the heater itself is likely already starting to rust out too. I’m having a hard time believing that since it’s only 5 years old but I know ones in this part of town don’t have long lifespans anyways because of the hardness of the water.

After seeing what some heavy duty heaters and softeners will cost it’s pretty obvious that those prices have shot up along with everything else and that now is a good time to be a licensed plumber. The water here in Plymouth alone must keep a significant % of them with more work than they can handle.

Ah – the joys of owning a home

If your water heater is only five years old, isn’t it still under warranty?

I still need to look at that but I doubt it because we have really hard water and this is west and tear

What’s people opinions about anode rods in water heaters even if you have a water softner?!?!?!

My water heater is dead. I’m thinking of upgrading from a 40 gal to 50 gal and considering adding an anode rod inside the water heater. The anode rod helps with sediment and corrosive elements. Though is really that necessary when we have a water softner?!?!?!

The anodes are there to purposely deteriorate so the metal that makes up your water heater does not. They are sacrificial. All water heaters should have them and you should replace them every few years. They greatly extend the life of your water heater.

We just had out annual plumbing checkup here and we discovered that my water softener is not working any longer. We started noticing hard water a couple days ago but just assumed it was a lack of salt, but now looking back that means I went through 240 lbs of salt in 3 months and that should have alerted me to something being wrong. My last one did the exact same thing when we replaced it nearly 6 years ago.

He also showed me the anode rod in the water heater (a Rheem) and it is completely shot (only wire left). I have pictures of what it the anode rod looked like 18 months ago it’s like someone melted it down to the wire between now and then. Anyways the plumber basically told us it’s not worth fixing on it’s own because the heater itself is likely already starting to rust out too. I’m having a hard time believing that since it’s only 5 years old but I know ones in this part of town don’t have long lifespans anyways because of the hardness of the water.

After seeing what some heavy duty heaters and softeners will cost it’s pretty obvious that those prices have shot up along with everything else and that now is a good time to be a licensed plumber. The water here in Plymouth alone must keep a significant % of them with more work than they can handle.

Ah – the joys of owning a home

If your water heater is only five years old, isn’t it still under warranty?

I still need to look at that but I doubt it because we have really hard water and this is west and tear

I live in Maple Grove and the water here is really hard. It’s terrible. My current water heater was installed eleven months ago. The previous water heater had a ten-year warranty and started leaking one month before the warranty ran out. I got a full replacement. I bought the last one at Lowes in Maple Grove and all I had to do was return the old water heater, pick up the new one, bring it home and have it installed the following day. All I had to pay for was the installation.

No provisions in the warranty for water quality or wear and tear. If your water heater is only five years old I would think you may be able to get a full replacement. If you have the receipt for your water heater, you should call customer service at whoever manufactured your water heater and tell them what’s wrong. You may be pleasantly surprised that your warranty covers your problem, and they will replace your water heater.

You can’t hit it if you don’t swing at it.

If it’s just the anode rod deteriorating, just replace that. I think the guy is just trying to sell you a new water heater. If it’s not leaking you should be OK. The deterioration of the anode rod tells me it’s doing it’s job.

I totally agree agree with 5 OT. Replace the anode rod and save further deterioration

Thanks – I was starting to come to that conclusion myself given it isn’t leaking, I found the warranty too and it’s still good for a few more years so I am just going to replace the rod.

Now I have to figure out if the softener is shot but every indication is that it’s done or close to it. I think that’s covered too but I can’t find that paperwork anywhere yet

My water heater went out on me the afternoon before I left for Madison. My trip was in jeopardy because I couldn’t leave the wife/kids without hot water.

I called Centerpoint Home Service Plus and they came out within two hours and fixed it at no additional cost. With appliances lasting only 6-7 years, I highly recommend a service like Home Service Plus.

I’ve lived in this house for less than 6 years and I have had Centerpoint out to fix my dryer twice, my fridge twice, and my water heater twice.

At my old house I had them make some major repairs, including a new mother board on my oven, new blower motor on my furnace, a new mother board on my dryer, and a drain line cleanout.

I don’t buy cheap appliances, but they still seem to have a lot of odd problems.

Side note, consider putting a while house surge suppressor in if you can. It either hello a lightning strike but does help protect electronics on things like fridges and stoves. It’s amazing the transients that actually come through on the main lines.

What’s people opinions about anode rods in water heaters even if you have a water softner?!?!?!

My water heater is dead. I’m thinking of upgrading from a 40 gal to 50 gal and considering adding an anode rod inside the water heater. The anode rod helps with sediment and corrosive elements. Though is really that necessary when we have a water softner?!?!?!

The anodes are there to purposely deteriorate so the metal that makes up your water heater does not. They are sacrificial. All water heaters should have them and you should replace them every few years. They greatly extend the life of your water heater.

We just had out annual plumbing checkup here and we discovered that my water softener is not working any longer. We started noticing hard water a couple days ago but just assumed it was a lack of salt, but now looking back that means I went through 240 lbs of salt in 3 months and that should have alerted me to something being wrong. My last one did the exact same thing when we replaced it nearly 6 years ago.

He also showed me the anode rod in the water heater (a Rheem) and it is completely shot (only wire left). I have pictures of what it the anode rod looked like 18 months ago it’s like someone melted it down to the wire between now and then. Anyways the plumber basically told us it’s not worth fixing on it’s own because the heater itself is likely already starting to rust out too. I’m having a hard time believing that since it’s only 5 years old but I know ones in this part of town don’t have long lifespans anyways because of the hardness of the water.

After seeing what some heavy duty heaters and softeners will cost it’s pretty obvious that those prices have shot up along with everything else and that now is a good time to be a licensed plumber. The water here in Plymouth alone must keep a significant % of them with more work than they can handle.

Ah – the joys of owning a home

If your water heater is only five years old, isn’t it still under warranty?

I still need to look at that but I doubt it because we have really hard water and this is west and tear

I live in Maple Grove and the water here is really hard. It’s terrible. My current water heater was installed eleven months ago. The previous water heater had a ten-year warranty and started leaking one month before the warranty ran out. I got a full replacement. I bought the last one at Lowes in Maple Grove and all I had to do was return the old water heater, pick up the new one, bring it home and have it installed the following day. All I had to pay for was the installation.

No provisions in the warranty for water quality or wear and tear. If your water heater is only five years old I would think you may be able to get a full replacement. If you have the receipt for your water heater, you should call customer service at whoever manufactured your water heater and tell them what’s wrong. You may be pleasantly surprised that your warranty covers your problem, and they will replace your water heater.

You can’t hit it if you don’t swing at it.

If it’s just the anode rod deteriorating, just replace that. I think the guy is just trying to sell you a new water heater. If it’s not leaking you should be OK. The deterioration of the anode rod tells me it’s doing it’s job.

As of right now, there is nothing to warranty since the tank isn’t leaking. He can either replace the anode and hope it prolongs the life of the tank for a number of years, or leave it as is and hope it starts leaking before the warranty runs out.

I’ve always stayed away from them, with no regrets, figuring they wouldn’t offer them if they were bound to lose money. Same goes for extended warranties and such on auto purchases.

Congrats, Bertogliat, sounds like you’re making out very well. Too bad about the Acadia. I have a good friend (golf buddy) who hasn’t had any issues with his.

Congrats, Bertogliat, sounds like you’re making out very well. Too bad about the Acadia. I have a good friend (golf buddy) who hasn’t had any issues with his.

I think we had 3 recalls or warranty issues in a year. Apparently a torque tube is a thing and it is very expensive to fix. :lol:

We were told it was something that had to be fixed immediately and could not be driven another mile. As I waited for them to bring a loaner car, they said the truck they were planning to give me had the exact same torque tube issue. So they had nothing larger than a tiny 4 cylinder car that I could place in my pocket. I think we sold it the next week.

I should point out we loved that car, other than the mechanical issue. That thing had every bell and whistle.

The pitch on our current house’s roof is too steep for me maneuver on safely. My ladder can’t get me to the peaks to put up lights. Long story short holy CRAP ladders are expensive. Not sure how I haven’t noticed it before, I used to sell them at Menards. :lol:

Or you have an excuse to not put up lights? :lol:

Rent

Either a ladder, scaffolding, or a boom.

After asking friends and family and no one having a ladder that has a longer reach than the extension I already have, renting is the way I’ll have to go. Just can’t justify spending so much on a ladder I’ll use once, maybe twice a year. Would take 10 years to make it worth it compared to the price of renting.

What temperature do people keep their house during the winter?

Ours is 66-67 in the winter and 74 in the summer.