https://www.sawdustzone.org/ en Wed, 19 Aug 2026 10:53:34 GMT vBulletin 60 https://www.sawdustzone.org/images/misc/rss.png https://www.sawdustzone.org/ https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/discussions/around-the-coffee-pot/863562-well-something-went-right Fri, 14 Aug 2026 20:59:22 GMT I know the AC worked fine yesterday. Today both of us went out and came back after noon. By 1:30 it seemed to be getting warm so I checked the AC and...
I called the AC service company I used last time at 2:00 and they had a guy at the house at 2:30.
He checked the system and said there was a loose 230V wire on the contactor arcing. They had replaced the start capacitor on last visit.
He said it was still under warranty and there would be no charge.
Gone by 3:00

That is the fastest and cheapest AC service I have ever had in 51 years of owning homes in Houston.]]> Around the coffee pot LCHIEN https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/discussions/around-the-coffee-pot/863562-well-something-went-right https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/discussions/around-the-coffee-pot/863557-another-one-of-those-nothing-goes-right-days Wed, 12 Aug 2026 01:05:56 GMT LOML came home from a noon church function (and I was home - a rarity for me at noon). She said her tire light was on. Her Rav 4 does not specify...
Today, I pulled out the Ryobi 18V rectangular tire inflator and nothing worked right on it! Put a new battery in it. It showed 120 PSI. I got to wondering if LOML had left it out in the rain or something. I tried setting the PSI but it kept jumping other 124 t0 126. Well after trying several things, I gave up and got one of the older ones that look something like a fat hand gun. I put a fresh battery in it and it started doing the same thing but in just a different PSI range. Still it did not add but about 20 PSI over about 7-8 minutes. I scratched my head trying to figure out what was going on.

Then with 20 PSI in it, I drove it around to my small shop's air compressor. I had not used it since last winter. I turned it on and it ran and ran but no pressure built up. I started moving my hand over it and the pressure pop-off valve was hissing air as fast as it could. 3 compressors and nothing was working.

I took the pop-off valve off (Not sure if that is the correct name), checked it out, cleaned it out and oiled it lightly. I added it back on and turned the compressor back on. It started building up pressure! Good, Finally. It built up to 120PSI in the 20gallon air compressor. Then I tried to air up the tire but it was slow, too slow.

I got down on my knees and looked into the valve stem and it looked like it was stopped up. I had a pair of tweezer close by and I stuck it inside and pulled out a clear looking "O" ring. I came in and googled that situation. Google said that is not common but it does happen when some caps are put on the valve stem too tight. There is a rubber "O" ring inside of some air valve caps. IF they are screwed too tight, the O ring will come off of the cap and fit tightly inside the valve stem.

I never heard of this. AND I am guessing that was what was causing my two Ryobi 18V tire inflators from acting up. I haven't tried them since, but will tomorrow.

]]> Around the coffee pot leehljp https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/discussions/around-the-coffee-pot/863557-another-one-of-those-nothing-goes-right-days https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/discussions/around-the-coffee-pot/863532-summer-2026 Sun, 02 Aug 2026 02:15:18 GMT Its so darn hot here in Houston, every day been in the high 90s with feels like temps hitting 100-112. Shops not air conditioned so I sneak out at... Shops not air conditioned so I sneak out at night to do any small repairs. Don't have any DIY projects scheduled.
Going to pay someone to pressure wash the driveway next week, $170 for the straight driveway and the circular drive together... all the other quotes came in over $400. I hope I didn't make a mistake.

Tree trimming guys coming next week also $2100; the other bid was $2850. I have five 34 year old live oaks. I saved $3000 on my annual home/auto/liability insurance costs with all new insurance companies but then the homeowners policy holder says if I don't trim the overhanging branches they'll cancel my insurance. 40% of the cost is thinning out the small feeders so the lawn gets some sun, but still, $2000 to save $3000? Isn't there some risk in cutting off very large branches over a house? the tree guy says he'll tie off the big limbs and take them down in pieces so they they don't come crashing thru the roof. Crossing fingers.

Also going to have my 34 year old windows replaced, aluminum frame windows that leak a little, sweat quite a bit and probably lose A/C. So getting vinyl frames with double panes. Making the big window in the breakfast room that looks over the backyard into one giant picture window, having the little grids removed from all the windows. Big bucks.

Well, except for this window above the front door. One major firm quoted me $38,000 for it. THe rep said, oh, that's a BMW, implying I'd be better off buying a luxury sports car.
]]> Around the coffee pot LCHIEN https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/discussions/around-the-coffee-pot/863532-summer-2026