alt.home.repair Google Group

Should I clean car battery terminals? and if so how?

2010-03-22T02:54:29Z

Perhaps not technically home repair but my car is like an extension of
my home...
Anyway, I noticed that there is a lot of "crud" (grainy white/green
stuff - looks like dried toothpaste) on the positive (red) terminal of
my car battery.
Car otherwise works & looks fine.
Question:
- Is it important to clean the crud off?

Sneaky car dealers

2010-03-22T02:21:33Z

I saw this on an auto newsgroup and fund it interesting.
And dangerous too!
[link]
The dealership used a system called Webtech Plus as an alternative to
repossessing vehicles that haven't been paid for. Operated by
Cleveland-based Pay Technologies, the system lets car dealers install a

Disconnect electric toothbrush

2010-03-22T01:29:48Z

I was away for a month. Came back to find my Sonicare dead; unable
to be revived.
My housemate said he unplugged it because the Web site
said to do so if not in use "for an extended period", and he
was concerned about the NiCad battery.
Called Sonicare and they said to leave it plugged in. Which
it had been for years -- even during other long absences.

Line switch on vacuum cleaner

2010-03-22T01:13:24Z

I have a Black & Decker Dirt Buster that had the switch repaired about
2 years ago.
It is out again. I don't want to spend the $$ to have another repair
that won't last.
I went to put on a line-switch, like I have installed on lamps in the
past, but don't know
whether I can do it on this appliance.

Advice on laminate/hardwood flooring

2010-03-22T00:58:34Z

I have solid hardwood Bruce flooring in my dinning room/kitchen. It
was laid about 4 years ago. It is called "Gunstock".
The carpet in my adjoining dinning room and adjacent hallway is
showing it's wear due to the kids spilling things and traffic in
general.
I have available to me some new "laminate: hardwood flooring also

Paint PVC

2010-03-21T23:41:58Z

Is there way to paint PVC for exterior exposure? I want to pain PVC
soffit vent to match the siding.

Do sump pumps need 'exercising'?

2010-03-21T15:46:11Z

Hello all,
Is it better to set the drain of a whole-house water filter (which
does its backwash every 3 days or so) to empty into a sump, or to
bypass it? What I'm asking is whether its good to keep a sump pump
exercised - otherwise it might not be used more than a few times a
year and could just dry up and stop working when its needed.

Shoes

2010-03-21T15:14:55Z

There has been a recent discussion about work shoes. This is about shoes in
general.
I just want to say that I have bought good shoes. Yes, I have bought some
cheap ones for special purposes, but by and large, I buy good shoes.
I have had some for twenty years. Florsheims, French Shriners, Bert

240V overhead line NOT

2010-03-21T01:27:43Z

I was watching Spike channels's 1000 ways to die.
Some kid hit an overhead line with a sword.
Spike said 240V killed him.
If you hit an overhead line with a sword, the voltage would be 120V
I know it is just TV. Just saying. :)

Duplicate Census Forms

2010-03-21T01:19:00Z

Any one else get multiple forms mailed to your home?
I received two advanced notices on the same day that the form was
coming in the mail. Okay, I figure a waist of postage.
Then I get two exact forms in the mail. The same exact forms, not a
short one and a long one. Different bar codes on each envelope.

OT - work shoes

2010-03-21T00:35:05Z

My $15 Walmart working man's sneakers are gone flat, again.
No cushion, and it's about like being barefoot.
I did a froogle search for postal shoes. Those guys on their
feet all day, must have good shoes. No joy. Looked for
working shoes. Not much to be found.
Where does a man buy comfortable shoes that last a couple

SCR dimmer control for portable electric heater??

2010-03-21T00:04:53Z

I have one of those 1500 watt radiator style portable
electric heaters. Love it
However, rather than the built in thermostat turning
the unit OFF?ON every 15 min's or so, I was thinking
it would be more efficient to use an SCR dimmer control
to vary the amt or power it gets?
Does anyone know of an SCR control hefty enough to

on topic for a change - old Pella window problem.

2010-03-20T22:42:16Z

A friend's house (about 50 years old) has what I believe are original
Pella windows that need a bit of sash work. The balance mechanisms are
aluminum or zinc and have a round hump profile - flat on both sides
and bulging out in the center. The sashes ride up and down on these
"humps" running in a channel or groove in both sides of the window. If

The United States was just sold to China

2010-03-20T22:28:17Z

March 20, 2010
China just purchased the United States of America. The sale took
place early this morning, when president Obama accepted the offer to
trade the country to China in trade for complete ownership of the
Toyota company. Obama said in a private interview, that the US needs
Toyota more than it needs our country.

want to remove pedestal sink from bathroom, first time

2010-03-20T21:21:15Z

Hi. I have a pedestal sink that I want to remove.. I have not done
this before just want to ask a couple of questions.
First, once I shut the cold and hot water below the pedestal, should
that be best way to shut water or do I have to shut the whole house
off?
The pipe that goes from the wall to the pedestal- shaped like a U, I