homebuying fun (caution: stupidly wide .jpg)

[2mAn]

Possibly the reason for the toilet not having enough power is.

Air locked (vent which could possibly be cast or steel pipe flaked over the time frame and is blocking the venting.

Possibly doesn't have a vent at all?

Clog or something blocking the toilet passage or old toilet with broken flap or hardware can cause this sometimes.

No hot-water to entire house or just the one problem bathroom?

Electrical could be simple breaker or possibly worn out GFI or anything if it didn't work at all when you moved in. Hard to say without pictures or knowing what worked before hand. Cheers to the new place ��

Bathroom should be on a GFI. Find an outlet with test and reset buttons on it. Reset it and see if that solves the issue.

Either call a plumber about the poorly flushing toilet, or upgrade it and see if that solves the issue. Sam's club has a great 90 dollar dual flush toilet that I use in all of my rentals and in my personal bathroom. Haven't had an issue yet. And my wife takes massive dumps.

You have hot water elsewhere in the house I assume? Did you give it plenty of time flowing hot water to see if it eventually gets hot? I'd start by checking connections under the sink to make sure that it was connected correctly. Someone could have connected the lines backwards.

Thanks for the quick replies! Im excited to be a homeowner, just was hoping I would be in for a little longer before issues popped up haha... I will get pics tonight and update.

Bathroom/ Hot Water Issues:

Hot Water works fine in the other upstairs bathroom, so thats an isolated problem with that particular bathroom. I will also double check the other sinks in the downstairs to make sure its just the one upstairs bathroom...

Most of that stuff sounds like its in the tank, so I will snap a pic of that, I know that the drain hardware seems old, especially because I have to make sure it closes after flushing, so it doesnt just keep running water.

Whats this $90 Sams Club toilet?!? I almost want to get that right away but Ive never replaced a toilet before lol

Electrical Issues
What is GFI?

I can picture the testable type of outlet with the reset button, but Im not sure if ours have those. Most of the stuff in this house is original except for things that seem to have been just replaced.

I will double check the box and snap a pic for you guys too.

on that topic, I want to properly label the box so I know whats for what. What type of label marker is ideal for that? Does it even matter?

[MR E30 325is]

Not sure which of the homeowner/ project threads would be appropriate so I figured I would bring this one back up with my new place... and issues!....

We just bought our first place, a 2/2.5 condo in Inglewood. Its a great location to a lot of current and future prime spots, including The Forum, the new Rams Stadium, a new Metro line and a park directly across the street.

The condo itself was built in 1981, 11 units total in this building. Ours just got new paint and new floors. Looks like the toilet in the downstairs was also replaced. Master bathroom also got a new shower, and showerhead, etc but the toilet is still an older one. The other bathroom has a new faucet but same toilet and shower. Basically, updates mixed throughout the place, likely replacing the stuff that obviously wasnt working. Countertops are all old and the windows are also old.

Reason why I bring up all that history is that according to my wife, the master bathroom (which we designated to be 'hers') has a toilet that just doesnt seem to have the strength to actually flush the goods, and there doesnt appear to be any hot water. Im thinking that I need to hire a plumber to come check this out but I figured Id ask here first.

Also, it seems like the power outlets in both upstairs bathrooms arent working. We had the issue in the kitchen, but a quick trip to the box fixed that.

My first goal is to get her bathroom fully functioning with hot water, outlets that work and then deal with the toilet

Any of you guys have suggestions on where to start? Im guessing we'll need to replace the toilet sooner than later, and we will eventually update everything, but for now I just want it all working as it should

Bathroom should be on a GFI. Find an outlet with test and reset buttons on it. Reset it and see if that solves the issue.

Either call a plumber about the poorly flushing toilet, or upgrade it and see if that solves the issue. Sam's club has a great 90 dollar dual flush toilet that I use in all of my rentals and in my personal bathroom. Haven't had an issue yet. And my wife takes massive dumps.

You have hot water elsewhere in the house I assume? Did you give it plenty of time flowing hot water to see if it eventually gets hot? I'd start by checking connections under the sink to make sure that it was connected correctly. Someone could have connected the lines backwards.

[fight4life28]

Possibly the reason for the toilet not having enough power is.

Air locked (vent which could possibly be cast or steel pipe flaked over the time frame and is blocking the venting.

Possibly doesn't have a vent at all?

Clog or something blocking the toilet passage or old toilet with broken flap or hardware can cause this sometimes.

No hot-water to entire house or just the one problem bathroom?

Electrical could be simple breaker or possibly worn out GFI or anything if it didn't work at all when you moved in. Hard to say without pictures or knowing what worked before hand. Cheers to the new place ��

[2mAn]

Not sure which of the homeowner/ project threads would be appropriate so I figured I would bring this one back up with my new place... and issues!....

We just bought our first place, a 2/2.5 condo in Inglewood. Its a great location to a lot of current and future prime spots, including The Forum, the new Rams Stadium, a new Metro line and a park directly across the street.

The condo itself was built in 1981, 11 units total in this building. Ours just got new paint and new floors. Looks like the toilet in the downstairs was also replaced. Master bathroom also got a new shower, and showerhead, etc but the toilet is still an older one. The other bathroom has a new faucet but same toilet and shower. Basically, updates mixed throughout the place, likely replacing the stuff that obviously wasnt working. Countertops are all old and the windows are also old.

Reason why I bring up all that history is that according to my wife, the master bathroom (which we designated to be 'hers') has a toilet that just doesnt seem to have the strength to actually flush the goods, and there doesnt appear to be any hot water. Im thinking that I need to hire a plumber to come check this out but I figured Id ask here first.

Also, it seems like the power outlets in both upstairs bathrooms arent working. We had the issue in the kitchen, but a quick trip to the box fixed that.

My first goal is to get her bathroom fully functioning with hot water, outlets that work and then deal with the toilet

Any of you guys have suggestions on where to start? Im guessing we'll need to replace the toilet sooner than later, and we will eventually update everything, but for now I just want it all working as it should

[tim88325is]

Sorry I missed this! It was a contractor, not me, though I think I could have done it (and probably in a more orderly fashion, because I'm very particular about things).

I am sure its fine but I thought PEX was more flexible so less fittings would be needed in the walls.

I am no expert but it seems like some of the angles could have been bent instead of cutting the PEX and installing elbow.

[flyboyx]

im not a huge fan of them either personally, but they have been around for 15+ years now.

people love them though. i guess they are probably fine in a half bath designed only for pissing and shitting. they are really best for just washing hands and thats it.

[M-technik-3]

I hate the vessel sink thing, think it's going to be a very short lived thing. Like the subway tile and dig the garage bar!

[TeXJ]

That bar-garage door thing is PIMP!

Where'd you buy that at?

[flyboyx]

pretty damn nice work evandel.

[z31maniac]

If you haven't already, having the faucet that close to the edge of the sink is infuriating.

You can't get your hands between the faucet and the sink and end up splashing water everywhere when you wash your hands.

One of those small things that drive me insane.

[evandael]

Were those PEX supply lines installed by a pro or DIY? Just curious...

Sorry I missed this! It was a contractor, not me, though I think I could have done it (and probably in a more orderly fashion, because I'm very particular about things).

[evandael]

Minor update!

mock-up of the bathroom vanity (plumbing yet to be connected, Allegheny County plumbing code is ridiculous)




laying subway tile (floor-to-ceiling, what a task!)






the bar-garage door is installed, tensioned, and operable!





I've been spending the week on the phone with the water authority. Neighbor's (a shitty landlord) service inlet pipe was leaking, sending a slow but steady flow of water into my basement. Of course, they denied responsibility.. but were eventually coerced into fixing it. Love that rowhouse life! My next place will likely be a detached home.

[tim88325is]

A couple thoughts to add...

The Lowes Kohler sink was still made in USA and using Kohler brand cleaner makes it look brand new. Not sure if this sink could be totally defined as "builder grade". I have also had good luck getting the cheapest model in a good brand, our dishwasher is the cheapest Bosch, kinda like the E30 was the cheapest BMW but does exactly what it needs to do.

The last kitchen I did a total gut, I used maple countertops, which are relatively cheap and easy to work with. I used white tin ceiling panels for the backsplash, sanitary, interesting texture, glue-up install.

My point being that the maple countertops/tin back splash were great and could be used forever OR you could easily pull then out and put in marble/tile in five or ten years.

Personally, if I am faced with a $3500 granite island countertop, I would start to think "I know I can afford it now but what about in 5 or 10 years?", "Would $800 of maple countertop make me nearly as happy with much less expenditure?".

I am trying to convince my wife to do the kitchen open shelving thing, i.e. no upper cabinets, roll the saved money into nice dishware, and try it out for a couple years. If she hates it in 2 years, no harm, just put in cabinets that we saved for over the last few years.

[mrsleeve]

yeah we have a bit of a housing shortage around here, hence the high rents where most jobs around will barley cut it. Framers are getting like 32+, Tile guys are booked 3-4 months out, and your bid might change to cost 20% more next week if you want to keep your slot, granite starts at 65 a foot installed, flooring guys are 2-5 bucks a foot another 2-5 if your doing site finished, roofers dont call back. Yeah I can do 90% of this stuff, if I was home to do it.

[flyboyx]

Yeah I got that flyboy, I thought I sent you a reply ( edit nope never hit send I guess its not in my out box either). My self am not opposed to such an option its just I likely will have pay some very high labor costs to get someone else to put them together thus negating nearly all the savings....

Yes thats the plan is to make it much nicer than what it is, just not going nearly top end stuff, its just the fact that the Hardwoods we like are pushing 10 bucks a sq/ft to install (since I will likely not be home to do it) and even in our fairly small house that adds up fast...... Kitchen is going to be expensive, the granite for the island is going to be 3500ish on its own ( yes its a BIG ISLAND)

no worries.

sheesh! apparently labor is a lot more there than here. i have a granite guy that i have used on several projects. generally the entire kitchen costs less then 2500 bucks installed.