FishieFishie's Profile
Author's Posts
September 15, 2009
Noise with New Refrigerator
Just bought a new refrigerator (Frigidaire top-freezer), my first purchase of a big appliance, and happy to have it delivered.
However I already called the store (having discovered that Frigidaire doesn't bother to keep a toll-free customer line) to express concern that the motor/thermostat doesn't cycle down much. In other words, my past fridges (10-20 years old) were silent most of the time, but then occasionally revved up to keep it cool; this one's motor seems to be running 80%-90% of the time. They told me that this is the way the newer ones are, but that they use less power in the long run.
But now after a day it also seems somewhat louder than past ones. Not really loud, just loud-ER, noisy enough so that I'm conscious of it.
What should I do? If I have the store come listen, they'd just tell me that it's normal. And I don't feel I should have to pay a repairman to come listen.
Any advice would be very welcome.
September 17, 2008
Refrigerator repair commendation?
I collected suggestions for repair for my refrigerator last year, but I wasn't too thrilled with the guy I ended up with, so I thought I'd try again.
Anyone you like for appliance repair generally, or refrigerator repair in particular?
August 8, 2008
Hoping for good exterminator recommendation
I'd checked in here a year or two ago in search of exterminator recommendations. Luckily, posters here are generous with their recommendations, but as it turned out, most of the guys didn't even bother to call back, and I didn't find any "keepers." So I thought I'd try again.
Anyone have an exterminator that they consider competent, reliable, and reasonably priced?
June 30, 2008
Thanks for the tech help!
Hm - can't find my past thread. Hope it wasn't disappeared because it wasn't home-y enough.
Just wanted to thank you guys for the input on my ailing computer. I know it's either the hard drive or the hard drive controller, but in some mysterious way, it's not being accessed the way it's expected to - like it's tied to the original computer box. And it's impossible for a layman to tell whether someone else could be doing a better job of solving the problem. And I'm left wondering if the old WP5.1 makes it harder - or more of a specialized skill - to extract or copy.
Anyway, I'm trying to call Brookyn Geek (although since the computer is in Manhattan, I'm still hoping for a solution there), but the number I have is disconnected, so I'll look again. Oddly, they have no internet presence. Thanks for the suggestion.
Crossing my fingers...
January 22, 2008
Stove repair place...or electrician?
Unsettling problem with a stove, which is giving off an occasional spark by the knobs when turned on, and it's blowing fuses intermittently, even though it's a gas stove and only using minimal electricity. This seems to me that it'd be a stove repair problem, but the handyman maintains it's an electrical problem.
I'm trying to decide which, since both are expensive - and there's no guarantee that the stove will exhibit the problem when the repair man shows up - and I've love any suggestions for either one: competent affordable stove repair or licensed electrician.
Any suggestions? I've called some of the stove repair place mentioned here in the past and haven't been too impressed so far.
Author's Comments
I've thought of that kind of thing, especially after the NYT ran a sad article about the men (and women) who are out there hoping. I think the crucial factor is your feeling about your safety.
Posted by: FishieFishie at April 7, 2009 9:10 AM in response to help with moving furniture
First, STOP! Cancel the Terminex appointment if you can. Don't rush into anything. Time is on your side. Termites wreak damage, but slowly, over the course of years. You would do better to spend a few weeks on research, because choosing a good exterminator may be the most important factor.
As a disclaimer, I'll say that my experience with termites is in another state--but much of this is probably applicable here. There are two main types of termites. I think the distinction is that one is subterranean, and one flies (in the south, I think). My experience is with subterranean.
1. Personally, I would not use Terminex or Orkin (except possibly for a comparative estimate). I have a poor impression of both. As Eman suggested, I would look for a smaller local place. I see nothing wrong with calling 10-15 places for information, and getting 5, or at least 3, estimates. Beware of any markedly lower estimate, as it may mean that they're skimping in some way.
2. Ask every question you can think of. Ask what they do, and see how straightforwardly they answer you. If they drill, ask how and where. Ask what products they use. Ask about their guarantees, which are crucial.
3. The single best chemical is generally considered to be Termidor, with Premise running a good second. Personally, I would not hire any place that used bait stations.
4. Do all possible research beforehand, including checking up on the companies.
Good luck.
Posted by: FishieFishie at April 7, 2009 9:07 AM in response to Termites! Help
I had wanted something specific in a medicine cabinet, and found a place that did a custom-made medicine cabinet for less than a high-end Robern would have cost. Very nice work.
If it still exists, it's a place out on Long Island called Glissade.
Posted by: FishieFishie at September 17, 2008 12:35 PM in response to Medicine Cabinet
I had wanted something specific in a medicine cabinet, and found a place that did a custom-made medicine cabinet for less than a high-end Robern would have cost. Very nice work.
If it still exists, it's a place out on Long Island called Glissade.
Posted by: FishieFishie at September 17, 2008 12:33 PM in response to Medicine Cabinet
Thank you all very much! I think all of these are new recommendations for me, and I appreciate having several to call to compare. I'd love to find someone I like enough to stick with.
Posted by: FishieFishie at August 12, 2008 11:07 AM in response to Hoping for good exterminator recommendation
Thank you all very much! I think all of these are new recommendations for me, and I appreciate having several to call to compare. I'd love to find someone I like enough to stick with.
Posted by: FishieFishie at August 12, 2008 11:07 AM in response to Hoping for good exterminator recommendation
Thank you all very much! I think all of these are new recommendations for me, and I appreciate having several to call to compare. I'd love to find someone I like enough to stick with.
Posted by: FishieFishie at August 12, 2008 11:06 AM in response to Hoping for good exterminator recommendation
Thanks. This is the kind of thing that I wish newspapers would do when they do articles on contractors - naming the bad guys.
Posted by: FishieFishie at July 1, 2008 11:21 AM in response to TREY (or Tray) DARBY: WORST CONTRACTOR EVER
Thanks - I'll look them up. Hoping that they're not only very nice, but are good at wrestling with ancient computers.
Posted by: FishieFishie at July 1, 2008 11:18 AM in response to Thanks for the tech help!
I generally ALWAYS favor going to a store rather than a website. That way, you not only get to see the items in person, not only are supporting the local community, but also have an advantage that the salesperson may make helpful suggestions.
I would also stay away from Home Depot. For my big purchases, I went to Smolka (perfect example of a place where they suggested something better and cheaper than what I originally chose) - but in general it seems that many places will automatically give you 30% off the list price.
Posted by: FishieFishie at June 30, 2008 12:27 PM in response to Website/store to buy kitchen/bath products
Very interesting, all the negative comments on Housblogs.
For those of you who have seen Angie's List, is it essentially all positive - like Zagat's, with only the praised companies listed - or does it include workmen that people consider to be rude, incompetent, scoundrels?
Posted by: FishieFishie at June 28, 2008 12:37 PM in response to Angies list
Like you, I wanted to look at fixtures "in the flesh" and although there are a few in Manhattan that aren't bad (though I found some of the staff - at Simons and Quintessentials, for instance, to be insufferable), I finally also went out to other boroughs to look around. However, when I was ready to buy, I went to Smolka.
Posted by: FishieFishie at June 27, 2008 11:42 AM in response to Bathroom supplier store
I really appreciate this question, because it's something I've been tempted to do myself.
I've been very leery, because you have no idea when you're paying for - I'm surprised that they don't have a small sample available for free. I don't know what it costs here, but it's up to $80 in some cities, and the more that's on there, the more expensive it gets. That's a lot to pay when you have no idea if you'll get useful results or not.
I've been contemplating the idea of sharing a subscription with someone else, and splitting the cost, so I'm interested to hear that some of you had good experiences.
Posted by: FishieFishie at June 27, 2008 11:35 AM in response to Angies list
Thanks for the Christopher John recommendation. At the moment, more people I've talked to seem to lean toward the hypothesis that the problem is the stove, so I'm still looking for stove repairers (not the "authorized" brand ones), but it's handy to have an eletrician as a fall-back.
Posted by: FishieFishie at January 23, 2008 5:11 PM in response to Stove repair place...or electrician?
Anything beats 311.
Posted by: FishieFishie at January 22, 2008 5:33 PM in response to Bureaucrats
Sorry if I wasn't clear. Funny. I meant that both electricians and repairmen seem to be expensive. It appears to be in the vicinity of $100 just to get one to knock at your door.
The stove is actually not expensive, but I'd still be wanting to get it repaired. Not only do I not have the few extra bucks to spend for a new one right now. But it's also a function of time! When I face a long-term purchase, it takes forever to do the research and comparison shopping.
So repair suggestions are welcome - stove or electricians, either one.
Posted by: FishieFishie at January 22, 2008 5:32 PM in response to Stove repair place...or electrician?
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
As to: the contractor can respond to a bad review:
Not always so. Many responses are deleted not to offend the paying subscriber. I know, I went through this.
Remember the Golden Rules: "the one who pays makes the rules." This is particularly true here. You have to pay to post a comment. You have to pay to be on top of the contractor's list. If this is not a racket, what is?
With Angies, contractors who pay have the upper-hand. Customers who pay are also given preferential treatment.
You pay nothing, you are nothing. You don't even exist.
You try to cancel, you are dead meat.
Posted by: fedupwithangieslist at November 13, 2008 1:45 PM in response to Angies list
Seriously...The reality of that situation is clear across the country. In more suburban areas the parking lot of any Home Depot or Lowe's is usually full of available workers even in good times.
Many years ago a friend of mine who was a "house husband" acted as his own general contractor out in Alameda, CA. He bought a van and went out and rounded up his crew every day.
Repatriation amounts back to mexico are down significantly this year. They were already down in 2008 from peak levels of $25B in 2007. I know my friend is now only working 4 days instead of 6.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 7, 2009 9:15 AM in response to help with moving furniture
DIBS - I thought asians were more your style.
Posted by: SenatorStreet at April 7, 2009 10:25 AM in response to help with moving furniture
I did that for a big clean-out job I had & it worked fine. I took a friend along who speaks Spanish so I could describe the work & what I proposed to pay (& also as a safe step - I'm 65 & female - she is younger.)
Posted by: Arkady at April 7, 2009 10:53 AM in response to help with moving furniture
Give the guy cash. He needs the money!
Now is not the time to be a bureaucrat.
It is a small job.
Posted by: Ysabelle at April 7, 2009 10:58 AM in response to help with moving furniture
Dude, I use day laborers all the time!
Posted by: rh at April 7, 2009 1:20 PM in response to help with moving furniture
Terminix came this morning. They wanted about $1300 (including tax) to install bait stations around the property.
Scheduled an appointment with Kingsway Exterminator this sat.
Anymore recommendations? I am in the Bensonhurst area.
Posted by: zuffy at April 7, 2009 2:23 PM in response to Termites! Help
I've delt with termites in several properties. The most logical and environmentally friendly way to eliminate them is to go with the bait station. The subterranean termites constantly scavange for wood in and around your house. The juicy wood bait is placed around your house in bait stations. These are checked monthly. Once the termites are actively eating the bait and forming trails back to the Queen, the bait is switched for the insecticide laced bait-wood. The insecticide is only present in the bait wood so there is no leaching into the environement or into the water table. The insecticide is taken back to the Queen like a Trojan horse and is consumed at the center of the hive. Once the Queen is dead, the colony is wiped out. Monitoring is continued on a regular basis thereafter because termites are always around and looking to establish new colonies.
This method works. I've seen the results. It's expensive though.Terminix and the other big name exterminators charge big bucks for the treatment.
For do-it-yourselfers, the bait stations and all the materials are available on line for about $200-300 dollars.
Posted by: Legion at April 7, 2009 7:44 PM in response to Termites! Help
Since I am infested already, shouldn't I get a treatment? I would think the bait stations would be a very slow process and it will be hit and miss. Also, I don't get a barrier protection.
Posted by: zuffy at April 8, 2009 10:53 AM in response to Termites! Help
I currently have bait stations. I pay about 200-300 a year for maintenance with terminix and paid about a startup of about 1800. The barrier method is only effective if they do a complete barrier around your house which I think is impossible. My research has provided that bait stations are the better way to go.
Here's the deal. It's impossible to know the damage the termites have already done unless you start opening up walls and ceilings. If your basement has an open ceiling I would start there. Look at all the floor joists and start poking at them with a sharp screwdriver. Believe me, you'll know when the screwdriver goes through the wood if there is damage or not. Then start poking on the sill plate of your house, and look for the damage. Is your house brick or wood frame? The damage could be extensive or minor, it all depends how many termites have been eating and for how long.
Stopping the damage now makes sense. But you also need to access how much damage has already occurred. Don't forget they eat from the inside of the wood. You won't see the damage just by looking you have to poke.
I had a 4x6 wall stud in my house that looked intact. When I grabbed it with my hand it was completely hollow and literally was pulverized.
Posted by: GabeS at April 8, 2009 1:01 PM in response to Termites! Help
I don't use them myself, but I'll mention this place because I know what it's like to be desperate for recommendations. I have a few friends that are with Better Tax Service in Manhattan. My sense is that they're competent people and specialize in returns where the person is in the arts - but tend to be very crowded and brisk.
Good luck!
Posted by: FishieFishie at September 15, 2009 10:23 PM in response to Need New Accountant