The Home Improvements Thread (2)

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CamiKaze said:
So I have a gas geyser, and usually in winter, when turning on the hot water tap, sone gas bleeds for a while then it ignites the flame. I've noticed that this only happens in winter. Problem is that when it bleeds, and the flame is ignited, there is an explosion of some sort every time.

Now with an explosion, it obviously affects the air in the room, there is some pressure/force or whatever and the result is that my ceiling cornices become loose. I replaced my bathroom ceiling twice within a time period of 4 years. The cornice nearly fell on my head this morning.

Is there perhaps a strong ceiling board and cornice that can withstand this problem? Does anyone experience the same type of explosion during winter?
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Is this even normal?
 
CamiKaze said:
So I have a gas geyser, and usually in winter, when turning on the hot water tap, sone gas bleeds for a while then it ignites the flame. I've noticed that this only happens in winter. Problem is that when it bleeds, and the flame is ignited, there is an explosion of some sort every time.

Now with an explosion, it obviously affects the air in the room, there is some pressure/force or whatever and the result is that my ceiling cornices become loose. I replaced my bathroom ceiling twice within a time period of 4 years. The cornice nearly fell on my head this morning.

Is there perhaps a strong ceiling board and cornice that can withstand this problem? Does anyone experience the same type of explosion during winter?
Click to expand...
Why not fix the gas issue instead of trying to band aid, by fixing (what's not actually broken) the ceiling and cornices..

Stupid guess here but, if it only happens in winter, I would say the issue may be related to the gas nozzle contracting with the cold..

Or, the most likely problem, the nozzle is dirty and needs a clean..
 
xrapidx said:
I've picked up that this year - with making our house more open plan - its ^#$^%$@# cold. So now I'm on a renovation path again... want to find a fire place big enough to warm a good portion of the house - bedrooms have aircons for heating.

Plan is to remove our old bar - put in a smaller bar - and put in some sort of fireplace in the lounge.
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Eurofireplaces.co.za
 
ToxicBunny said:
I'm not suggesting full HA... Just a sonoff with a schedule... Then you have control via their app if you want or you just leave it to do its own thing.
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You made me remember that I have a Sonoff lying in my cupboard somewhere...must see if I can find it. Thanks!
 
CamiKaze said:
So I have a gas geyser, and usually in winter, when turning on the hot water tap, sone gas bleeds for a while then it ignites the flame. I've noticed that this only happens in winter. Problem is that when it bleeds, and the flame is ignited, there is an explosion of some sort every time.

Now with an explosion, it obviously affects the air in the room, there is some pressure/force or whatever and the result is that my ceiling cornices become loose. I replaced my bathroom ceiling twice within a time period of 4 years. The cornice nearly fell on my head this morning.

Is there perhaps a strong ceiling board and cornice that can withstand this problem? Does anyone experience the same type of explosion during winter?
Click to expand...
Gas is better at higher temperature and it's because the gas is cold.
I would be weary of that situation if it's that bad.
 
Anyone who had a shower build ? What's the moola like ? Or renovated a full bathroom ?
Also, costs to fit a jacuzzi, build a deck ?
 
Mista_Mobsta said:
Anyone have any experience in DIY downlights? Am looking to redo the lighting in my spot after the roof insulation was replaced and have been looking to install downlights for a while. Will also look to DIY cable rails inside the ceiling for all the various cables going through while I am at it. Anything that I need to keep in mid re installing etc?
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TIP: To be compliant, every metal part of the fitting must be earthed securely, this is often not the case with the cheap fittings and their separate Wire Junction Box.

In my previous house, an electrician had to drill a hole and mount an extra earth wire to every light housing before a certificate got issued.
 
chickenbeef said:
I asked for recommendations on someone to install my aircons in the old thread and Mark from Cape Climate was recommended. Just thought I'd follow up and post my feedback on how things went.

Communication was excellent. Mark was quick to respond to e-mails even out of normal office hours.

I had them install 2 split units today (R2800 ex VAT per unit), the 1 was side to back and the other back to back. Took them 3 hours to install both units and they cleaned up afterwards too (there's still a bit of dust but most of the mess they made they cleaned up). The team he sent to do the install were quite friendly and did exactly what I asked them to do.

I also used their recommended electrician to do the wiring to the DB board (R2000 ex VAT per unit) and installation of the breakers. This guy was a bit untidy and I wasn't too happy with the neatness of his work. He didn't use any trunking to cover up the wires nor did he affix them to the wall with any sort of clips so I'll have to sort that out myself.

Overall, they get a thumbs up from me but I wouldn't pay their electrician the R2k he charged again - I can do a better job of it myself.
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Thank You for the info. Did they trunk the pipes, or just left the insulated pipes in the open? Also did they drill a single hole and sleeved said hole?

Do you have some photos, it usually helps to show the workmanship...

I am also looking at having some units installed again, but the previous guys I used a few years back really botched up the job - they came recommended by the sales agent. They did not even seal the holes they made, causing whistling everytime the wind blew and they made an insulation-tape-seal in the open air outside, because they cut the wires to short. I had to have a plug/socket installed in the roof at the location before they even arrived on site. The AC installation was an additional R1500 and honestly, renting a proper drill and doing it myself would have been cheaper and neater, since all the parts they used on site came packaged in the box with the AC Unit.

In summary, they came to site, unpacked the wrong size drill (drilling three or four holes to make a big enough hole to fit all the pipes), marked the mounting position (which interfered with the only other thing on the entire wall - the Decoder Dish), mounted the AC, and plugged it into the wall socket (after re-adding a plug, they happily cut off of the unit before even inspecting the final installation location).
 
CamiKaze said:
So I have a gas geyser, and usually in winter, when turning on the hot water tap, sone gas bleeds for a while then it ignites the flame. I've noticed that this only happens in winter. Problem is that when it bleeds, and the flame is ignited, there is an explosion of some sort every time.
emoji16.png


Now with an explosion, it obviously affects the air in the room, there is some pressure/force or whatever and the result is that my ceiling cornices become loose. I replaced my bathroom ceiling twice within a time period of 4 years. The cornice nearly fell on my head this morning.

Is there perhaps a strong ceiling board and cornice that can withstand this problem? Does anyone experience the same type of explosion during winter?
Click to expand...

This might somewhat explains your Name here on MBB, seriously though, get someone out to fix the problem with the geyser, as that is not normal.

Next time when replacing the ceiling again, ensure that the battens are screwed to the lateral roof beams (not sure of all the technical terms to use here). Previously Nails were perfectly acceptable for this job, but causes the ceiling board to flex somewhat, thus in turn causing the cornices to come loose.

Also (and I am merely thinking out loud here) maybe adding an extractor fan to the bathroom, will give the built up pressure from the "explosions" a way to escape to the room without taking your ceiling with it.
 
D4N_CPT said:
This might somewhat explains your Name here on MBB, seriously though, get someone out to fix the problem with the geyser, as that is not normal.

Next time when replacing the ceiling again, ensure that the battens are screwed to the lateral roof beams (not sure of all the technical terms to use here). Previously Nails were perfectly acceptable for this job, but causes the ceiling board to flex somewhat, thus in turn causing the cornices to come loose.

Also (and I am merely thinking out loud here) maybe adding an extractor fan to the bathroom, will give the built up pressure from the "explosions" a way to escape to the room without taking your ceiling with it.
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:D

I am planning on getting an extractor fan as my normal vent does not seem to be doing much. Will probably grind a hole and add said fan.
Is there an extractor fan with a motion detector that anyone can recommend?
 
D4N_CPT said:
Thank You for the info. Did they trunk the pipes, or just left the insulated pipes in the open? Also did they drill a single hole and sleeved said hole?

Do you have some photos, it usually helps to show the workmanship...

I am also looking at having some units installed again, but the previous guys I used a few years back really botched up the job - they came recommended by the sales agent. They did not even seal the holes they made, causing whistling everytime the wind blew and they made an insulation-tape-seal in the open air outside, because they cut the wires to short. I had to have a plug/socket installed in the roof at the location before they even arrived on site. The AC installation was an additional R1500 and honestly, renting a proper drill and doing it myself would have been cheaper and neater, since all the parts they used on site came packaged in the box with the AC Unit.

In summary, they came to site, unpacked the wrong size drill (drilling three or four holes to make a big enough hole to fit all the pipes), marked the mounting position (which interfered with the only other thing on the entire wall - the Decoder Dish), mounted the AC, and plugged it into the wall socket (after re-adding a plug, they happily cut off of the unit before even inspecting the final installation location).
Click to expand...

They made a single hole and sealed it with polyfilla. I still need to sand it down and paint over it.

I didn't need trunking on the exterior pipes as I wanted the units mounted high up and out of the way (still out of the sun) so it's directly behind the hole they made.
 
CamiKaze said:
So I have a gas geyser, and usually in winter, when turning on the hot water tap, sone gas bleeds for a while then it ignites the flame. I've noticed that this only happens in winter. Problem is that when it bleeds, and the flame is ignited, there is an explosion of some sort every time.

Now with an explosion, it obviously affects the air in the room, there is some pressure/force or whatever and the result is that my ceiling cornices become loose. I replaced my bathroom ceiling twice within a time period of 4 years. The cornice nearly fell on my head this morning.

Is there perhaps a strong ceiling board and cornice that can withstand this problem? Does anyone experience the same type of explosion during winter?
Click to expand...

jirre and you use the thing
 
xrapidx said:
Quite a bit cheaper than other places, do you have personal experience with them?

I'd be looking at something like this: http://eurofireplaces.co.za/modena lux red.html
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I emailed them last month. I have yet to view their store.
The tone seemed nice and all that over email.
I might need a custom solution to what I am trying to achieve at home so I will check them out sometime soon.
 
Yea these things are supposed to be outside. The cheaper units have a flue as well.

I would have that looked at asap.
 
Steamy Tom said:
something seems wrong o_O

imo personally also i would have put the unit outside.
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Bought the house with geyser installed on the inside. The temperature and flame strength controller is on the unit as well.
 
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