The Home Improvements Thread (2)

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Hello, seems like I have a rat that is bothering me for the past weekend now, and is very active in the garage... Camera modect (motion detection) alarm in the garage goes off constantly in the night, of said rat. I want to get rid of this critter, before it can cause an real damage.

Is there any bait that you can recommend, I already got the traps set up etc. I know that I introduced a foreign object(s) in his 'environment', so the rat is very cautious around the traps.
Peanut butter is not an option, those stuff dry out and turn rancid in a few days.
Also, it must be something that is sticky, so that it will not pick it off from the trap trigger.
I was thinking of a Bar-One, spread out some choc crumbs, stick a small piece onto the trap?
 
MeestaR said:
Hello, seems like I have a rat that is bothering me for the past weekend now, and is very active in the garage... Camera modect (motion detection) alarm in the garage goes off constantly in the night, of said rat. I want to get rid of this critter, before it can cause an real damage.

Is there any bait that you can recommend, I already got the traps set up etc. I know that I introduced a foreign object(s) in his 'environment', so the rat is very cautious around the traps.
Peanut butter is not an option, those stuff dry out and turn rancid in a few days.
Also, it must be something that is sticky, so that it will not pick it off from the trap trigger.
I was thinking of a Bar-One, spread out some choc crumbs, stick a small piece onto the trap?
Click to expand...
I've used this before with success:

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The blocks and pellets were a waste of time, they went for the grains.

You should fit bait stations if you have pets/kids around.
 
MeestaR said:
Hello, seems like I have a rat that is bothering me for the past weekend now, and is very active in the garage... Camera modect (motion detection) alarm in the garage goes off constantly in the night, of said rat. I want to get rid of this critter, before it can cause an real damage.

Is there any bait that you can recommend, I already got the traps set up etc. I know that I introduced a foreign object(s) in his 'environment', so the rat is very cautious around the traps.
Peanut butter is not an option, those stuff dry out and turn rancid in a few days.
Also, it must be something that is sticky, so that it will not pick it off from the trap trigger.
I was thinking of a Bar-One, spread out some choc crumbs, stick a small piece onto the trap?
Click to expand...

I am literally sitting with the same problem, one or more rats have figured out my dog food bin is in the garage and have started trying to eat into the side of it.

It keeps taking the bait off the spring trap and getting away safely. I built a custom bucket trap but he/they seem to smart to go for it after a couple days now.

I didn't want to but I think I'm just going to poison the knob.
 
You guys need those glue rat traps.. flat piece of cardboard with a super sticky glue and I think it already comes baited, can't recall..
 
Need some advice please. As some of you might know, I'm goin open plan with a center island. Is it OK to run the gas and oven electricals in separate conduit underground? If so, what do I do with the oven and gas line isolator switches... just stick it at the back under the overhang? (There's pot drawers and things around the oven so cant stick it in the cupboards.)
 
abudabi said:
Need some advice please. As some of you might know, I'm goin open plan with a center island. Is it OK to run the gas and oven electricals in separate conduit underground? If so, what do I do with the oven and gas line isolator switches... just stick it at the back under the overhang? (There's pot drawers and things around the oven so cant stick it in the cupboards.)
Click to expand...
Speak to a gas installer. The compliance requirements are quite hectic - you may be better off with a 9kg inside a cupboard in your island.
 
Yesterday I had a new Samsung wind free AR7500 AC installed in my bedroom. It replaced the old non-inverter Defy that was crazy noisy outside when running (moved it to the TV room).

Tested it last night and the wind free function I reckon is a bit overrated, but the the big problem is there is a high pitched high frequency soft sound (on top of the little bit of wind noise which is expected) when running. My ears are still good so it drives me crazy. Will not be able to sleep with it on. Jeez, so much money spent already on this, was trusting it will just work perfectly from the get go.
 
Steamy Tom said:
I am literally sitting with the same problem, one or more rats have figured out my dog food bin is in the garage and have started trying to eat into the side of it.

It keeps taking the bait off the spring trap and getting away safely. I built a custom bucket trap but he/they seem to smart to go for it after a couple days now.

I didn't want to but I think I'm just going to poison the knob.
Click to expand...
Eish, I don't have the option to poison the rat, just scared that the rat ends up dead, where the dog can reach it... Seems like mine has been spooked, or just avoiding the place.

Haha, if I had the option to shoot the bugger, then I would have sorted it long ago.
 
GrootBaas said:
Yesterday I had a new Samsung wind free AR7500 AC installed in my bedroom. It replaced the old non-inverter Defy that was crazy noisy outside when running (moved it to the TV room).

Tested it last night and the wind free function I reckon is a bit overrated, but the the big problem is there is a high pitched high frequency soft sound (on top of the little bit of wind noise which is expected) when running. My ears are still good so it drives me crazy. Will not be able to sleep with it on. Jeez, so much money spent already on this, was trusting it will just work perfectly from the get go.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure what Samsung aircon I have (about 2 years old), but I also having a high pitched noise. Oddly enough I don't hear it in the laundry room which is behind the unit and where the pipes/wiring come through the wall.

To me it sounds like a high pitched electrical sound. I haven't bothered researching or getting it checked out though, since the noise is in the laundry room.
 
Jaws677 said:
Try and get a copy of SANS10087-1:2013


Two 48kg bottles outside is so much more convenient than replace a 9kg every few weeks...
Click to expand...
Yeah it is, but the regulations state:

Gas bottles may not be installed:

  • Less than 1 metre sideways from doors and windows.
  • Less than 2 metres from drains and air vents.
  • Less than 3 metres below windows (unless a non-combustible roof is installed).
  • Less than 1 metre from the property boundary wall (unless it is a fire wall).
  • Less than 5 metres sideways away from a switchable electric point or plug switch.
  • Light bulbs may not be less than 1,5 metres above a gas bottle.
Other installation rules:

  • Only class 1 or 2 copper pipes, or other approved gas piping, may be used. Note: This is not the same copper piping used by plumbers.
  • Copper pipes going through a wall must be sleeved.
  • Approved flexible gas hose may not be more than two meters long and may not go through any partition (including wood, dry wall, cupboard wall etc).
 
ElixirCoder said:
Yeah it is, but the regulations state:

Gas bottles may not be installed:

  • Less than 1 metre sideways from doors and windows.
  • Less than 2 metres from drains and air vents.
  • Less than 3 metres below windows (unless a non-combustible roof is installed).
  • Less than 1 metre from the property boundary wall (unless it is a fire wall).
  • Less than 5 metres sideways away from a switchable electric point or plug switch.
  • Light bulbs may not be less than 1,5 metres above a gas bottle.
Other installation rules:

  • Only class 1 or 2 copper pipes, or other approved gas piping, may be used. Note: This is not the same copper piping used by plumbers.
  • Copper pipes going through a wall must be sleeved.
  • Approved flexible gas hose may not be more than two meters long and may not go through any partition (including wood, dry wall, cupboard wall etc).
Click to expand...
Also

I have a 9kg as there’s nowhere I’m able to install a gas line and bottles outside within the regulations. My 9kg last 3 - 4 months with quite heavy usage.
 
ElixirCoder said:
Speak to a gas installer. The compliance requirements are quite hectic - you may be better off with a 9kg inside a cupboard in your island.
Click to expand...

Found this: https://thegasman.co.za/pages/lp-gas-regulations

Copper lines are required to be sleeved/protected if it’s to enter through a wall, Concrete or underground. This stops the copper from corroding.

So looks like I'll be good on the gas side. The stove isolator switch however would a problem then according to these regs:
1638860495226.png
And figure 15 & 16 all deal with the hob backed onto the wall (no island).

So for you guys with islands.. Is your isolator switch on one of your other walls? This could be a problem for me as the cabling is routed through a section that we're turning into a pantry... so it'll be in a cupboard about 2 meters away. Any thoughts on that while I search for more regs?
 
Jaws677 said:
Try and get a copy of SANS10087-1:2013


Two 48kg bottles outside is so much more convenient than replace a 9kg every few weeks...
Click to expand...
I think you'd need an industrial stir fry burner to be going through a 9kg in a few weeks.
My 9kg lasts me months.

Two 48kg bottles would last me a few years - would be convenient though.
 
WAslayer said:
You guys need those glue rat traps.. flat piece of cardboard with a super sticky glue and I think it already comes baited, can't recall..
Click to expand...

Had a problem with rats back in Jhb. They started getting into the cars and caused issues with wiring getting chewed. Tried various different bait traps and cages but nothing ever caught one.

Someone gave me some advice to spray Jeyes Fluid around the house and under carport where they caused ****. Also to hang stockings with mothballs around the cars.

Worked a treat. Never saw another rat as long as we lived there. Once they left we stopped spraying and no problems again.
 
maxxis said:
Had a problem with rats back in Jhb. They started getting into the cars and caused issues with wiring getting chewed. Tried various different bait traps and cages but nothing ever caught one.

Someone gave me some advice to spray Jeyes Fluid around the house and under carport where they caused ****. Also to hang stockings with mothballs around the cars.

Worked a treat. Never saw another rat as long as we lived there. Once they left we stopped spraying and no problems again.
Click to expand...
Haven't heard of this one before.. the glue traps worked well in my mother's place and no need to worry about pets getting poisoned etc if they get hold of the trapped rats..
 
for rats / insects / spiders and other wild life - I just use moth balls. I put moth balls in my pool pump electrical box / letter box / mains water meter box. I toss them in my roof as well keeps the mice / geko's out.
 
Need a recommendation to a roof waterproofing specialist in JHB - northern suburbs please

I had torch-on waterproofing installed on a large concrete slab. It holds up okay, but still leaks under severe rainfall. Scumbag installer keeps on trying to sell me more waterproofing and does not want to honor his supposed warranty. Done with his BS
 
Tman* said:
Need a recommendation to a roof waterproofing specialist in JHB - northern suburbs please

I had torch-on waterproofing installed on a large concrete slab. It holds up okay, but still leaks under severe rainfall. Scumbag installer keeps on trying to sell me more waterproofing and does not want to honor his supposed warranty. Done with his BS
Click to expand...
That's better than the guy who did my roof, he's somewhere in the UK now. Pissed off in March did my roof in August and even in October when we had rain he was humming and aaahing, the roof guys are dickx
 
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