What is the "green" way to discard an old microwave oven?
The heating unit in my old microwave oven went out a few months ago. How do I discard the oven in an environmentally friendly manner?
Floyd W
Question answered by ghouly05
Here are some ideas from the site indicated below.
Your unwanted household items can have a life again if you donate them to charity. Organizations such as Goodwill Industries will take your donations, sort and sometimes repair them, and resell them in thrift shops nationwide. Broken items are fixed, and scrap materials (like worn-out textiles) are sold for recycling. Goodwill provides jobs and job training for tens of thousands of people who would otherwise have trouble finding work. In 1994 alone Goodwill assisted 25,000 people finding placement in the private sector, helping many people get off public assistance. Wash the clothing, and try to include manuals or brochures on appliances (especially if broken). Surf the net, scan the white pages or look in the yellow pages under "Thrift Shops" for a charity and drop-off center near you.
Another great option is the local repair shop. Don't expect to sell your old appliance, just give it to the shop for use as spare parts.
Is it safe to use asphalt wire loom on existing wiring?
I'm patching some sections of wiring in the engine compartment were the factory loom has all but disintegrated. Some of the wires run along the manifold or touch the engine in spots, I want to use that asphalt wire loom but it comes in solid pieces, it isn't split like the plastic loom. I sliced a section of it open to install and it looks like it could fray after time - is it safe to use it? The asphalt loom has a heat rating 50 degrees higher than the plastic loom.
Jeff S
Question answered by Zzonyx
No wires are supposed to run along or even close to the manifold unless properly protected by the correct-grade insulation. Don't improvise or your car might go up in flames. Use only automotive-grade wiring, the best solution is to use the original spare part loom.
You might try also the silicon-insulated wiring (used in household appliances such as ovens), but only if properly sized, mechanically protected and secured to the fixed parts of the body. This would be the "last option".
Don't use anything that looks as it might fray, because sooner or later it will.
Better be safe than sorry.
Can an Italian diswasher of 220-240 v and 50H be used in the USA with a transformer? What kind?
I am thinking of taking all my electrical home gadgets (dishwasher, tv's, refrigerator, etc.) to the USA.
My dishwasher's label reads: 50 H (I'm not worried about the voltage because a transformer solves that issue). I need 60 H. Is there a frequency inverter? Is that what I need?
Cicci
Question answered by Arturo
I think it would be a huge waste. Big appliances (such as fridge, dishwasher, etc.) suck a lot of energy and will require bulky transformers which will generate heat and be prone to electric and fire hazards.
Moreover, if your appliances develop any problem because of the transport and different conditions of use, there will be no spare parts available locally and therefore it would be almost impossible to get them repaired.
Besides, Italian TV sets won't work in the US because of different channel and frequencies allocation.
Unless somebody else is paying for your move, I suggest you to sell everything and buy new stuff in the US.
I live on the jersey shore and was wondering if hurricane irene is really that big of a deal or no big deal?
I literally live right on the shore where they film the show will it be a mandatory evacuation?
Jenna
Question answered by
Ok, so first, we should look at the basics. Hurricane Irene hit some parts of South America, the Bahamas, and now it is coming towards the Eastern Coast of the USA, right? So, it will be hitting New Jersey. Now the thing is... Should you be worried? Also, they might evacuate you. If not:
I personally don't think you should be THAT worried. Basically you just need to be prepared. Here are the things you should do to prepare: Make your house stable, Stock up on things like food and water, bring outdoors furniture indoors, and keep all phones and electrical everyday- use appliances in reach.
Stabilize house: Things that are outdoors (like chairs or plant pots) can come crashing through your windows from the strong wind. To block them, buy some steel sheets or hurricane-proof glass to nail to the windows. That way, you don't have to worry about getting hit by a lawn mower.
Stock Up: Stocks up on food- crackers, some bread, milk, fruit, cheese, canned meat, and other canned food. these things don't really need heat to be eaten. Water- Clean out your bath tub to put clean water inside for washing and flushing. Also, get lots and lots of water that can last you for at least two weeks. Also, try to get one of those mini fridges if your electricity doesn't go out, to store food in (unlikely, though). Light: NO CANDLES. Candles can get blown off by wind, and that can light your house on fire. Get some lamps and flashlights, instead. Hygiene: Since you have the water in your bathtub(s), you can wash. Get some spare clothes, some soap, toothpaste (usefull to keep bugs away, too) and toothbrushes. Oh, and toilet paper. You don't want to feel mucky and gross for days. Last of all, important papers. You may get evacuated, so you would need things like passports and visas. Definitely keep those.
Bring furniture in: You may have some chairs and plant pots in your front/back yards. Those can fly off and hit someone. Keep those inside.
Keep things in reach: Keep your phone with you! In case of an emergency, and the call line works, you will need a phone. Also keep a generator in case there is a power outage (likely).
Now you're Set!
Can Japanese products still be trusted?
Recently Japanese branded appliances have been going out of order. And now my Fujitsu laptop has crashed after only 5 years. And the spare parts are made in China and Korea, without specifying which Korea.
I have deadlines this week! What do I do? Can I still buy Japanese branded laptops?
Yahoo recommended travel category for this question. It's hard to change categories on mobile. I need a laptop!!!
Conquest of Paradise
Question answered by ideaquest
For laptops, the parts that failure are usually the harddisk, battery or power supply. The screen also can be damaged if not careful. Typical times for these parts to fail is after 2 years. The battery will lose it's ability to hold charge. The harddisk will develop bad sectors. The laptop will also generate more heat and stress the power supply.
Additionally, many Japanese vendors are also doing their manufacturing offshore, e.g. Sony. So the reliability can only be enhanced by better QA inspection and Extended Warranty. That means that they do expect some of the products to failure but they are willing to replace them if you are willing to buy the Extended Warranty at a certain charge. This is basically an insurance type of calculation. It doesn't mean that the reliability of the product has improved but that a commercial arrangement is put in place to guard you against some units that will die prematurely.
Other known brands will do just as well. Dell, Acer, Lenovo. You don't have to pay premium. A lot of it is in the brand name and marketing. Save the money for the extended warranty and get a replacement part if possible.
Have the rooms in people’s houses changed much compared to the rooms of your parents’ time?
what are those changes?
thx~
Real
Question answered by Dawn G
I grew up in the 50s...my parent's house was fairly new when we moved into it. We lived in Southern California.
Three bedroom houses were unusual...two bedrooms was the norm. And only one bathroom, which often did not have a shower.
Most bedrooms had a light mounted on the wall or ceiling that was controlled by a switch near the door: the idea of a wall plug controlled by a switch hadn't occurred yet. Most rooms had no more than two electrical outlets...we didn't have a lot of electrical appliances back then.
If you had a garage at all, it was probably a one-car garage and it wasn't attached to the house, so you had to walk in from the garage with your arms full of grocery bags through the rain or whatever weather was happening in your part of the country.
New houses of this era did not have dining rooms...our grandparents' houses had dining rooms (but sometimes no bathrooms!! They had outhouses!). Our house had a large kitchen with room for the kitchen table (one of those chrome and formica dinette sets so popular in the 50s). Kitchens of that era had free-standing stoves, the refrigerators did not have frost-free freezers, and the dishwasher was a member of the household, usually a child! There were few cupboards in the kitchens (but the big stove had drawers for storing your pots), very little countertop space (just a little on either side of the sink) and usually only one or two electrical outlets. If you needed space to stir up a cake, chop up an onion, or pound a tough piece of meat into submission, you had the kitchen table.
Furnishings were spare by today's standards, and often hand-me-downs from older family members who could afford to buy new stuff as they advanced in their careers. There were no credit cards as we know them today, so you saved your money and paid cash for almost everything...you only borrowed money for big purchases, like a house or a car. There were a few stores that granted credit, like Sears, but for the most part, if you didn't have the cash, you didn't get it.
We had one radio, one TV (both of which were absolutely controlled by the parents) and many of my friends did not have TVs (everybody had radios, though). We mowed lawns with push mowers and did our level best to be outside as much as possible because if we were inside, our mothers might find chores for us to do!
Houses today are full of labour-saving devices and luxuries that were unheard of in the 50s...separate, double-sized showers, jacuzzi tubs, double sinks in the bathroom, multiple bathrooms, open plan spaces, family rooms, multiple electrical outlets in every room, security systems, kitchens with built-in stoves, wall ovens, garbage disposals, sink sprayers, dishwashers, instant-hot water, and miles of counter space and cupboards, microwave ovens and other electric appliances coming out the ears (we had a toaster and a mixer...that was it!), frost-free freezers and fridges that dispense water and automatically made ice, laundry rooms with automatic washers and dryers (we had wringer washers and clotheslines!). Today's houses have ducted heat and even a/c...we had a wall heater in the living room...no heat in the bedrooms at all!
So have houses changed much? Oh, very, very much! But so have our lives and the way we live!
I need a part for my boiler thats blown up, any advice?
NIcole
Question answered by starlet108
Heating replacement parts or HRP. They are online or look at the site for the nearest branch to you. They stock everything .
Despite what people are saying it IS NOT illegal to work on gas appliances in your own home - so say the rules of CORGI. To all those who say otherwise, check your CORGI handbook and it is only illegal if you work on someone elses property/appliance. Obviously if an accident should occur you would be liable if it affects other people. That is why you can still buy spares without being registered. xx
Having left an electric water kettle on stove element when accidently turned on, now it doesn't work. Can fix?
Astralla L
Question answered by Flying Dragon
I presume you mean the electric kettle was heated by the stove element with no water in it. Many of those electrically heated appliances have a thermal fuse which is supposed to shut off the power, if for some reason it is overheating to try to avoid fires. I suspect that is what has happened, although it could be some other part has melted or what ever. If you know how to use a VOM or continutiy tester, you can probably find the defective part. The hard part is locating a replacement because most of these cheap electric appliances are pretty much considered "throw aways" now. Most companies make no attempt to supply spare parts.
tips for keeping your home safe while you go on holiday?
Question answered by English rosethorn
I can see that most people have suggested that the house is visited by a neighbour or relative who lives nearby daily to do the lights and curtains for you. Or if there is no one to trust leave a low wattage bulb on all the time in the hall.
There are two sorts of burglars. Opportunity and Stalker. The first, if they know you will be away will take the chance that there might be something to steal, the second knows you have and will be watching the house for other signs.
They could be checking your bin to see if it is empty, that nothing extra has been added recently. I put mine in the Garage.
If you usually park the car somewhere visible and it is not there, that is another sign. The grass growing longer than you normally allow or the planters are not being deadheaded. So give some thought to that sort of thing. Thoroughly mow and trim just before you leave.
If you have valuables in the home it is wise to protect them in your absence by hiding them. Take photos of them to keep too, so that in the worst case, you can show to the police what was taken. It also helps if you need to make an insurance claim.
When you have to tell some one you do not know, that you are going on holiday, the taxi driver perhaps who is taking you to the airport or even if you are telling your hairdresser and some one can over hear. Add that your sister or daughter (you choose who) is staying over for the time. To look after pets perhaps. Wave to nobody at the window from the taxi as you leave the house.
Water can cause a lot of damage if there is a leak so turn it off.
If you are going away in winter set the heating to come on for an hour or so each day to keep the place warm.
Fires can happen. You should turn off and unplug every non-essential appliance. If you are considering turning off all the electricity then you can not have a light on, and the freezer better be empty, you may not be able to keep the heating on. Your burglar alarm wont work either
Throw out, freeze or compost any food which may rot and get smelly.
Close all the internal doors, spray a little fly spray into the room as you go. Pour some disinfectant or bleach into plugholes in sinks, washbasins, baths, showers and the lavatory.
You could also leave the telephone off the hook so if any one calls it always sounds engaged. Try and answer e-mails whist away. Some one could e-mail you to check if you are replying. So watch what you say to any one you are unsure of.
Hide the keys to the car and parts of the home which are locked. If you keep a spare set of keys for another person, with their name on the key ring, your burglar may be able to get into their house too. Hide any banking details credit debit cards you are not taking with you.
Put your name and address on a label inside the lid of your suitcase with the number of some one who can be reached whilst you are away. if the cases are lost, then you can be re-united with them quicker by doing this.
Keep a photo copy of your passport. Even scan and keep a copy of it on an e-mail you send to your self, this can be invaluable if it gets lost or stolen whilst you are abroad. Travellers cheques too. The details can be retrieved by you anywhere in the world.
When packing suitcases always keep a change of clothes in another persons case, if you can. Bags can be delayed when flying but it is unusual for an entire party to loose all their cases. Best to pack half and half if you are a couple, you can probably manage with half your stuff anyway.
Electrical question -- Lights are dimming and going bright depending on what other appliances are in use...?
Went to our beach house this weekend. As the weekend progressed, I was getting less and less electricity. By Sunday morning the microwave wouldn't heat (although the light came on); washing machine wouldn't finish a cycle; heater wouldn't run. But, lights would still come on (but dimming and brightening). I hadn't been to the house for about a month. Checked the meter, couldn't see any sign that power had been shut down or limited in some way. What could be causing this?
Bobweb: Thanks so much for the quick and thorough reply! I am going to leave this open this evening in case anyone has further details, but it sure sounds like you know your stuff! Again, many thanks!
herding cats
Question answered by bobweb
You've got a bad connection in one of the main service wire connections in your power box where all the circuit breakers or fuses are located. That could cause a fire due to the heat generated in a bad connection, so you need to get this fixed. I wouldn't want to sleep in the house myself until it is repaired. It probably will be an easy repair, where the electrician simply tightens up a set screw that holds the wire, but if the problem has persisted long enough he might need to replace the connector block or move the wires to a spare connector block that is not being used. So basically you've got to pay him to drive out to the house and work for 3 hours at most which should be less than $325 dollars, unless there is some extenuating circumstance. The parts cost should be negligible. It's possible it could be in the electric power meter or outside service wire, so call your local power company first to make sure that the bad connection is somewhere in your house in which case they're not obligated to fix it.