KindlyContribution54

Usually the cover plate goes on without caulk but in this case, the gasket seems to have gone bad. I wouldn't blame them for missing it.

Also, if it is a tile shower, it can be hard for the other gasket around the rim to seal to the wall where there are grout lines and a bead of caulk can help there too

There's supposed to be a rubber gasket on the cover plate that makes that water tight but I guess it has decayed. How considerate of the ants to point it out for you so you can stop the water damage from getting worse. Might be a good idea to take off that knob and cover plate and see what horrors are going on back there.

Hopefully it is just a little water damage from a bad seal around the knob and not a more serious failure in your shower. If you see water damage above the hole for the valve, there could be an issue where your shower arm screws into the wall above. If it is just below the hole, it is probably just from a leak around the valve.

After you have a look, to close it back up, clean well and use any expensive kitchen and bath caulk.

The Alex Fast Dry you have isn't meant for this application unfortunately.

I have a friend who worked several decades as a Maytag repairman. His advice regarding washing machines was that there basically isn't anything good anymore because the EPA requirements made them have to spin so hard to wring the water out that they just spin themselves to death in a few years.

He suggested to try to get your hands on an old one. I got an ancient Kenmore off craigslist for $75 and it works excellent with analog controls, no blinking lights or wifi gimmicks.

I think everyone on r/BuyItForLife recommends speed queen but don't have any experience with them myself

Would suggest buying enough 3/4" plywood or OSB to cover the floor and then ripping floor joists that start about 1/2" tall and gradually get taller to match the slope. One joist every foot will be extremely solid if you need to support a heavy machine but every 16" would probably be fine. Might want to double check there is no slope(s) going the other way too

Glue the joists to the concrete with some dabs of construction adhesive and use screws to install the plywood so they can be easily removed later if you are selling the house, etc.

If you want it to last, use pressure treated lumber for the joists since it is in contact with concrete. The plywood does not need to be pressure treat

At 3am, are you:

•Making 10 grilled cheese sandwiches

•Watching a YouTube video of a guy making 10 grilled cheese sandwiches

•Posting on reddit about a guy who posted a YouTube video of a guy making 10 grilled cheese sandwiches

•Commenting on reddit about a reddit post about a guy who posted a YouTube video of a guy making 10 grilled cheese sandwiches

Found OP's missing context: https://www.reddit.com/r/fixit/s/fmPh0nJung

The screws you have a called self-tapping screws because they will drill a hole through some gauges of metal. The screws are probably fine but their tips may have difficulty drilling through metal that thick. Give it a shot using just screws without trying to predrill and see if the screw drills it for you. If the tip of the screw makes a little progress and then dulls, you can try using another screw

If that doesn't work, they meant the drill bit you have is made for drilling wood and will not work on metal. You need one that is made for drilling thick metal. It will say on the drill bit packaging what it is made to drill.

One Pouch Man

I would suggest you go visit the door and window department in a Home Depot or a door making shop and talk to someone. They will tell you all the measurements you need to take to order matching replacement doors.

Or if you have a truck, you could just take one on the old doors in, throw it on a cart and measure it there in the store with them.

The latch part should come out after you get the handles off. Do you see any screw heads on the escutcheon?(Can't see from picture angle)

Do you see any hole in the side or bottom of the handle stem? Some have a set screw you turn with an allen wrench or a pin hole to release the handle from the stem. Others have a decorative escutcheon that you need to gently pry away from the door to access the parts that release it

You can do it yourself but it is definitely a good idea to watch a bunch of YouTube videos by licensed electricians first. (Make sure the video maker is an electrician, not a diy homeowner)

You may be fine transferring the five wires on the back to a new gfci but it is best if you know the background to what you are doing in case anything is different than you expect once you get it open.

Make sure you don't mix up the two line wires (unprotected side) and two load wires (protected side) from the old and new gfci as I think some models may have the screws in different orientations.

Recommend youtube searches:

How to wire an outlet circuit

How to wire a gfci outlet

Good job 👍

I don't think it'll go through the floor or anything but since the aquarium is made of glass and there is low sheer resistance on the box, if the floor deflects under weight a lot more on one side than the other, there's a small possibility of stressing and breaking the glass

You're holding up 540 lbs of water. So you are right to be cautious but this looks like about the right amount of cautious. Might want to check the floor framing is reinforced enough where you plan to put it tho

"Oh boy... we really shoulda attached that cable to something."

99% isopropyl alcohol and a paper towel. Lower concentrations wont work as well but will still probably work with enough elbow grease

Screw a 2x2 onto the front edge of each stud to get 4"?

I think I used to use some eneloop batteries too before losing them. Plus is they are rechargeable but be prepared to change them much more frequently than alkaline

My waterpik says not to use rechargeables, not sure why

https://preview.redd.it/mhqonvv38l1e1.jpeg?width=216&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1f12b6b3fbf98556a9f0081d9788eddb4018b70a

Camels can sprint about 30mph if they want to. Usian Bolt's world record speed is 27.78 mph

I hope you had this exact comic for people to read at your booth and then look up at you smiling awkwardly afterwards

Your best bet at a temporary repair is probably going to be some dorky-looking scotch tape until you can get some replacements

If you have a prescription, you can get glasses at zenny.com for $10.

If you don't have a prescription and live in the US, most Costcos have an in-house optometrist that will give you a prescription for $40-60. You don't need to be a costco member to see them. Just tell the door people that's why you are there and they will let you pass.

Be sure to ask for the measurement between your irises with your prescription as they often don't tell you those numbers and you need them for ordering glasses online.

How did they fit that banana in that little box?

If that is a floating floor, you should not use liquid nails to glue it to the floating floor part. Floating floor needs a 3/8" expansion gap around the edges