http://www.startribune.com/fixit-wha...evel/11468916/

And while I'm serial posting, it's worth noting that most consumer grade hygrometers are wildly inaccurate.

Is anyone familiar with this program?

Section 502 Guaranteed Rural Housing Loan Program

https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/...RANTEEDLOA.PDF

Long story short, I was in a car accident a few years ago and have permanent disability. I'm pretty sure I qualify but I'm wondering if it's something where you get put on a waiting list for a few years until something is available. Basically it allows you to buy a house without a down payment. You gotta live out in the sticks though. You can't get a townhouse in NYC or something like that.

Not exactly but a long time ago I was an FHA appraiser and my guess is that it's not a waiting list and you just need to find a lender who offers it. The no or low down programs I was involved with weren't because of grants, but a mortgage insurance program.

I have two lights outside my garage door. Presumably on the same circuit/switch. But they won't turn on. I've replaced the bulbs, but nothing. I don't even know where to start troubleshooting.
I have an outdoor light near the sidewalk that works off a light sensor (no switch, comes on automatically from dusk-dawn). This works just fine. I don't think the lights near the garage are on the same timer because my neighbor has a similar layout, his house was made by the same builder, and his work independently from the one he has near the road (which also auto on/off based on light).

If there is a switch, I don't know where it is. I've looked all over the garage and can't find anything. No breakers are tripped in my panel.

Is there a way I can trace this wiring through my walls? I am really lost here...

It's possible the switch got covered up by the drywallers and the electrician didn't notice (or care enough to fix it). Go to reasonable locations for a switch, maybe using your neighbor's house for inspiration, and rub your hand over the walls. If a switch box did get covered up there should be a noticeable bump in the drywall where it happened.

Or just call an electrician and let them figure it out.

Where is the neighbor's switch?

not sure about the layout of your house but have you confirmed the operation of all your switches (knowing the lights they turn on)? i could see those lights being controlled by a switch inside your front door or somewhere in the house just outside the door to your garage. can you tell if those lights are on motion sensors?

If you are on good terms with the neighbor, go ask him about how to turn them on.

If he shows you a switch that you don't have, that narrows down where the problem is.

You then can trace his switch to a junction box in the attic, which should help find a corresponding juction box in your attic.

Now I'm assuming you know how to use a voltage tester, if you don't, what happens next may involve an electrician.

You simply go and test the junction box for power, and see if connection wire has been run to the lights in question.

It may be as simple as the switch was covered up by the sheetrock worker, or the wires were never ran to the light or hooked up.

I have a Fridgedaire gallery that just started leaking. I noticed some water dripping into the basement from the hole in the kitchen tile that runs from the water heater to the ice maker. Any recs for appliance repair or companies to avoid?

Appliance repair recs? Are there even national appliance repair places? If so, I recommend against them. It's not the kind of business that can be good as a national chain imo. Inrecommend using Yelp to find a local place.

If you mean a rec for a new fridge all I can say is I'm sorry I didn't pay attention to how loud a refrigerator can be before buying our last one.

How do you know it's the refrigerator that's leaking and not the supply line? Have you pulled it out and checked? Supply line will be fixed by a plumber, not an appliance repair guy.

Also, I hope you're misidentifying the line and you're actually not running hot water to your ice maker.

Yeah I was thinking about Sears or something similiar. Will look local instead ty
I did pull it out and the supply line was bone dry. The places the water was on the floor seems to have only come from the bottom of thefridge.

I think Sears is notoriously bad.. These places mostly subcontract to local guys anyway, not the best local guys, it's expensive and they often have high pressure for upselling.

appliance repair is not that hard. as mentioned above, do a little research on yelp or other similar sites and find a local place that has good reviews.

i've had great success in the past for furnace & appliance repair with small local companies. they tend to have above average reviews because they are trying to grow their business with good, honest customer service and actually care about what people think of their work (because they also recognize personal references are a reason they get additional work).

Been reading this thread recently, thanks to everyone for all the info here.

We have had a home built with a local company, and have the final walkthrough/orientation this afternoon. Pretty excited. Is there anything you all think I should specifically be looking for/asking about?

Since you're in a hurry here maybe PM zikzak. He's the guy for this question.

Could be a crack in the water reservoir inside the fridge or a small hairline crack on the plastic housing of the water valve.

Sears appliance repair is A&E factory service. I have no opinion on them but whoever you get make sure they are insured and bonded

I don't have any walkthrough advice, but congrats!

To all the homeowners, do you have a chimney cap installed? Would you consider a customized chimney cap of your favorite sports team?

No, because I am not a jabroni.

That's not obnoxious and tacky at all.

I'm not even sure how that would work. Is it for the appreciation of people in airplanes with binoculars?

I think his idea of a chimney cap is different from yours and mine.

Chimney yarmulke?