primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom

[El Jefe]

Jebus, these people never want to do things the right way. A 100 year old house probably needs the entire electrical system overhauled from the meter forward.

If you do it right you only have to do it once. 

[Dori]

I'm thinking this IrishAyes may be up for a Darwin Award in the future.

Star Member IrishAyes (5,709 posts)

Cheap Easy Attic Fan and one other unrelated idea
 
I've been told by several locals that the only reason they passed on my 100-yr-old house is because of the steep narrow stairs. The second floor 'hallway' looks more like a cattle chute. It took almost a year of searching to find a whole house attic fan narrow enough to fit in the ceiling there. I don't mind because all the rooms are 15' square except the master bath (old bedroom) which only spans 15x12.

Anyway! After 8 years of heavy use, the attic fan has spun its last at last and they don't make that size anymore. No one wants to fix the motor if indeed that could even be done.

So I scratched my hard head until I came up with an alternate solution. Remove the louvers in the ceiling, take out the fan entirely, and put the biggest strongest box fan up there that I can find. Place it on its back (with maybe a few widely spaced furring strips for support) so the air will be drawn up into the attic. Run an extension cord down to the nearest wall outlet, turn on the fan, and let 'er rip.

No problem because I live alone, guests never want to climb the stairs anyway, and there are no little kids to worry about. True, it won't look great but except for bath time I don't go upstairs too often anyway in the heat of summer. And when I do, that wonderful rush of upward air would make ugly looks forgivable anyway.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11283219
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[thundley4]

I'm thinking this IrishAyes may be up for a Darwin Award in the future.

Anyway! After 8 years of heavy use, the attic fan has spun its last at last and they don't make that size anymore. No one wants to fix the motor if indeed that could even be done.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11283219
................................................................................

I call BS.  The DUmmie is too cheap to pay to have the fan fixed. We've had several people bring in very  old fans from the early 1900's to have them repaired, because they were the original fans in old houses.

We can fix them if they are willing to pay.

[franksolich]

I call BS.  The DUmmie is too cheap to pay to have the fan fixed. We've had several people bring in very  old fans from the early 1900's to have them repaired, because they were the original fans in old houses.

We can fix them if they are willing to pay.

They aren't, though.

The Irish eyes primitive, along with the Curmudgeoness primitive and the PaperRoses primitive, are the biggest tightwads on Skins's island; prying a wet paper towel out of a clam's easier than getting money from any of them.  They don't want to pay for anything, ever.

[vesta111]

They aren't, though.

The Irish eyes primitive, along with the Curmudgeoness primitive and the PaperRoses primitive, are the biggest tightwads on Skins's island; prying a wet paper towel out of a clam's easier than getting money from any of them.  They don't want to pay for anything, ever.

Living in the UP of Michigan I saw some really strange ways to heat not just the Saunas but whole cabins or small homes.

One needs a medium size wood burning stove to start.  Weld onto it pipes on both sides open to 2 or more pipes that lead into a couple of old hot water heaters of 50 gallons each with the tops taken off.   The pipes leading out of the water heaters can become 10 to 20 feet long along the sides of he home, camp or Sauna.

Once the heat in the  tanks heat up from the wood burning stove the heat in the pipes radiate into the room the water steams from the tops of the tanks  and as long as the water is replaced every day or so just a couple gallons of water to each tank, and a few logs are put into the fireplace, the doors are left open in the house to allow circulation when the temps go down to -32 the structure is warm and the pipes do not freeze.

Amazing what the old time Finn's   brought to America to survive. So much is still in use today.

Some of America still use steam heat, just heat water.

 I myself use those baby humidifiers in the winter for both heat and to keep my head clear from the nasty's  that dry up my sinuses and cause me head aches.  I can lower the heat by 20+ degrees and sleep well and warm with just one of these small machines in the room.

 
 

   

[FlippyDoo]

It really is amazing. Almost every single time that I read one of these "fixes" that the DUmmies so proudly come up with I just shake my head and think, "that be retardant."

Truly.

[franksolich]

Someone corrects Skippy:

noamnety (19,085 posts)    Thu Aug 14, 2014, 09:00 AM

15. That's a yes and no thing.

Excuse the translation from engineer to plainspeak, but this is what he says: When we sweat and it evaporates, it cools us - but it does it by transferring heat to the air. That's the goal here, to transfer the heat from the coffee pot to the air relatively quickly. The evaporation will cool the coffee pot slightly and warm the air, whereas the oil that doesn't evaporate would keep longer residual heat in the pot, and not warm the air as quickly.
 
I may have misunderstood, but I read this as they're planning to heat the pot in another room where an outlet works, then unplug it and move the pot to the bathroom. So it wouldn't be left on after the liquid has evaporated - which I agree would be a safety issue.
 
He also added that the amount of heat you'd get off a coffee pot once it's unplugged - no matter what fluid is in there - probably wouldn't make a difference in a full room, though.*
 
I'm not sure about that. I lived on a 21 foot sailboat for 6 months, and in the morning I lit a single candle to warm the space slightly so I could bear to get out of bed and get dressed. (In the harbor, not at sea.) That did make a difference. I have no clue how a candle flame compares to a pot of boiling water, though.

*believes that; believes it wouldn't make a hundredth of a degree of any difference in the bathroom, any more than a candle can add much heat to the inside of that domed stadium in Minnesota.

[GOBUCKS]

They aren't, though.

They don't want to pay for anything, ever.

A good example was when the Big Guy from Bellevue, DUmmy Dawes, tried to cadge free tickets to the Nebraska-Wisconsin football game, and even specified they needed to be on an aisle.

[DumbAss Tanker]

NYC_SKP (60,095 posts)    Thu Aug 14, 2014, 12:54 AM

13. Um, evaporating water has a cooling, not a heating, effect. Change of state.

 

There's nothing funnier than a DUmmy misapplying a true factoid from physics or chemistry to come up with something that is 100% wrong.  Hey DUmmie, try cooling your house with steam this summer.

[miskie]

What an idiotic concept.

The viscosity of coffee in a percolator is probably not much greater than water, and the pot is designed with that in mind, whereas the viscosity of motor oil is going to be quite a bit higher.

So much so that this idea isn't going to work until the oil is heated to the point where viscosity breaks down enough to be pumped through the system. - That probably wont happen until long after the pot's heating element burns out.  Look at this link, primitive.

http://www.csgnetwork.com/specific_gravity_viscosity_liquids.html

This page details the specific gravity and viscosity of several substances, including motor oil.  Hopefully you understand the problem after reading this.

[Chris_]

Several weeks ago the only electrical outlet in my master bathroom (100 yr-old house) got taken out by a power company surge or something. Anyway, I no longer have a way to heat the room at bathtime in the dead of winter

It's August, you lazy turd.  You've got at least three months to get the damn thing fixed.

Someone needs to forward this information to this clown's insurance agent.

[DefiantSix]

This is the kind of shit that happens when a DUmbshit sees a perfectly functional and serviceable piece of hardware - in this case, the DUmbshit has seen one of those oil-filled radiant heaters in a Lowes or Home Depot, or someplace, and realized it was out of s/h/it's price range - and thinks they can rube goldberg together a substitute worthy of MacGyver. 

What an idiotic concept.

The viscosity of coffee in a percolator is probably not much greater than water, and the pot is designed with that in mind, whereas the viscosity of motor oil is going to be quite a bit higher.

So much so that this idea isn't going to work until the oil is heated to the point where viscosity breaks down enough to be pumped through the system. - That probably wont happen until long after the pot's heating element burns out.  Look at this link, primitive.

Actually it's the viscosity of the oil that makes the oil-filled heater the DUmbshit is pathetically trying to ape, work.  When you heat oil, it retains the heat longer - and radiates it away at a slower rate - than would a less viscous fluid, like water or coffee.  This means that the radiant heater can heat up the oil, and then let the heating element cycle off and the oil inside the heater is still radiating heat.

The DUmbshit's problem is that an electric percolator isn't designed to do that.  It's heating element - intended for use with more delicious and less viscous water/caffeine solutions - has shorter "off" cycles than the space heater would, because it's constantly trying to replace the heat that the coffee is constantly shedding.  As a result, I would expect the oil to overheat in the DUmmy's cobbled together engineering nightmare. So long as the idiot keeps s/h/it's towel from becoming a wick, I don't expect the oil to flash, but having a bubble of scalding hot oil burst onto your arm or leg or face ranks pretty high in my "not fun" list.

Dummy posting pics of it's hideous 2nd degree oil burns in 3... 2... 1...
 

[franksolich]

By the way, the tightwad Curmudgeoness primitve's a pal of the big guy in Bellevue, although they don't live near each other; I think she lives in Michigan or Pennsylvania.  She's an older woman, the one looking for a charity for the homeless run by atheists.  Although being a flinty tightwad, she doesn't stint on bathroom tissue, always buying the expensive super-soft four-ply plush scented lotioned stuff, because apparently she has a sensitive bottom.

Curmudgeoness (14,579 posts)    Thu Aug 14, 2014, 08:14 PM

17. I am in awe

of your recent acquisition of the mahogany desk. A Dirt Devil that is working is also a great find. Ah, but the desk! Such a shame to have it outside since it sounds incredible, but it seems like a good use for it. I could use an outdoor plant stand, potting stand.
 
I have seen the back and forth about water or oil for the heat. It seems that one poster is under the impression that you will be leaving this pot of water plugged in, and that was not the case, so don't worry. And also, the water will not have a cooling effect on the air in the bathroom---it will have a cooling effect on the pot and a heating effect on the air. I am not sure how much this will heat the room, but it is certainly worth a try. It hurts nothing to try. And if the water doesn't work, try the motor oil as an experiment to see if it works better. (Have you noticed that I love experimenting? )
 
Good luck. I hope you can keep the room warm enough to bathe. And I hope you can get the outlet fixed soon. I know all about the problems with an old house. Mine isn't as old as yours, but 70 years old is still a challenge.

IrishAyes (5,728 posts)    Thu Aug 14, 2014, 09:02 PM

18. Well, the desk has to stay outside (covered) because it's too big to fit through the narrow doors

in this house. I have a certain Art Deco wardrobe downstairs too, because nobody could fit it up the steep and narrow cattle chute stairs. Not complaining - several people told me they would've fought me at auction for this house except for those stairs, so I have reason to love them. Who needs a gym here?
 
Like you, I love experimenting. Necessity being the mother of invention, and all. Another fortunate double find one trash day was a crappy Art Deco desk with great hardware (I'm never w/o a screwdriver) that I took off, and on the other side of town miraculously the exact same desk in great shape except no hardware. I'm good at simple math.
 
I forgot to tell you about the set of 5 big deep wooden drawers from a missing chest that I also found last week. Three of them will go under the elevated bed upstairs and 2 will stay downstairs for dog beds. I'm tired of blankets scattered all over the living room floor.
 
Happy bargain hunting!

Curmudgeoness (14,579 posts)    Thu Aug 14, 2014, 09:14 PM

19. Your trash days are much better than the ones here.

No one here throws anything out that isn't broken.

That's the way it's supposed to be, lady.

Help Mama Gaia.  Use it up, make it do, wear it out.

[franksolich]

Curmudgeoness (9,759 posts)   Fri Mar 1, 2013, 06:23 PM

5. I used to use coupons all the time.

I used them for groceries, non-food items, meals, just about everything. But that has been years ago. I think the only coupons I use anymore are for toilet paper, because I am a toilet paper snob and 25 cents off is 25 cents.
 
Years ago, coupons would be good for at least 3 months. Anymore, they expire in that many weeks.
 
Coupons are for less money than they used to be.

Meal coupons are now useless, since all I see is "buy one get one" coupons. If I feel like running into McDonalds for a sandwich, and I am always alone if I do that, the last thing I need is two sandwiches----and they aren't something that will keep as leftovers for the next day. I often go out to eat alone, so these buy one get one offers don't work.
 
As stated before, generic products are almost always cheaper, even with the savings of a coupon----by quite a bit. And generic products have gotten as good as the name brands. Years ago, you could tell the difference and the quality was lacking, but no more. I rarely buy name brands anymore.....except for toilet paper.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11282237

[Dori]

Just how cold does this bathroom get?  Wouldn't running hot water in the tub/shower warm it up?

[I_B_Perky]

So a member of the bestest smartest people in the world can't google "How to change an outlet"? They probably got youtube vids on how to do it.

My goodness! I could change an outlet when I was like 8 yrs old!!!

And they call us stupid?   

[miskie]

This is the kind of shit that happens when a DUmbshit sees a perfectly functional and serviceable piece of hardware - in this case, the DUmbshit has seen one of those oil-filled radiant heaters in a Lowes or Home Depot, or someplace, and realized it was out of s/h/it's price range - and thinks they can rube goldberg together a substitute worthy of MacGyver. 

Actually it's the viscosity of the oil that makes the oil-filled heater the DUmbshit is pathetically trying to ape, work.  When you heat oil, it retains the heat longer - and radiates it away at a slower rate - than would a less viscous fluid, like water or coffee.  This means that the radiant heater can heat up the oil, and then let the heating element cycle off and the oil inside the heater is still radiating heat.

The DUmbshit's problem is that an electric percolator isn't designed to do that.  It's heating element - intended for use with more delicious and less viscous water/caffeine solutions - has shorter "off" cycles than the space heater would, because it's constantly trying to replace the heat that the coffee is constantly shedding.  As a result, I would expect the oil to overheat in the DUmmy's cobbled together engineering nightmare. So long as the idiot keeps s/h/it's towel from becoming a wick, I don't expect the oil to flash, but having a bubble of scalding hot oil burst onto your arm or leg or face ranks pretty high in my "not fun" list.

Dummy posting pics of it's hideous 2nd degree oil burns in 3... 2... 1...
 

Indeed - However, Id say that the relatively low output of the heating element coupled with a much thinner passage for the heated oil to circulate though than a genuine oil heater would work against the viscosity of the motor oil. Like trying drink a McDonalds shake or a Wendy's Frosty through a straw without letting it melt somewhat first.

[Big Dog]

Curmudgeoness

I think the only coupons I use anymore are for toilet paper

No wonder she has a sensitive bottom. Coupons make terrible toilet paper.

Don't ask me how I know this shit.

[DefiantSix]

Indeed - However, Id say that the relatively low output of the heating element coupled with a much thinner passage for the heated oil to circulate though than a genuine oil heater would work against the viscosity of the motor oil. Like trying drink a McDonalds shake or a Wendy's Frosty through a straw without letting it melt somewhat first.

However, the idiot did say she was taking the percolation system out of the equation specifically. Essentially, all she has is a vessel for holding hot fluids, a heating element for making fluids hot, and - soon to be boiling - oil. Given thaat she's also talking about leaving off the lid to the percolator, and has said nothing about sealing up the pour spout with anything, I can foresee any number of possible scenarios - a good portion of them involving the DUmbshit consuming s/h/it's favorite mind altering substance to excess - where the DUmbass will acquire first hand experience of what it felt like to attack a castle that wasn't through being beseiged yet.

[98ZJUSMC]

Several weeks ago the only electrical outlet in my master bathroom (100 yr-old house) got taken out by a power company surge or something.

Replace the receptacle, you idiot.  You presume to be able to "MacGyver" a solution to a problem that takes 15 minutes, a flat tip screwdriver, a pair of Lineman's pliers and an IQ over 60 to fix?

 

Then again, electricity to some of these idiots, is magic coming out of the wall, invented by a muslim/black guy (take your pick) a hundred years before the evil Columbus sailed for the states, can only be solved by chanting and should be provided free by the government. 

So a member of the bestest smartest people in the world can't google "How to change an outlet"? They probably got youtube vids on how to do it.

My goodness! I could change an outlet when I was like 8 yrs old!!!

And they call us stupid?   

Heh!  Should have read upthread comments first.      

[98ZJUSMC]

Jebus, these people never want to do things the right way. A 100 year old house probably needs the entire electrical system overhauled from the meter forward.

If you do it right you only have to do it once. 

Exactly, but if the brain dead can't fix a simple receptacle, I'm fairly certain this conclusion and the expense is waaaaay beyond it's means.  My house was only 30 years old when I rewired it.  I hated where the breaker box was and wanted to bury the 200Amp service from a drop line.

I just have a access panel now to a bank of junction boxes I had to install.  If Mike Holmes doesn't like it?  Tough. 

[GOBUCKS]

I sure hope this DUmmy decides to deep fry her Thanksgiving turkey, and then puts it on YouTube.

[miskie]

However, the idiot did say she was taking the percolation system out of the equation specifically. Essentially, all she has is a vessel for holding hot fluids, a heating element for making fluids hot, and - soon to be boiling - oil.

I missed that part. What a DUmbass.

[RobJohnson]

I think the DUmmie needs to set up a Wishadoo! account for a new space heater.

[obumazombie]

No wonder she has a sensitive bottom. Coupons make terrible toilet paper.

Don't ask me how I know this shit.

I'm asking.
And furthermore, don't we have a sigline from one of our members that will solve this whole mystery ?