c/albuquerque-homeowners

Hate to say it but I think the big box store sprinkler valves are junk now

I put in one of those Orbit valves from the big store on Wyoming last May and it failed by August. Talked to three other guys at the hardware store who said the same thing happened to them. The internal diaphragm just warps after one hot Albuquerque summer. Anyone else switch to brass fittings and have better luck?

My neighbor's sprinkler system taught me a 2am lesson I won't forget

Took me 4 hours to change a toilet flapper in my Rio Rancho house

I thought swapping a toilet flapper would be a 15 minute job, but the old nut was completely fused on from hard water. After breaking two wrenches and a trip to Home Depot on Coors for a different tool, I finally got it done. For anyone on well water in ABQ, get a rust penetrant spray before you even start. Has anyone else dealt with seized plumbing parts in this area?

Swapped my old swamp cooler for a mini-split last summer and wow what a difference

I used to fight with my swamp cooler every July, adding water twice a day and hoping it would keep up with the 95 degree heat here in the North Valley. Last year I finally paid a local guy $3,200 to install a Mitsubishi mini-split in my living room. Now I just set the thermostat to 74 and forget about it, plus my electric bill actually went down by about $30 a month compared to running the swamp cooler nonstop. Has anyone else made the switch and noticed a big change in their comfort or power bills?

Solar panels paid off faster than I thought they would

I was dead set against solar panels until my neighbor showed me his $45 July electric bill after I paid $280 for the same month, now I just got my own installed and I'm wondering what my first full summer will look like?

Switched to a drip irrigation system on my property last spring

I got tired of dragging a hose around my backyard here in Albuquerque, so I put in a drip system from a kit at the hardware store. Cost me about $80 and a Saturday afternoon. My tomato plants actually did better with the slow watering, and I cut my water bill by $15 a month. Anyone else made the switch and seen a drop in their bills?

Took me 3 years to realize I was cleaning my gutters backwards

I moved into my house off Central Ave in 2020 and every spring I'd get up on the ladder and scoop leaves out of the gutters from the downspout side toward the end. Took me until last month when my neighbor Greg yelled over the fence asking why I was pushing all the crap toward the corner where it clogs. The water was pooling and rotting the fascia board on that side for three whole years. It cost me $400 to replace a section of fascia that I basically trashed myself. Anybody else have a home maintenance habit they did completely wrong for way too long?

Hit 1000 days without a single pest complaint from my tenants

I own a few rental houses here in the South Valley, and I just realized I hit 1000 days without a single bug complaint from any tenant. It started when I switched to quarterly barrier sprays myself instead of paying a company $150 each visit. I just do it every 3 months like clockwork, costs me about $20 in supplies. Has anyone else found a simple routine that keeps their rentals pest free without breaking the bank?

I finally caught the HOA landscapers messing with my sprinklers

Last Monday I noticed my water bill spiked $40 from the month before. I figured a valve was stuck or something, but when I walked the yard I saw two of my sprinkler heads were twisted sideways. Then on Thursday I came home early and caught a crew from the HOA's landscaping company adjusting my timer box in the front yard. They said they were 'balancing the zone pressure' because my system was interfering with the common area. I never gave them permission to touch anything on my property. I called the HOA manager and she was all sorry but couldn't promise it won't happen again. Has anyone else dealt with contractors messing with your irrigation without asking first?

Just crossed the $50k mark on my home equity and it hit me different

I bought my place in the South Valley 6 years ago for $120k and now Zillow says it's worth $175k. Has anyone else watched their equity jump way faster than they expected and started thinking about whether it's smarter to cash out or just sit on it?

Just realized I've been watering my lawn wrong for 3 years straight

I finally planted native grass in my backyard after years of fighting bermuda

Spent 5 summers trying to keep a perfect green lawn with a sprinkler system that ran $80 a month, but the bermuda kept taking over anyway. Switched to blue grama and buffalo grass seed last spring, hardly watered it, and now the whole yard is thick and green after monsoon season. Has anyone else given up on traditional lawns here and gone native, or am I just lazy?

505 Plumbing, Heating & Cooling vs TLC for AC replacement?

Hey everyone, our swamp cooler is finally biting the dust and we are looking to upgrade to refrigerated air before summer hits hard. I've gotten a couple of quotes so far. The two main ones we are considering are 505 Plumbing, Heating & Cooling and TLC. TLC seems to be everywhere, but 505's quote was competitive. Has anyone used either of them recently for an AC replacement? Looking for honest reviews on their installation quality and customer service.