Beyond Blue Home Improvement Thread

[geoff]

Hi everyone. I'm Geoff and have been a dedicated Volunteer on the forums for 13 years. I am proud to have stopped some of the stigmas that are associated with mental health as well as doing my best to help others too

Before my health went south I was a builder in all aspects of home construction and renovation. If you don't have a handyman around I hope I can offer you some tips that may be of help. I have had many years of experience in home renovation and will do my best to help you out if you are stuck and need some advice

I hope my experience may be of help to the people on Beyond Blue and make their life a little bit better. Even if you need help with the most basic painting job or putting up a shelf I can help there too with some tips

I will do my best to get back to anyone that has a question when I can as this is social yet important thread

Geoff

[Hanna3]

That made me laugh thanks Geoff! I hadn't thought of that!

It's true though isn't it - everyone enjoys popping bubble wrap!

[Guest_1643]

Hi Hanna, I have not got the bubble wrap yet but am needing it! Will keep you posted! Feel a bit vulnerable and shy about the neighbours and should really do something about it. Haven't been leaving the house much with all this, maybe in a bit of a rut

[Guest_1643]

Hey all - looking for some advice please about setting up my modem/internet, if anyone has any knowledge on this?

Modem arrived from the company and there's a video about how to set it up - i think I can manage it. The only thing is, I can't find the phone socket? Where would that be? There is only an old, old one, those yellowy ones where you'd connect an old phone. I'm stuck about where to plug it in.... P.s. my apartment is old and the landlord terrible, could it be he hasn't updated it probably to have appropriate sockets for internet?

[geoff]

Hello Sleepy, the landlord wouldn't have anything to do with your modem, on my modem I have 4 green lights and 1 red one, is this similar to the one you have got.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Hanna3]

Hi Geoff,

Just to give you the latest issues with my terrific house here - after paying about $260 electricity bill for the last quarter I got the gas bill for the same quarter next day (last week) - gas is only for the heater (not used, it's been summer), the oven (which I don't use, I have a benchtop oven, I only use one hotplate sometimes to soft boil an egg) and the hot water (one shower each day and if I use hot water from a tap to wash hands - I do laundry in cold wash). Well the bill was just under $600.oo!!!!!

Spent a day on the phone to AGL trying to get through, couldn't, got Housing to send a plumber as an emergency, he found a gas leak on the AGL side of the gas meter, got onto AGL again, two plumbers from their company came next morning and found two gas leaks on their side of the meter... had to do a lot of digging - now I have to sort out the bill, which should be very tiny as it's really only the hot water...

What worries me is they found a gas leak after I moved in, and now two more have been found six months later - I don't feel safe in this house and I keep wondering whether another leak is going to start... the plumber from Housing did check inside, he checked the heater and behind the oven and the hot water and said he didn't find anything... but it's very worrying - and with the virus I'm stuck here... any thoughts? I thought I'd let you know the ongoing saga of this place!!!! Thanks Geoff and hope you're keeping well.

[Guest_1643]

Hi Geoff! I've got similar to you and I set it up myself!!! I think there is a problem with the internet as it's still not working, but I've got the lights lit up same as yours. I have 6 lights and 4/6 light up. The internet company has closed their call centre so i'm waiting for a responce from social media, but they have about a 2 day delay in replying. Really sad as they were very helpful and responsive and accesible when I signed up... but all that's changed now. luckily I have a portable wifi dongle which is serving me well until they reply....

[geoff]

Hello RX, I'm sorry I haven't answered the question about sealing around the bath, so can you tell me please what has been on the cement sheeting, any paint or tiles and the type of sealer you have used because any of these can make a difference.

Best wshes.

Geoff.

[geoff]

Hello Hanna, if the gas leak is on the AGL side then you don't have to pay, now by saying this is confusing because it's difficult to know the cost of the leak which you shouldn't have to pay.

AGL may say that they'll take the average of your bills and then that's the fee you have to pay, but that won't be any help to you as you don't know how long it's been leaking.

They have to fix the leak no charge to you, if however, the leak was on your side then you have to get it repaired, thankfully this isn't the situation.

It would be fun talking to them, trying to negotiate a fee, but ask them to either wipe the bill or you'll pay a modest $100.

You can eventually go to another provider once the leaks have been fixed if you like and another idea is to have a certain amount of $ taken out from your Centrelink payment each fortnight, that's what I do.

Please get back to us.

Geoff.

[geoff]

Hello Sleepy, at this time, you can't talk to any provider for help, it's virtually impossible due to COVID-19.

What they have said to me previously is to turn off your computer, take out all cables from the pc, take the modem power cord out of the socket, wires to the modem and count to 10, then put all of the cables back in and turn your computer on.

You can click on the bottom tab bar where it says 'internet access', then click it and use wi-fi, see how all of this goes.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Hanna3]

Hi Geoff,

Thanks although I didn't mean to ask you about the gas account, it was really my concern about yet another problem in this house happening which makes me feel very unsafe - what if there develops a gas leak inside the house? There have been three gas leaks outside found since I moved here six months ago, that's what worries me! Thanks Geoff.