Reddit reviews Zircon 63931 Leak Alert Electronic Water Detector Batteries Included, 3-Pack

I bought a house in 2009, allow me to share my mistakes with you.

Good move: We had the entire interior painted before we moved in.

Bad move: We didn't paint the doors or bathrooms because we thought we were going to repair/replace/remodel. I should have had it all done, they are STILL not done to this day.

Good move: I bought the home warranty from https://homewarranty.firstam.com - they are actually VERY good, and this policy saved me a LOT of money. My HVAC system died three times, and they fixed it every time. Other things, broke, they fixed it. I cancelled it after two years once things settled down, but it paid for itself. At least for me, but I had a bad feeling about my 10 year old HVAC system and I was right. YMMV.

Bad move: I did a lot of work around the house and bought a lot of stuff the first year. After that, I realized I had changed my mind and should not have done the work, or did not like what I bought.

SOLUTION: Don't do any major work/changes for the first year. Just live there. Check things out. Think of ideas, write them down, make plans ... but don't DO anything about them until you've had time to think about them. Then prioritize what you NEED and what you WANT.

Bad move: I bought an inexpensive Cub Cadet lawn mower ($300) because it was all I needed. It refused to start a year later, the drive belt slips off every 5 minutes, and is generally a PITA. That was money I wasted.

Good move: I bought a $600 Honda which has been 100% every time, mows so well I don't need to bag the grass as there are virtually no visible clippings.

Bad move: I bought a $99 Black & Decker "Leaf Hog" blower. It doesn't work very well, so I never use it. Wasted money.

Bad move: I bought a $79 electric weed whacker. It was crap, and didn't do a good job, resulting in major weeds/bushes around my yard.

Good move: I bought a $300 Echo gas trimmer which tears through everything in a fraction of the time and does what it should.

Bad move: I bought a $3000 bedroom set. Don't get me wrong, I love it and it's nice, but it was a lot of money.

Good move: I bought a used 1991 full size Chevy truck. I then setup alerts on Craigslist using an Android app ( http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=craigslist.pro.plus ) that searches for stuff I want. I have so far picked up:

A complete bedroom set for $100 along with a FREE armoire - this would have been several thousand dollars if purchased new:

http://i.imgur.com/yexMx.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/KRxSS.jpg

A set of micro-suede couches for $35 - these are easily $1000 couches new.

A very nice flat-panel TV stand and component case for $50, probably $500 new.

And just yesterday I picked up this computer desk/hutch for free, probably $1,000 new:

http://i.imgur.com/DzDj2ZB.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/fXkDK8P.jpg

I've also picked up a file cabinet, a crib, a work table, a desk chair, and a ton of other things.

Right now I am looking for a curio and a hot tub. There are lots out there, you just have to be quick!

So how does this tie into the truck? Well, the money I spent on the truck has allowed me to get all this furniture for free or cheap. Most people listing things on Craigslist tell me a lot of people call about the items ... but no one has a truck, and no one comes to get it. Having the truck has pretty much paid for itself in all the free and cheap furniture I have obtained.

Bad move: I did not realize I don't have enough insulation in my attic. I have only 3" or so. I should have blown in 18" or whatever is needed. This would have cut my utility bills. I am doing that in the next few weeks. My neighbor did it and cut his electric bill in HALF! For me, that might mean saving $100+ a month! :o

REALLY BAD MOVE: I bought an entry level GE dishwasher. Well, just last week it failed and flooded my house. $1000 insurance deductible, water damage everywhere, and a major PITA.

Good move (which I should have done): Buy some leak detectors like these http://www.amazon.com/Zircon-Leak-Alert-Electronic-Batteries/dp/B002Q8GRPG/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=XMY72CFYTS4J&coliid=I3MVE0XVPWAHRG and put one in EVERY ROOM WITH A WATER FIXTURE. I bought enough of these for each toilet/sink in each bathroom, the kitchen sink, the dishwasher, the washing machine, and MOST IMPORTANTLY the HVAC system (which has a drain which can get clogged and slowly flood your house - that also happened to me - you have to clean the drain every year!)

Ok, I hope that helps. :)

Water leak alarms. Not a tool but these little devices pay for themselves after your first leak (you don't want to find about it when water is sipping through the ceiling, or when mold is the first clue). These one have worked well for me in various occasions: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002Q8GRPG/ref=cm_sw_r_an_am_ap_am_us?ie=UTF8

Tools: I agree with most everyone else here: Drill, hammer, measuring tape and level to start, then buy as you need and rent expensive equipment, specially for single projects.

These ones are simple and designed to float so they keep beeping as water continues to flow:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002Q8GRPG

If you have an ADT security system (and maybe others) you can also talk to your installer about adding a water sensor that will be monitored too, which is great if you have a vacation property that is often vacant.

For future use, you might want to get some leak detectors: http://www.amazon.com/Zircon-Leak-Alert-Electronic-Batteries/dp/B002Q8GRPG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=8-1&keywords=water+leak+detector