Helpful Homeowner Hints
Replacing Your Water Heater
If you have a gas water heater that was installed by the builder in 2003, it is approaching the end of its life in 2021.
If you have a 2nd floor unit then you want to avoid a disaster in your unit and your neighbor below. The downloadable document provides information for replacing with a water heater tank or a tankless water heater.
Pros of a tankless water heater:
If you have a 2nd floor unit then you want to avoid a disaster in your unit and your neighbor below. The downloadable document provides information for replacing with a water heater tank or a tankless water heater.
Pros of a tankless water heater:
- Unlimited hot water (with a little delay)
- Lower monthly bill
- Installed on the wall providing you with more storage space
- Lasts approximately 15 years
- Costs more than a water tank
| water_tanks_-_end_of_life_2021.pdf |
Montreux Licosa floor plan design flaw fix
Thoughtfully Submitted by Phil Infurna, our neighbor at 3705 Montreux #202
25% of Montreux units are the Licosa floor plan which is a 2nd floor inside unit (2 units per building). They have an annoying hinged door into the utility room which I would characterize as a design flaw. But it is a fixable problem!
The problem is the existing hinged door opens into the utility room and blocks the deep laundry sink inside, also blocking the base cabinet storage and the counter top in the room. You have to step inside the utility room and close the door behind you to access that laundry sink, base cabinet and the counter top inside the little room which is very awkward.
Anyone who has a 2nd floor inside condo knows that this is a problem. If you don’t have one of these condos, you probably have no idea what I’m talking about.
What’s worse is you can never upgrade the builder provided washer and dryer to a better front loading machines because those new machines are 4 inches deeper. The existing door to the room hits the nicer machines. We discovered the unanticipated door interference problem after buying a new washer and dryer. I think the original architect maybe was a little off his game when specifying the hinged door swinging into the utility room.
Here is the solution:
Now access to the laundry room, the washer and dryer, sink , counter etc. finally makes more sense.
25% of Montreux units are the Licosa floor plan which is a 2nd floor inside unit (2 units per building). They have an annoying hinged door into the utility room which I would characterize as a design flaw. But it is a fixable problem!
The problem is the existing hinged door opens into the utility room and blocks the deep laundry sink inside, also blocking the base cabinet storage and the counter top in the room. You have to step inside the utility room and close the door behind you to access that laundry sink, base cabinet and the counter top inside the little room which is very awkward.
Anyone who has a 2nd floor inside condo knows that this is a problem. If you don’t have one of these condos, you probably have no idea what I’m talking about.
What’s worse is you can never upgrade the builder provided washer and dryer to a better front loading machines because those new machines are 4 inches deeper. The existing door to the room hits the nicer machines. We discovered the unanticipated door interference problem after buying a new washer and dryer. I think the original architect maybe was a little off his game when specifying the hinged door swinging into the utility room.
Here is the solution:
- Remove the existing door, hinges and striker plate but leave the existing door casing in place. (30 minutes)
- Fill the hinge and striker cut outs on the existing door casing with wood filler. Let it harden, sand smooth and paint to match the interior trim. Take the time to sand it properly so there is no evidence of the former hinge cut outs. Use a 100 then 200 and then 400 grit sandpaper. (2 hours)
- Order a 95” tall by 33 3/8” wide bi-fold door from Lowes (Jeld Win 6 panel colonial style) which very closely matches the other doors in the condo. (1 hour)
- Paint and install the bi-fold door following the instructions provided. The bi-fold door track screws nicely to the top of existing door casing, just inside the old door stop. (3 hours)
Now access to the laundry room, the washer and dryer, sink , counter etc. finally makes more sense.
Montreux Unit Names, Locations & Layouts
Within Montreux there are 4 different unit layouts:
Solano – Second floor end unit
Brindisi – First floor end unit
Licosa – Second floor inside unit
Alicante – First floor inside unit
Images and links to the floor plans are included below.
Solano – Second floor end unit
Brindisi – First floor end unit
Licosa – Second floor inside unit
Alicante – First floor inside unit
Images and links to the floor plans are included below.
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Washing Machine Hoses
This helpful hint submitted by Phil Infurna - 3705 Montreux Ln. #202 Thanks Phil!
My wife decided she wanted to clean behind the washer and dryer this morning which required me to move the machines.
I found that the Montreux builder connected the washer water to the machine with those cheap rubber hoses that usually come with the machine. These hoses are a flood problem waiting to happen. In fact, I found that one of ours was already cracking: So I went to Lowe’s and spent $21 for a set of the metal jackets 1500 psi washing machine hoses. I would strongly recommend this upgrade for our Montreux neighbors. It takes 15 minutes and a pair of pliers to avoid a major flood.
NEW HOSE FROM LOWE'S OLD CRACKED HOSE IS A PROBLEM
My wife decided she wanted to clean behind the washer and dryer this morning which required me to move the machines.
I found that the Montreux builder connected the washer water to the machine with those cheap rubber hoses that usually come with the machine. These hoses are a flood problem waiting to happen. In fact, I found that one of ours was already cracking: So I went to Lowe’s and spent $21 for a set of the metal jackets 1500 psi washing machine hoses. I would strongly recommend this upgrade for our Montreux neighbors. It takes 15 minutes and a pair of pliers to avoid a major flood.
NEW HOSE FROM LOWE'S OLD CRACKED HOSE IS A PROBLEM
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Hurricane Shutters
For those of us who use the builder supplied Hurricane Shutters:
When you determine that it is time to replace the bolts that hold the shutters in place, I here is a resource for the replacement bolts.
https://www.grainger.com/search?searchBar=true&searchQuery=Machine+screws%2C+combo+truss+head%2C+stainless+steel+18-8%2C1%2F4%22-20+x1+1%2F2
This info was originally supplied by our neighbor Wayne O'Day, who said that to replace all the bolts on a Unit 104 / Brandisi Model, he needed:
When you determine that it is time to replace the bolts that hold the shutters in place, I here is a resource for the replacement bolts.
https://www.grainger.com/search?searchBar=true&searchQuery=Machine+screws%2C+combo+truss+head%2C+stainless+steel+18-8%2C1%2F4%22-20+x1+1%2F2
This info was originally supplied by our neighbor Wayne O'Day, who said that to replace all the bolts on a Unit 104 / Brandisi Model, he needed:
- approx. 160 bolts and 160 washers
- and, he needed to order the rubber washers separately.
Lanai Slider Doors
For our lanai slider doors:
As you probably have discovered, it’s amazing how noisy our neighbors’ lanai doors can be as they are opened and closed.
The good news is that EZ Slide Door Repair is offering Montreux a special discount to have our lanai slider doors serviced so that they will slide quietly and be airtight when that north wind starts blowing during the winter months.
Call them for details: 239-404-5730.
As you probably have discovered, it’s amazing how noisy our neighbors’ lanai doors can be as they are opened and closed.
The good news is that EZ Slide Door Repair is offering Montreux a special discount to have our lanai slider doors serviced so that they will slide quietly and be airtight when that north wind starts blowing during the winter months.
Call them for details: 239-404-5730.