Home Improvement Today?

The not so fun part of home improvement or maintenance.

We get home Saturday evening and the water main had blown causing a river of water to run down the street. Luckily I had previously installed a ball valve so it was easy to dive into the water and shut it off.

The trouble is I live about 1/3 of the way up a long steep hill and the city pushes the water at ridicules pressure to get it up the hill. I have had to replace 4 (now 5) pressure reducers to have reasonable water pressure at the house.

Once I shut off the water and grabbed a fountain pump from my wife's water fountain to drain the water from the hole the local water company guy stopped by. Someone else had called him here. He said what I already knew. The break was after the meter so it was my problem. He did at least hand me some schedule 80 parts to replace the store bought stuff that was there.

The first two attempts to cut and glue it back together failed when I turned the water back on. They just blew apart. I had a pressure meter at the house and it pegged at 250 PSI for the few seconds it was on.

OK no water for the night. Sunday morning I went to Lowes and bought another 1" pressure regulator and the grey PVC glue that is the strongest they offer. The PVC held but I could not stop the dripping at the pressure valve. I took off early today and removed it then had to drain the hole again. Somehow the O Ring had vanished. Another trip to Lowes for an O ring and put it back together.

So far no leaks. Water PSI was 35 so I adjusted it to 45.



What a PITA.

 

I didn't use a fixture for the lights on this project. The lights come as a roll and have 3M double side tape on the back. I just stuck them to the drywall.

They do make a channel for them to go into if you prefer a more finished look. They have them designed for mounting flat on the cieling as well as angled for mounting against a corner. They come in all kinds of designs, made by many different manufacturers.




Edit:
This is the link for the eBay store I bought from. I can't remember the LED type I got, but it was $16 something each including the inverter.
http://m.ebay.com/itm/252688745188?_mwBanner=1

 

Ah, cool thanks. I've seen those before. Damn they throw a lot of light.

 

It's not crazy intense light, but the fact that it comes from 16.4 feet makes it cover extremely well. If you are looking for more of a long term install you could look at architectural grade strips. They run about 10 times the price, but QC is much better. I figure at $16 a strip, I can replace a few every few years.

 

PVC pipe ? Did you use primer and how long did you let the glue set up before putting the connection under pressure again ? And is that your PRV buried in the dirt ?

 

I think that is the water meter in the dirt.

 

Not sure if you know this trick, but in cramped spaces where getting a sawzall in there is tricky you can cut the PVC with grade string.

A quick search pulled up a litany of videos.

https://youtu.be/sZNPKg-XcRg

 

I did use primer and waited an hour before turning the power back on only to get a face full of water. The meter was probably burried when the main blew.

There is a wireless box sitting in the corner(PVR?)

 

It's not burried. There is a cement box like the one above. I had to remove it to replace the valve. It was in the way.

 

if its got stain or paint on it, try behr deck stripper, We/I used that on an old deck and pressure washed it and it looked like new, just have to be careful with the pressure washer dont get it too close or it takes out chunks of wood

 

http://www.envirokinguv.com/design-installation/set-cure-times

1 Hour for 250 PSI is not enough....

 

just follow the instructions and you have to wear rubber gloves...as it burns your skin. I didnt have real good luck with deck cleaner as its basically a high bleach content.

 

Quick question. Want to hang some heavy plants on an outdoor wall that has stucco on it. I drilled though it yesterday to see if it was solid concrete behind it or hollow, it's hollow once through the stucco. What is the best way to hang something then? A molly or some other expansion type bolt?

 

Haha yea 250 PSI was too high. Replaced the pressure regulator. New one was set at 35 PSI. Set it to 45 once I had it back together.

 

Got another issue, I was wondering if anyone has any input. I have engineered floor joists and one seems to be collapsing (pic below). I'm guessing whoever ran that wire blasted out a bit more than just the precut hole. Anyway, for bracing I was thinking about cutting a few 2x4s to the height of the beam and screwing them into eachother from either side.

 

A bedroom. Only thing on it is an empty dresser. The vent next to the dresser is the one in the pictures. The span on that joist is about 9ft 6inches from exterior to support wall. Not sure if that matters.