Home Improvement Today?

Doesn’t end up in the pool, there’s a good 4 feet atleast from the end of the roof to the pool steps, but the slab does grade a bit towards the grass and a little towards the house(there’s a drain in the concrete between the house and pool that drains the water from the patio).

 

Debating on doing a gutter or not.

 

Bought my first home last week and Ive been hitting the list of projects. The custom blinds lady wanted $2k for faux wood blinds in white. I am doing the job for less than $500 with the diy blinds kits from home depot.


Also replaced the sump pump. Bought the house knowing that the back bedroom breaker was tripping. Found out they had tied the pump into that circuit, and had too big of a pump that had a relatively high amp draw. Replaced it with a low amperage pump that should do okay with a ceiling fan and TV/led lights. Also added a GFI outlet for that circuit.

 

My wife and I spent one night, a full night, running buckets of water from the basement to the toilet and or shower. After that we got a sump pump and have slept happily ever after.

 

Damn.

 

When I was 16 I stepped out of my room onto the concrete floor and it was wet so I grabbed our non-submersible pump, a hose and an old cable box so I could use the remote control to turn the pump on from my bed.

 

That would especially suck for me considering mine is in the crawlspace. Got it installed just in time for the tropical storm to hit too.

 

while newest electrical code does specify that all circuits must be gfi/afci protected, generally, you don't want the sump on a gfi unless you've got a water alarm and/or backup pump in case the sump trips it. code does have a provision for a not needing a gfi/afci if one were to install a dedicated circuit for devices like critical pumps, which the sump would be considered critical, i would highly recommend running a 20A circuit just for the sump to solve the issue later on.

my favorite story about this is from a plumber i know. he got a call during the superbowl one year from a customer. they had waste water backing up through the basement toilet and tub. they said "but don't worry, the toilet up stairs is still working fine!"

 

Oh I know its not technically right (industrial sparky here). However Im a little tight on cash and have many other projects going on with this house at the moment. I do plan on running a dedicated circuit to the pump one day, I just had to get it working for the time being. The GFI I used has an alarm built in that goes off if it trips as a warning.

 

it's a lot safer than it was, and that's the most important part!

 

We finally decided on the Lockly Pro. 230 on Amazon... Finger print, randomized number display and one time use codes. Also has auto lock and you can change the time you want it to lock.

 

I had saved this post, because I usually get the same kinda ants for a couple weeks every year, in late spring or early summer. Usually I put out aunt traps and they seems to work but do take a couple weeks. Figured I would give this stuff a try. Seen a few ants on my kitchen table and put one of these up. They surrounded the liquid like a feeding trough and haven’t seen any in the last 24 hours. Seems to work great! Thanks

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1TevWvfRjA

 

I am pleased with their products, for ants and wasps.

 

Well today is pour day! Well pour day 1 of 2. They only want to pour half of it today and do the second half tomorrow. Guess they dont want to still be pouring and trying to finish when it hit 90+ today. But ill trust the guy as he has been doing it for ~30 years in the area. He does keep taking samples from the trucks as the pour into the pumper too which is nice to see.

 

new house ?

 

Does anyone have any opinions on small (homeowner sized) chippers?

I could use for the brush and small branches that collect. I don't have anything too big - most of the small ones say 3" or less (which, I'm sure means 2", straight, no knots.)

I'm concerned that any of the small ones just aren't worth the money and don't work as advertised.

I have rented big ones before, and they work well for trees - but I usually don't have trees to grind up.

 

how often would you use it. Renting it when you need it would prob be best so youre not tripping over the chipper.

 

True, but I've only found the big ones to rent.

I don't usually have any large stuff to chip.

To answer your question, probably 4 - 6 times a year. Trim trees and whatnot, grind it up.

 

surprised they dont have smaller ones. Small branches would work for a fireplace if you have one or possible make a fire pit? idk your laws near you