The Home Improvements Thread (2)

[Lupus]

Nope they changed it last year. Look at your bill. My bad 4.71kl

Just checked its very recent my bills up to July last year still have it, but from at least Oct it's 0.

 

[Priapus]

Same here actually. But let me show a photo.

Smaller tank was made higher with a block concrete, you can fill with sand and compact to save cost

This will work if you ba k of the garden isn't too much higher.

I definitely need a pump. My pool / garden is around half a meter higher than house. There'a zero chance water will run upwards on its own there. But, to be fair I am OK with two 5kL tanks on the side of the property. that area is "dead space" anyway.

I'll start off with a single 5000 L tank and go from there. Just need to figure out placement, pump mounting and such.

 

[SAguy]

A toilet only uses about 9l to flush, do you use it enough to warrant that .
Also seems there is a 0 charge for the first 5KL or thereabouts.

Oh, yeah it's not so much for costs. More just about trying to be more sustainable and independent. Also helps when the water is off for some reason, you can buy water to drink - but the toilet is a bit trickier.

 

[SAguy]

Same here actually. But let me show a photo.

Smaller tank was made higher with a block concrete, you can fill with sand and compact to save cost

This will work if you ba k of the garden isn't too much higher.

This is interesting, I guess the main thing to consider would be that the flow from the one tank to the other is faster or equal to the amount of rainwater coming in.

I've been considering how to get water from one side of the property where there isn't much space for tanks to the spot where I have my 10kl water.

 

[WAslayer]

Same here actually. But let me show a photo.

Smaller tank was made higher with a block concrete, you can fill with sand and compact to save cost

This will work if you ba k of the garden isn't too much higher.

The destination tank, I assume the inflow pipe from this tank is connected to the top of that tank..?

 

[Priapus]

This is interesting, I guess the main thing to consider would be that the flow from the one tank to the other is faster or equal to the amount of rainwater coming in.

I've been considering how to get water from one side of the property where there isn't much space for tanks to the spot where I have my 10kl water.

I have a perfect spot for where I would ideally have tanks. I'd imagine I could use a slim JoJo tank next to the house and when it's full, have a pump turn on automatically to push water up to the bigger tanks; until they're full.

 

[SAguy]

I have a perfect spot for where I would ideally have tanks. I'd imagine I could use a slim JoJo tank next to the house and when it's full, have a pump turn on automatically to push water up to the bigger tanks; until they're full.

Yeah you could pretty easily have a float switch with a small pump, though I think most float switches work the other way round - off when full and on when not full.

 

[Tinuva]

The destination tank, I assume the inflow pipe from this tank is connected to the top of that tank..?

No, to the bottom. Won't work with gravity if connected to the top. So when it rains, the tanks all fill up equally sort off. It's the same as having 2 tanks next to each other. The water goes into the first tank and they both connected at the bottom to fill up together.

 

[Düber]

Yeah, I'm planning to at least plumb our 1 toilet into the JoJo too. Not going the whole filter route for the water yet for shower, drinking, etc.. so for now just the toilet

It might be a good idea to at least put some sort of simple filter in the system, the ball valve on a toilet misbehaves if it gets fed water with bits in it.

 

[alqassam]

I have a brand new float switch that I bought and never used if anyone is looking for one

 

[Bikerbob]

Oh man, I've gone and done screwed up. Our bath drain often blocks with hair, currently only have a shower in the bath pending completion of renovations. I always use the same yellow bottle of drain cleaner granules successfully.

Yesterday though I come back after a few minutes and see this:
View attachment 1036298

The drain cleaner ate away at the bath itself, those three marks are actual holes. It's a newish bath, not sure what modern baths are made of?

So annoyed with myself... any idea how I can fix this?

The plumbing shops used to sell a repair kit. Not sure if they still do. Use it and sand it down with waterpaper. Still able to see it but would look better.

Edit: Didn't realise was an old post

 

[SAguy]

In between all the other work around the house I replaced my JoJo pump today with this variable speed pump. I'm so happy, with pressure set to half of it's max I can easily run 4 pop up sprinklers plus water the garden with a hosepipe at the same time.

Open another tap and the pump automatically adapts to maintain a constant pressure.

When I have time I'll do the automation, still deciding to either refit my old Hunter system or to use some Sonoff's and connect it to my Home Assistant.

 

[xrapidx]

Skirting boards installed, left with 3cm, so really cut it close, glad I did it myself.


Just neatening up today - and then figuring out what to do with blinds... And renovations for 2021 are done.

 

[SAguy]

Skirting boards installed, left with 3cm, so really cut it close, glad I did it myself.


Just neatening up today - and then figuring out what to do with blinds... And renovations for 2021 are done.

Looks great, love the colour

 

[MDE]

In between all the other work around the house I replaced my JoJo pump today with this variable speed pump. I'm so happy, with pressure set to half of it's max I can easily run 4 pop up sprinklers plus water the garden with a hosepipe at the same time.

Open another tap and the pump automatically adapts to maintain a constant pressure.

When I have time I'll do the automation, still deciding to either refit my old Hunter system or to use some Sonoff's and connect it to my Home Assistant.

View attachment 1046971

What pump is that.

 

[Steamy Tom]

What pump is that.

a mad expensive one by the looks of it xD

 

[SAguy]

What pump is that.

LEO MAC550. Was R6500 or somewhere around there.

Massively overkill, but I'm thinking about future uses and becoming more water independent in the long term.

Our normal water pressure is bad, if you shower and someone opens a tap the shower just about stops completely. May look at using rain water, supplemented with council water when needed, and filter water for the house. May use a pressure tank too maybe...just to reduce pump runtime a bit

 

[SAguy]

On a related note, these John Guest push fittings are the best thing ever. They aren't cheap but gosh they make plumbing a breeze.

Not once have I ever had a leak or bad fitting, takes seconds and it just works.

Going to be using it for running rainwater to my one toilet, instead of getting a plumber out who will charge me half a leg plus not do it the way I want it anyway.

 

[Steamy Tom]

On a related note, these John Guest push fittings are the best thing ever. They aren't cheap but gosh they make plumbing a breeze.

Not once have I ever had a leak or bad fitting, takes seconds and it just works.

Going to be using it for running rainwater to my one toilet, instead of getting a plumber out who will charge me half a leg plus not do it the way I want it anyway.

Personally I would rather use polycop and compression fittings

 

[Priapus]

In between all the other work around the house I replaced my JoJo pump today with this variable speed pump. I'm so happy, with pressure set to half of it's max I can easily run 4 pop up sprinklers plus water the garden with a hosepipe at the same time.

Open another tap and the pump automatically adapts to maintain a constant pressure.

When I have time I'll do the automation, still deciding to either refit my old Hunter system or to use some Sonoff's and connect it to my Home Assistant.

View attachment 1046971

That's a decent setup. Very nice.

What sort of automations are you thinking of?