Hi AVB, I sure do remember Sean, not sure if he did the knitting or his wife, never really got my head around what it was all about but from memory it amused Jack
Looks like I made another Whoopsey today, blokes coming around the streets trimming back the trees on the nature strips and one of them asked my son if we wanted any mulch. I said yes that is fine, never expecting it to end up like this
Looks like I made another Whoopsey today, blokes coming around the streets trimming back the trees on the nature strips and one of them asked my son if we wanted any mulch. I said yes that is fine, never expecting it to end up like this
Take what you need, then gumtree the rest @ $$ per trailer load - customer to load it. Even if some of it gets pinched by fly-by-nighters, it's still out of your road!
Cheers, Gadge
"ODK Mods can explain it to you, but they can't understand it for you..."
"Crazy can be medicated, ignorance can be educated - but there is no cure for stupid..."
You could have used it to fill in your old swimming pool earlier. Seriously, how did you get into that situation.? Didn't your son think to say that's enough thanks?
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
MF - you have to know before you ask them that they will not stop tipping the truck out until no more comes out - they will give you 1 load or 10 loads, but not 1/2 load.
You can tell them to stop - they won't take any notice - only chance they will stop tipping is to offer them a 6 pack of cold beer each haha.
Norm, make sure you put a bit of fertiliser under the mulch - fresh mulch pulls nitrogen out, then puts in back in 6 months later as it decays. Just something to note if you are using it on picky/prized plants.
My son heard the driver saying as he got back in the truck "thank f**k for that" Gadge, within 5 mins it was on gumtree, market place, facebook . Had a few enquiries so most of it should be gone tomorrow. At least it has given the neighbors a bit of a chuckle Thanks Tyler, been here for over 40 years now and when we moved here I was doing work here I kept saying if things I was doing lasted 40 years I would be happy, problem is the 40 years are up and the maintenance is catching up on me. MF, the pool ended up with a 4 inch concrete slab poured over it and it has 35 44 gallon plastic drums under it giving me 7500 litres of water for the garden, so win win there
I am currently contending with sagging gutters, need roof refinished/pointed as the gutters end up with lumps of pointing and tile sand, car port sagging causing water to flow the wrong way, soakwells full of crap (and 3 are under the lawn), one corner of the house has sunk slightly so sliding door is a pain, need to do flywires, tap seats all on their way out, water hammer, rusty water coming through in the morning so other things stuffed as well.
Plus I need to rip to toilet off the floor and put in a new rubber mounting gasket
Don't know what to do first
I am interested regarding the 44gal drums. Did you link all of them together with pipe and plumbed in a bore pump?
Hi Tyler, I know what you mean about what to do first, been in that situation here for the last 40 years. Over the years I have fitted 25 steel beams in here to hold this place together and countless tons of concrete. There is also 5 submersible pumps around the place pumping water out but I still have a water problem that has developed in the last couple of years in the garage downstairs that is causing me concern. Many of the problems here are a result of my own doing, every action has a reaction so I can't blame anybody but myself. Another cause of problems is the fact the block has a 3m rise from the street to the highest point in the back yard. This gets me back to the 44's, there is the 35 under the pool and another 9 under the house and they are all interconnected with 20mm hose. I drilled a hole in the bottom side of the drums (so they can stand vertically) tapped them 3/4 inch BSP and that has worked well with no leakage problems. The pump is at ground level under the house which is the same level as the bottom of the drums and that is connected to 3 hose reels around the house so it is only a matter of flicking on the switch and anywhere around the place can be watered. It is setup so that if we end in drought I can direct the water from the entire house, garage,carport and a couple of sheds all into the drums so any rain we get can be captured. Crazy I know but the place has kept me busy for 40 years. BTW the steam coming off this pile of mulch this morning is a bit alarming, there is a lot of heat going on in there
Sometimes even sooner than that! My house was about 13yo back when I bought it in 1988; and it's a quite basic 3BR design, but constructed to a very high standard [Vic Housing Commission; brick veneer, concrete tile roof, with concrete stumps and hardwood flooring].
In the first year I owned it, had to replace the water line from the meter to the house - pitting corrosion had eaten through the underground section of the gal line. So that got re-done in copper.
Then the gravity feed HWS sprang a leak in the base of the tank! With a bit of in-ceiling jiggery and pokery, my brother and I managed to sweat solder a copper patch over the split in the bottom of the copper tank. With another patch about 10 years later, I got a further 19 years of service out of that system, before I pensioned it off in 2007.
At the same time, I had the plumber replace the old gal cold water line under the house with copper - in some places, the gal line only had a ~8mm hole through it; rust had closed it up that much.
Quote
I am currently contending with sagging gutters, need roof refinished/pointed as the gutters end up with lumps of pointing and tile sand, car port sagging causing water to flow the wrong way, soakwells full of crap (and 3 are under the lawn), one corner of the house has sunk slightly so sliding door is a pain, need to do flywires, tap seats all on their way out, water hammer, rusty water coming through in the morning so other things stuffed as well.
Plus I need to rip to toilet off the floor and put in a new rubber mounting gasket
Don't know what to do first
Start with the issues that can/will cause structural damage. Top of that list is the roof, followed by the gutters. My gutters are way overdue for replacement, but I first have to get a root blockage in the stormwater line fixed up.
When I can find a local plumber that actually wants the work, that is...
Cheers, Gadge
"ODK Mods can explain it to you, but they can't understand it for you..."
"Crazy can be medicated, ignorance can be educated - but there is no cure for stupid..."
Forgot the kitchen drain has roots through it (which I can control reasonably well with copper sulfate) and judging by the extra green patch of lawn we get (and the sewage pipe that runs directly under it) I can conclude what has happened there as well haha
Norm, I also catch the water off around 1/4 of the house into several drums and 240L bins. Then I just use a submersible pump to drain it out. I also have a mate with a double garage under the house - complicated by the fact he also has a double carport at the front. He is forever worried the drain will fill up and flood.
I figure the significant amount of moisture in the fresh mulch causes the steam. Don't be surprised if you need to pressure wash the driveway underneath as the heat rots the bottom stuff quick smart.
Gadge, the gutters are what worries us the most (and the carport) so that will definitely need doing before winter. Fortunately they haven't rusted through, however the sagging directs water the wrong way. Only 2 spots have issues, and thats presumably where the water runs the wrong way over the seam. I have drilled a few holes to funnel to water out into the garden.
I have been trying to work out the pipe material as getting rusty water has to be steel of some description. The only part I can think of it the HWS tank as the rest should be copper in a 1987 house. But, only certain taps are affected, the laundry runs clear after approx 9l, but the bathroom can take 40l before it runs clear.
Anyway, probably will have plenty of time soon enough. Breaking news 5 mins ago another container ship over here with a covid out break, so we will be beyond stuffed soon enough.
My gutters are 40 years old, I have tried keeping them cleaned but the 7 cyprus trees along the fence made that a never ending problem. When I cleaned them I would paint them with fish oil so that has helped keep them intact. Along the tree side it is starting to get pinhole bubbles when I cleaned it last year and as soon as I can see a few hot days coming I will give them another clean and paint the inside with Hydroseal, that should give them another 10/15 years so by then probably not my problem Tyler, 1987 should be copper throughout. The rusty water is that from the hot or cold tap, you didn't mention the kitchen I have a garage under the house that sits about 4 feet below ground level with a room the same size beside it. This has 2 pumps in it and high water alarm if both pumps happen to fail with separate power supplies and power fail alarms to both power supplies. Helps when your son is a sparky
That's the odd thing Norm, its really hard to get the kitchen to do it. Hot water only. Kitchen is the furthest away from HWS, bathroom closest
I have done a similar thing but with zinc paint in the past. I get up the ladder each year with a leaf blower and give them a good shoot out and then check for any bubbling. Easier now with the husky I picked up - 1 pull start at the top of the ladder and next to no vibration.
Definitely handy to have a sparkie in the family. Have you ever had the high water alarm come on?
Hi Tyler, rust in the hot water only says the hottie is rusting out, but strange that you are getting different amounts out of different taps, doesn't make any sense Never had the high water alarm activate, it runs on a 12 volt system that is charged by a trickle charger on a time clock each day. I test it about once a month or when I think of it. I find the fish oil works best as it actually bonds with the rust. The Zinc based paint is good but it only goes where you put it, the fish oil travels around corners and in between lapped joints. Once it has dried fully that is when I paint the Hydroseal over it and that virtually makes a new waterproof skin on the inside, so water then should not come in contact with the water again
That is a really good idea Norm. I think I do that as a stop gap until the roof is done and the new gutters go on. There are only a few seams causing issues.
Its strange regarding the different amount on different taps - I could not ascertain how it is either. Just that another Dux is never going there again - will 'install a Rheem' this time
Hi Tyler, Is there any chance somebody has made a dodgey alteration to the hot supply to the laundry and bathroom. If somebody has fitted a gal fitting in there (big no no on the hot water) this could be the cause of the problem, it is unlikely to be the Dux but anything is possible. A way you could test it is to disconnect the hot coming out of the unit and connect a hose to it and then turn the taps on and if you still get the rusty water coming out you know there is a problem in the pipes and not the unit
The builder was as dodgy as hell and went broke a couple months after. They built the house sideways and had to redesign as the front door would have been (effectively) in the back yard.
The telecom guy alerted the fact that about 60 of the roof tiles were cracked in half and the apprentice who put the tiles in the kitchen stuffed it severely.
The house has never had any mods that I know of.
I think I will do what you recommend. I will switch the system off, shut off the cold water intake, leave it for a few hours to cool, and remove one of the lower blank plugs down the bottom (has multiple outlets on the tank but only 1 is used) and see what comes out, then flush it.
Hopefully it last until december when I will have time to go and get a good deal on a rheem and get someone to install (pains me to pay for sometging I can do myself, but legally its an issue)
Tyler, I wouldn't be racing out to replace the unit, I'm not convinced the unit would be the cause. If all taps were having the same issue then I would agree but I think there is something going on with the pipework. As I said disconnect the water from the discharge side of the unit and hook a garden hose up to it and if the water runs clean then the unit is the problem, if not the pipe is the problem somewhere
I agree with you that its like it is the pipework. Will drain the system and see how it is
Found the invoice from 2015 when it went in - usually only last 5-6 years with the last Dux Sh*t*er lasting Jan 14 to Dec 15. Warranty refused.
As its coming up to 5 years in December, I keep feeling the end is nigh. Plus, I would prefer to do the research, get a good deal on a quality system + install as opposed to running around after its blown up
The one in there is actually a 'Thermann' not Dux - probably because the previous Dux one died that quickly. These are electric by the way.
Shows how much attention I pay it - I can't even remember the brand. I turn the pressure purge taps once a month to stop them seizing, thats it.
5/6 years is a pain, I've been at my place 40 years now and still on my second gas hottie, current one has 2002 sticker on it so I expect it is hearing end of life. Yes it is always an issue with a hottie, working perfectly one day, bloody disaster the next and rush decisions have to be made on the spot. My next one is going to be an instantaneous
Thats rare Norm, although over here I have known people to get max 15 out of gas hot water systems. The house next door had a Rheem and it went for at least 25 years, and it probably still had a few years left when the house was knocked down.
Do you have very hard water?
Have had this reply sitting here since 11am and forgot to press post haha
just get a second hand one and install it yourself...thats what i did,i will never buy new again after being stuffed around with warranty...i even have a spare back up one now as people give them away....humans are privileged consumers who dont value resources
That was bloody hilarious! Joe Biden has some serious case of dementia. C’ome on man!!
Until you have to take care of a person with Dementia you have no room to talk. Dementia unlike Alzheimer is a much worst disease. Yes the first initial years they are similar but the later stages devastating to the patient and the family members. I know first hand as my mother died of the disease.
At the onset she would forget how use the cook stove and washing machine. After the first year she started getting really bad and the last six months she reverted back to being a toddler and a stripper. I couldn't keep clothes on her. Nor was it pleasant having to constantly having to clean everything and try not have her to wonder off. Or trying to keep her from falling a she also became a climber. She had no idea who she was.
One time she was with my brother while I looking for some parts. He just got in his car and drove off. She tried following him. And a van full of women found her standing in the middle of an intersection. I had came out of the parts room and going to my car so I could put the parts in it for deliver when they walked up to the driveway. They ask me did I know the woman they was helping. I looked and it was my mother. My brother didn't even tell he was leaving.
What worst he refused to help in any way with our mother and it all was left for me to do along the nurses aids. I ran on pure will power the last months. After my mother died I nearly lapse from complete exhaustion. It took at least a year to recover from it.
Dementia is not a disease to make fun of at all. It is a deadly disease as many diagnosed with it have less than a year to live where Alzheimer patients can live for many years.
