The Official "Say Anything" Thread

[ducpainter]

Evening Ducatters

All quiet down under?

[ungeheuer]

Much quieter Down Below than Up There has been lately, yup.

First 30 degree day we've had for what seems like a   l o n g   time.  Seems bloody hot until you get used to the warmth again.

Whats up with the water heater?

[ducpainter]

Much quieter Down Below the Up There has been lately, yup.

First 30 degree day we've had for what seems like a   l o n g   time.  Seems bloody hot until you get used to the warmth again.

Whats up with the water heater?

Well...

without power my sump pump doesn't run.

Need I go further?

[ungeheuer]

Need I go further?

Yes.

Whats a sump pump? (I mean I can imagine what it is but.....)

[ducpainter]

Yes.

Whats a sump pump? (I mean I can imagine what it is but.....)

It's basically a pump put in a small depression in the floor (sump...like the oil pan of a car).

Water comes in...runs to the sump and gets pumped out.

I wet weather my dirt basement has a small stream running through it.

There have been a couple of pump malfunctions that have had both the water heater and the oil furnace under water.

I was just too lazy last night at 1 am to start the generator.

[ungeheuer]

So you sump pump keeps the basement dry.  And the basement is where your HWS and heating services are..... 

Nobody in Australia has a basement/cellar, hence my ignorance.

Does makes me wonder..... why have an under-house utility room anyway?  Especially if you have to maintain a pump to keep it dry?

[ducpainter]

So you sump pump keeps the basement dry.  And the basement is where your HWS and heating services are..... 

Nobody in Australia has a basement/cellar, hence my ignorance.

Does makes me wonder..... why have an under-house utility room anyway?  Especially if you have to maintain a pump to keep it dry?

When this house was built they used a tile drain to let the water out.

The reason for a basement was to store root crops and squash for the winter. The basement wouldn't freeze.

Now we have refrigerators.

The new house has no basement. 

[ungeheuer]

The basement wouldn't freeze.

Aha, make sense.

See, these cold climate things just never occur to me.

Another question     In rural areas like where I live, domestic water supply is almost always roof-collected rain water kept in storage tanks, pressure pumped back to the house.   I never have to worry about freezing,  got 1" poly water pipe just laid on the ground under the house.

How do people in rural cold climates manage their water supply??

[ducpainter]

Aha, make sense.

See, these cold climate things just never occur to me.

Another question     In rural areas like where I live, domestic water supply is almost always roof-collected rain water kept in storage tanks, pressure pumped back to the house.   I never have to worry about freezing,  got 1" poly water pipe just laid on the ground under the house.

How do people in rural cold climates manage their water supply??

The water is typically pumped from a well, either dug or drilled.

The poly pipe is buried below the frost line...roughly 4-5 feet down. or insulated if you can't get below. Some people have to use an electric heating device to keep the water line from freezing.

[ungeheuer]

Some people have to use an electric heating device to keep the water line from freezing.

Eeuck.... you'd have to be bothered to fire up the generator in that case.   I think I have it easy.

Bore water (drilled down to underground supply) is generally regarded as non-potable around here.   Under our land theres a subterranean creek - after heavy rain you can go put your ear to the ground and can hear the creek flowing.   So we could drill down to that, but have no need.

[ducpainter]

Before the days of poly pipe the water lines were copper. If they froze they'd hook up the leads from an arc welder, which created heat, to thaw them.

Keep in mind with regards to basement flooding, not all areas have such high water tables that the basement will be wet.

I'm just 'lucky'.

[ungeheuer]

I'm just 'lucky'.

That must be why your barn trusses are still standing after the biggest storm in the history of the universe  . 

[TiNi]

morning
not all basements take on water
ours is bone dry, but the house is about 200 years newer than Nate's

still no power here, since 6:30 pm Monday

[ducpainter]

That must be why your barn trusses are still standing after the biggest storm in the history of the universe  . 

Nah...

the storm really wasn't very severe here, or up where I helped with the building.

morning
not all basements take on water
ours is bone dry, but the house is about 200 years newer than Nate's

still no power here, since 6:30 pm Monday

What kind of generator are you going to buy?

[TiNi]

Nah...

the storm really wasn't very severe here, or up where I helped with the building.
What kind of generator are you going to buy?

do they make ones that are quiet? lol