House stuffs

[greatbear]

I've been trying to make some headway into the various upgrades and fixes I had sidelined due to health issues. Trying to do the various stuff according to the weather and available time has been a fun juggling session. For instance, I recently completed work in the attic to relocate some wiring that would be in the way of installing two skylights in the living room. This was done as part of some structural fixes, where I needed to tie two sets of 16-inch beams (!) that settled variably and caused cracking of ceiling drywall which would never stay patched. I added a floor that covered a 12x48 foot area up there as well, along with some shelves for seasonal stuff that is stored in the attic as well. I had a limited timeframe to do this, since that attic gets unbearably hot to work in even during early spring weather. So, that is all taken care of, a task I had wanted to tackle for 20 years. This will give me some working space to add a pair of 2ft by 4ft skylights in the living room as well as a 'sun tunnel' light shaft in the one bathroom in the middle of the house devoid of windows. Now I just need to coordinate with whomever I subcontract to re-shingle the roofs so I can replace some bad roof decking and install the skylights before they do their thing.

Since this is my short working week, I will change hats again from carpenter and electrician to become a plumber and replace my aging, yet still serviceable water heater before it lets go. In the interest of energy savings as well as creative side benefits, I am replacing my 66-gallon A. O. Smith electric heater with a 50-gallon General Electric "GeoSpring" heat-pump water heater.



This high-tech piece should cost a little more than a third to operate compared to the current one. Since the unit uses a heat pump to heat the water, the side benefit is the system throws off cool air, much like an air conditioner, when it's heating water. This will take the place of (or supplement, during peak summertime use) the dehumidifier that I usually run in the basement as well, cutting back on even more energy usage. At least, this is what I am hoping for in the long run. While layin' pipe I will also add a utility sink in the workshop area, as well as replace two outside frostproof sillcocks (stop giggling!). Finally, technology has caught up to something I have wanted to have outside, which is hot and cold water from a freeze-resistant faucet:



This will make washing cars, pets and whatever else a much more pleasurable experience, and can be done year-round. While a means to have hot and cold water from an outside faucet was doable before, I was only able to find a very clumsy (and very expensive) industrial/institutional wall "hydrant" to do the trick. Moen has come up with a simple, single-knob unit that installs easily and does not look out of place on the side of a house. Once I do all of these installations I will give them a workout by washing all the vehicles as well as the house itself. Maybe Kodi and Jeff will get a nice warm shower outside too. I promise I won't use the pressure washer. :o)

Comments

[jrjarrett.livejournal.com]

While layin' pipe I will also add a utility sink in the workshop area, as well as replace two outside frostproof sillcocks (stop giggling!)

I'm still giggling about thinking about you layin' pipe :D >:)

[ciddyguy.livejournal.com]

I saw a segment on those hybrid GE hot water heaters on Ask This Old House about a month ago, they sound interesting although I'm thinking tankless for my though.

[maxauburn.livejournal.com]

You're a handy guy to have around!

Part of being able to do such things
around the house is being determined to
do them.

I admire determination.

It's a trait we both share!

[normalcyispasse.livejournal.com]

Do those "sun tube" things actually work? That might be something I do to the house, assuming everything works out.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

You fell quite nicely into my trap. ;)

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

It's a tankless job, but someone has to do it. ;)

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

I've always had a natural affinity to do such things, even at a very young age. It's done well for me over the years.

[ciddyguy.livejournal.com]

LOL, You's silly Phil.

[jrjarrett.livejournal.com]

This is a trap? lol.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Yes, they do bring a lot of light into an otherwise dim or dark room. The key to the overall effectiveness is the installed length of the tube or light duct. In my case, it will be roughly 5 feet long at most, so there should not be a whole lot of attenuation. The effectiveness drops when the tube has to be very long because of steeply pitched roofs or routing the duct around obstacles, but even in those cases, the light thrown off by the whole shebang is at least that of a decent surface mount light fixture. In my case, there would be no reason to use the lights in the bathroom during the daylight with one of these installed. Sunlight has also a nice germicidal effect most welcome in bathrooms, even through a sun tunnel.

[maxauburn.livejournal.com]

I never had that affinity until I met George.

He taught me by example that, if I put my
mind to it, I could accomplish just about anything.

[jacked01.livejournal.com]

Hot water on tap.. outside? AWESOME

[danlmarmot.livejournal.com]

Awesome (espeically the laying the floor in the attic--that's a lot of work, ugh).

Makes me want to put together a "what I'm doing around the house" post!

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

The one I got is technically 8 inches (stop that snickering!), but, like AOL inches, is closer to 14 inches overall length. The reason for this is the valve cartridge adds a good 5 inches to the length, plus add in the connecting tubes. The distance from the mounting plate to the point at where the water it shut off is, indeed 8 inches. You can get these things in varying length up to 12 inches, so there is no problem getting one to fit properly in a block wall and having the actual water shut off completely in building.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

I need to take some pictures of stuff as I am doing it, as well as the completed stuff. Not sure how many it would interest, though I know some folks reading this are always on the lookout for upgrades and ideas. If it serves a purpose, then it's even better.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Yep! Looks like a typical outside hose bibb, maybe a little bit more substantial. The difference is that it has a pull for flow/turn for temp knob like most single-knob shower/bath installations and indoor faucets.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I have to set traps. Just like, historically, the most sure-fire way I had for picking up guys was to physically lift them. Innuendo traps are good for starting conversations using teh secks. And I'm sure if Jeff read this he was not only giggling, but rolling on the floor being that I don't lay enough pipe for his tastes. ;)