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Everything posted by ProDave
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As above that far north you need a good clear view south preferably without any hills in the way and a steep panel angle. If maximum winter yield is your aim almost vertical will work well. You won't be short of sun hours in the summer.
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The tank should not be full to the overflow otherwise any expansion as it gets hot just spills out of the overflow pipe. So 2 problems to fix, firstly the overflow connection so it does not leak next time, then the ball valve so make it shut off at the correct level. Chances are the ball valve can be fixed just by dismantling and turning the washer over, unless someone has done that before in which case it will need a new washer. Or may be simpler to get a new fill valve.
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Open up the failed ones and post pictures inside. I bet they can be repaired and improved. I fixed one for a friend where the wiring uses was totally inadequate, rewired it with thicker wire etc and it has lasted years since. Likewise a cheap Chinese inverter failed due to insufficient heatsink compound. 2 new transistors properly mounted with enough compound and that is still working years later.
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The humble but infuriating ....
ProDave replied to ToughButterCup's topic in General Self Build & DIY Discussion
A small ratchet, if needing to tighten with a long tail, rather than pass it all the way through, double it up and pass the dead end doubled up a little way through and start ratcheting. There is no right or wrong way. -
Can you help me find the right 17mm socket to change this valve
ProDave replied to Adsibob's topic in General Plumbing
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=17mm+deep+socket+3%2F8&_sop=15 If you have a motorists shop near you they should have one to save you the wait for one to be delivered. -
The humble but infuriating ....
ProDave replied to ToughButterCup's topic in General Self Build & DIY Discussion
I had a similar issue with adjustable spanners. I could never remember which way to turn them to tighten them. Then one day I put 2 down side by sise, and realised one had a right hand and the other a left hand work screw that you use to adjust them. No wonder I could never remember which way, because it depends which one you have picked up. -
To clean such stains from render, I squirt with 50 50 water bleach mic using a garden sprayer bottle, just where the stains are, and let the rain water rinse it off afterwards.
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Is the hot water scalding hot when you run the hot tap? i.e. on the verge of boiling? Vented or unvented cylinder? I guess vented as unvented would not normally have a header tank in the loft. The header tank in the loft should be cold. If the water in it is hot or warm, that is wrong. Hot or warm water in the header tank is usually caused by the hot tank overheating and pumping hot water out of the vent into the header tank.
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We need photos of what has been done on the other side.
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp959zl5lzko Plans for 18 affordable homes have been refused for a second time amid fears the development could endanger the Welsh language. In September, Botwnnog community council said it wanted a proposed housing scheme in the village to be limited to people who only speak Welsh. It said it would be a "a danger to the Welsh language and the fabric of the community" and the county council, Cyngor Gwynedd, refused to back the scheme.
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how to adjust a window that has slipped off 90degrees in its frame
ProDave replied to AndyG's topic in Windows & Glazing
A more zoomed out photo showing the whole window and how it fits the frame all round is needed to answer if it is the hinge that has slipped or the glass within the window frame that has slipped. -
Boundary retaining wall failure
ProDave replied to SilverShadow's topic in Party Wall & Property Legal Issues
Am I having a DeJaVu moment or have I seen that exact wall discussed here before (by previous owner?) -
Octopus, did i imagine this?
ProDave replied to Post and beam's topic in Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP)
I recall seeing it mentioned. I questioned at the time how the meter it, and the answer was you needed a particular HP with a built in certified meter from which they calculated the reduced rate for that alone. -
We have a seasonal high water table, Mid summer perhaps June or July is the driest. I would never have thought of digging in September let alone October. We were about 1.5 metre without shuttering but needed a pump to keep the water out. BCO inspection and pour same day.
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People often criticise ASHP's for being "noisiy" I am visiting relatives and they have a gas boiler on the landing of all places right outside our bedroom door. When that fires up in the morning it is like a jet plane on the landing getting ready for take off. How on earth do people put up with something so noisy INSIDE their house, when instead they could have something so much quieter to produce their heat, and what little noise it makes is OUTSIDE their house.
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I fitted a wood burning stove in mine and burned coal overnight to keep it in. It burned almost non stop from November to February. And a couple of plug in electric heaters in the bedrooms with thermostats.
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Water installation quote. Seems excessive.
ProDave replied to flanagaj's topic in General Self Build & DIY Discussion
Surely if you stipulate the install should be done outside bird nesting season they can't charge that bird nesting survey? -
Self build funding - what would you do differently!
ProDave replied to Harmony's topic in Self Build Mortgages
All finished now and all housing matters concluded. It was worth it in the end even if it took longer and did not happen quite as planned. The overall result makes it all worth it. Now winding down my electrical business and retiring. -
My pet thought on this subject is WHY do people pay the same for a leaky old wreck just because it looks nice? Surely it is about time the market valued houses by their true worth and old houses needing 10's of 000's of £££ spent should be worth less than nice modern efficient houses?
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What size and depth of hole? If you are not in a hurry, I would use Gyproc Pro Mix lite, jointing filler, BUT (hence not in a hurry) if anything more than a very thin skim it take ages to set. And handy if you have a tub, but mot something you are likely to go out and buy as it only comes in huge tubs. But once set it is easily sanded and painted.
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I realise it is a measure of different things, but to the uneducated it sends a mixed message, your diesel is cleaner so less VED but it is too dirty to drive into a LEZ. Expecting all the general public to understand that is a bit like your kWh per hour situation.
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Yes but we still have contradictory "messages" from the government. I drive a diesel car as I wanted a car capable of towing a heavy trailer. To buy a petrol one that powerful would have cost a lot in VED. So I chose a diesel one. The VED is based on Kg of CO2 per km and that is lower, a lot lower, on the diesel one so lower VED so it must be less bad for the environment. But on the other hand I am told my diesel car is way too dirty to drive into a LEZ but the previous, older, petrol one with higher CO2 per Km was okay. One can forgive the public for being cynical with such mixed messages.
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Are you sure it is not the frame that is bowed?
