Sump Pump instead of Condensate Pump

I had a problem with condensate pumps that frequently clog and fail. I have a tankless water heater and a direct vent HVAC system which both drip at least 1 gallon of water per day. When the pumps fail, they flood the basement and I have to make an emergency trip to Home Depot to buy a new one for $60. The pumps are available for less at Amazon, however, when I already have a flood situation, there is no time to order online.


I decided that there must be a better way. I bought an Everbuilt 18x22 sump pump basin with a cover.


Here is my natural gas tankless hot water heater with condensate pump.

Here is my HVAC system with second condensate pump. As you can see, I started to cut into the concrete with an angle grinder using masonry disks. It made a mess so i used some water to reduce the dust. I wore a charcoal respirator, ear protection and safety goggles. The angle grinder only made a 1-1/2" groove in the concrete. The concrete dust got all over my basement.

Links to safety equipment:




I bought an air compressor, an air hammer, and a chisel which i used with my hammer and sledgehammer



It was slow going. The air hammer wasn't strong enough. It only helped a little. The 10 pound sledge hammer did the job. The concrete was about 6" thick. After breaking up and removing the concrete, I had to dig out the dirt about 20" down to fit the basin.

I then bought a bunch of schedule 40, 3/4" and 1" PVC pipe and a 1/3 horsepower cast iron sump pump with switch and a one way valve.

It works really well. I will update if I have any issues.

Video Below:

ROI Salt System vs. Chlorine Tablets for Swimming Pools

I bought a pool and was sold on the salt system as the better option. I was told that there is less chlorine in the pool and it is more comfortable for bathers. I was told that there was less maintenance because the salt system makes chlorine so I wouldn't have to buy chlorine.

After owning a pool for 4 years, I am not so sure. I was  curious if anyone performed a true analysis of the return on investment for a SWG electrolytic salt system. My pool came with the Zodiac Aquapure 1400 Nature2 Fusion system. My pool is approximately 20,000 gallons. I have an auto-cover that remains closed 95% of the time. I maintain it myself.

Things they did not tell me.
1. You will have to check pH and buy acid or PH minus and add it to your pool weekly, I usually add 4.5 cups of muriatic acid per week.
2. You will have to check your chlorine level and add chlorine when there is high swimmer load or your pool gets dirty.
3. The salt system is a maintenance headache and the salt cell will need to be replaced every 3 years at a cost of $600. It frequently spits out error codes and does not reliably talk to the PDA remote.


Cost of chlorine pool:
No significant start up costs, maybe $50-100 for chlorine feeder or you can just place in skimmer baskets.
$2/lb for chlorine
Test strips (which you need either way)
no other maintenance costs

Cost of SWG pool:
Salt system $1250, generates 1 lb chlorine per day

Electricity cost - assume 100w x 10 hours/day = 1kwh/day x 120 days = 120kwh x 20c = $24 per year, not much
Cell replacement $600 every 3 years


 Salt $10 per 40lb bag, 3 bags/ year


 Acid cost $10/gal about 8 gallons per year = $80


In summary, 10 year cost:
SWG = 1250 + 240 + 600 +600 +300 + 800 = $379/yr
Chlorine 120 lbs = $240/yr

I think we have been duped by the pool industry. Chlorine costs maybe $250/year. The salt systems cost less to run ONLY if you do not count the cost of the salt system and the replacement cells which you will need. Over the long run, chlorine is 35% less than salt systems.

FIX Doorbell Cam Chime Buzzing/Humming - Ring, August, Skybell

Fixed buzzing sound from Doorbell Cam

I installed the Skybell HD doorbell camera last year. It replaces my existing hardwired doorbell and rings a bell inside the house when the button is pushed. It works great. It connects to WIFI and I can see who's at the door and talk to them if desired.
Problem: Since the doorbell cam draws power from the circuit even when the button is not pushed, it sends power through the bell intermittently throughout the day & night. This makes a slight buzzing or humming sound. This is noticeable especially when it senses motion or is recording video since it draws power whenever it needs it to perform tasks.
My set up:
4" Chrome Door Bell


Skybell HD Chrome


12 Volt AC Power Supply Transformer


First I tried to lessen the noise by installing a 10 ohm resistor in paralell with the bell. It reduced the noise but did not solve the problem.
10 Ohm Resistor

Next, I bought a AC relay that would switch the bell on and off when the button was pressed and not send any current to the bell otherwise. I had to add some 10 Ohm resistors to make it work properly.

Detrol 12 Volt AC Relay

This can be found on eBay: 
NEW Deltrol 20063-81 12 Volt AC Coil 5 Amp 100U DPDT General Purpose Relay

Here is the circuit diagram:

This had to be tweaked by adding some resistors but it works great!

Cover-Pools automatic pool cover rope replacement

Cover-Pools rope repair

So my pool cover rope ripped. Should be simple to repair or replace? Think again. Not simple. Cannot be repaired. Needs to be replaced. Some pool covers have ropes that bolt into the leading edge assembily, not the Cover-Pools Save-T3. The torn rope has to be cut out of the pool cover and a new rope sewn in. This would not be so bad if it didn't have to be done with the pool cover installed. Instead of using a sewing machine, an awl is used by hand.
The problem:

Items needed
The replacement rope: from eBay Automatic swimming pool cover replacement rope-Sew in style
Awl:
Seam ripper:

Here is a video showing how to sew in the replacement rope with a sewing machine, you get the general idea.

This is how the awl is used:

OK, so you are not intimidated by a little work. 

Here is my VIDEO:

Here are the steps:

1. remove the 4 bolts attaching the leading edge bar to the glider and the corner of the pool cover fabric. See photo showing the leading edge bar detached.

2. Measure and cut out damaged rope and webbing. Use new webbing to figure out where to make the cut. Use the seam ripper to detach the webbing that is to be removed.

3. Slide the new webbing and rope into position so that the new rope is touching the old rope. Make sure that everything is even before you start sewing. Use clamps to hold the webbing in place.
3. Sew in the new webbing with the awl.
4. Remove the old rope from the track and pulley.
5. Run the new rope through the track starting from the retracted cover end, down the track on the pool side, around the end pulley, and then back the track to the winch. Wrap it around the winch spool.
6. Make sure both ropes have equal tension. Then test the cover and make sure it works.

Automatic pool cover rope repair FAIL

My automatic pool cover is Cover-Pools Save-T3, a little over 1 year old and one of the ropes snapped. Quote to repair from licensed installed is $500.

The rope cannot be knotted because it has to slide in a track and the knot would be too bulky.

I researched and found a technique for end to end repair or splice with constant diameter. The only tool needed is a 5/16 fid which costs about $10. It is called: Double Braid Class I End-For-End Splice.
Link to instructions: here
5/16 fid


Video showing the splice technique:

Here are steps of the project:

As you can see the core rope is not a rope and it could not be pulled out of the jacket. It is just fibers and it ripped. The technique requires a double braided rope. The rope I have is not double braided. The technique will not work.

I bought a replacement rope and plan on sewing it in myself.