Re: Home and garden projects
 

Could be time to put that Flex Seal rubber spray stuff they advertise on TV to the test. Target and Lowe's appear to carry it. Good luck, PF.

Re: Home and garden projects
 

Or maybe it's time for a new roof? :scaredhair:

Re: Home and garden projects
 

With all the storms down there it may be wise to try for an insurance claim.

Re: Home and garden projects
 

It's on my garage roof and the offending pipe is about 3 ft from my bedroom window. Looking at it, there isn't anything obviously wrong apart from I can't see one of those boot thingies....so it might be a handyman job to get one on there - the leak is tiny so I will wait and investigate when conditions improve.

The roof was replaced in 2011 so I'm not expecting to have to replace it!

Now I'll go and investigate the proper roof from the attic to see if anymore of these vent pipes are leaking.
Thanks everyone..

Re: Home and garden projects
 

Look for any off colored patches of insulation or where it's been pushed down. That was one of the signs in my attic.

Re: Home and garden projects
 

I'd be very wary about doing that. If you claim twice for damage to your roof you risk being dropped by your insurer, and you end up somehow "blacklisted" and can find your insurance premiums jump significantly.

There is quite a racket, round here at least, with roofing company reps knocking on your door and offering a "free roof", because "there has been hail damage in this area". Basically they will finagle a fraudulent insurance claim, which seems all fine and dandy, until you try to claim a second time, perhaps this time for genuine damage to the roof - then your problems start. :(

Personally, we treat our home insurance like HD medical insurance - have a fairly high deductible then deal with minor "events" as part of the cost of owning a home, paid for out of income, but reap the benefits of lower insurance by not claiming on it for minor damage.

Obviously being able to do many minor repairs myself helps - like the time a neighbor accidentally set fire to the lawn and did about $1,500 of damage to the siding. At that time our deductible was $1,000 so in any event the claim would only have been about $500, but I just replaced the siding myself, upgraded the house wrap to a reflective foil wrap (it was a south-facing wall), and reused a good bit of the siding that wasn't damaged because it had been higher up on the wall. The out-of-pocket cost was about $650 IIRC.
A persistent drip, too small to lead to ceiling discolouration, may leave either a very small mold spot on the insulation, or may create a very narrow hole in the insulation, like someone has poked a pencil into it.

Re: Home and garden projects
 

Pump woes from me also. My pool pump decided to sh*t it's pants in spectacular fashion on Thursday, so this weeekend's knuckle-deskinning and creative profanity session included: excising this old clunker:

http://britishexpats.com/forum/attac...1&d=1503848966

and replacing it with this somewhat pricey, but variable speed (and color co-ordinated) whispering gem...

http://britishexpats.com/forum/attac...1&d=1503849103

Re: Home and garden projects
 

Is it customary to have the pump outdoors, totally unprotected from the elements? .... Is there some reason not to at least have a roof over it, if not to put it inside a poolside cabana? .... Obviously relocating an existing installation would have significant cost and/or effort implications, I am thinking more from a design perspective.

Re: Home and garden projects
 

ooooooh pool pump porn!

The previous owners put in a new pool pump about 6 months before we bought the house, it's an old style single speed one. I keep looking at those variable speed ones but after having done the maths, I need to keep my current one until it conks out or at least starts misbehaving. Enjoy the reduction in electricity costs. :thumbsup:

Re: Home and garden projects
 

yes most people have them uncovered. Everything is waterproof, rust resistant etc. A few have the pumps solar powered so will build a covering over it on which to place the panels.

In France they tucked the pool pump motor away in a housing in the ground. It was a huge pita to check it out.

Re: Home and garden projects
 

I presume the "etc." includes "plug-ugly". :lol:

Re: Home and garden projects
 

oh noooo!
fully automatic, no hassle and they are things of beauty!
Ours is tucked away at the side of the house with the hvac units.

Re: Home and garden projects
 

My Mustang's V8 is a thing of beauty too, but it doesn't need to be exposed at all times for the world to see. :rolleyes: .... Or are you calling it "pool pump porn" becuse the pump is naked and exposed. :lol:

Re: Home and garden projects
 

A very valid point - customary to be exposed to the elements - apparently yes, though I agree with you that this kind of exposure can only be detrimental. It is partially covered by an overhanging roof eave - but I am going to build some form of open-sided shelter for it to divert the worst of the rain and direct sun.

Boxing it in isn't an option - it needs to be ventilated to prevent the motor overheating. Moving the installation was not really an option either - the whole thing is an ugly mess of pipework and having the motor/pump in close proximity to the filter and the riser/downpipe for the solar heater means it works more efficiently (apparently).

I bought it on-line and installed it myself. I saved myself the thick end of $500 compared to the quote I got from my local pool supply company (Pinch-A-Penny Pool and Spa).

Re: Home and garden projects
 

We use Solar Seal 900, an NPC Sealants product, to seal anything on roofs down here in Florida. It seems to be the only thing that withstands stupidly high humidity and temperatures without breaking down and failing every couple of years. It will only work in dry applications, can take weather almost immediately but the area to be sealed must be dry. Pays to bleach the area to be sealed prior to sealing to remove any dirt and mould growth.

Flex seal spray type rubbers, as advertised on telly, are not something I've ever witnessed a roofer using which would make me wary of using them and Silicon is something only amateurs, bodgers and cable installers use for exterior applications where a long lasting result is desired.