Things are changing

It’s been a while since the last post. Not a lot has happened over the last year, but I did do a few projects and a lot of planning, though. I will do some project posts in the future. As of now, things are changing around here pretty quickly. The new house has finally been started. After much planning and finding contractors, things are happening.

Here are some pictures of the house I designed, renderings from the program I used to design the house. When the house is finished, we’ll see how close I came.

Here are some pictures of the actual house being built.

Excavation and footers done.
Forms for walls going in.
All forms up and concrete poured.
Forms removed, site inspector (Penny the adventure dog) making sure work is done right.

From perc test to rainwater harvesting

Had our septic system inspection done for building the new house, the system failed.  So we had to get a perc test done to see if we could get a new septic system.  We do qualify for a sand mound septic system, at this time we are in the design stage.  Things were looking pretty bad for awhile. We were told we’d possibly have to get holding tanks or a small stream discharge system, both very expensive in the end.  The small stream discharge system also needs state DEP approval which can take a year or more.  It also requires more inspections, paper work needs to be submitted regularly, chemical treatment of discharge, and regular testing of what’s being discharged.

So I got an IBC to hold the water for the perc test.

IBC for perc test.

Digging holes for perc test.

Filled ready to go.

Took about 15 hours to fill from the well.

Now to the rainwater harvesting part.

After the perc test was finished, moved the IBC up to the pole barn. This is where the first version of the system is going to be set up.  Version one is mainly for testing and is also used to clean equipment. Ordered from Amazon (couldn’t find anything local) –

Leaf Eater Advanced Rain Head- 3 in. Round

Rain Harvesting First Flush Downspout Water Diverter 3″ Kit

Action Pump 63MM-25 63mm Coarse Bung Buttress to NPT

Everything else, I got at Lowe’s.

System ready to go with just under 100 gallons to start.

Next day we had some rain.

This rain filled the IBC with excess going out overflow pipe.

Full container.

System worked very well. Since the tank was full, I decided to wash the mower.

First bath.

Water level after washing tractor.

Future versions will include bigger tanks, bigger collection area, and more uses.

LED Lights

From February’s post.

All lights now working.  Used Hyperikon T-8, 15 watt, 6,000K frosted LED tubes.  These tubes are awesome, it’s like daylight inside the shop now.  They have a rated lifetime of 45,000 hours.  All 48 tubes worked fine not one bad one.  Others I looked at, reviews stated about getting bad tubes delivered and hassles with returns of defective tubes.  Best part only about $0.11 / hour to run all the lights and should last like 20 years.  Electricity with all fees is $0.16 / kWh (kilowatt hour) in our area.  Fluorescent tubes would cost about $0.24 / hour.  Lifetime savings for using LED tubes come to $5,820.00 if each tube last 45,000 hours.

Update.

All lights still working, had a minor altercation with one of the lights.  While working on the front end loader on tractor I raised it up just a little too far.  Hit one of the light fixtures and knocked one of the tubes out of the fixture.  After hitting light and falling 10 feet to concrete floor, I thought that was it for it.

I thought damage to tube was terminal. Took pliers and straightened out housing best I could.  Straightened sheet metal on light fixture and put everything back together.  As you can see the tube lit up – doesn’t look the best but still works.

Very impressed with these LED tubes.  If that would have been a regular fluorescent tube, it would have shattered and I would have had a small haz-mat situation from the mercury in the tube.  Would definitely recommend and buy again. Thanks Hyperikon.

Insulation

Finishing up insulation on the walls in the shop.

Last pieces cut and ready to go in.

South end of shop.

North end of shop.

Finished plywood by entry door.  Insulated and put wood casing trim around entry door.

Entry to shop.

Closer view.

Haven’t decided yet what I’ll be doing with the rest of the walls as far as wall covering. Or about insulating the ceiling or roof area.  This bay will get a second layer of foam insulation and covered with 3/4″ plywood. this is for the in floor radiant heating system.  On the outside of this wall I’m planning for a rain water catchment system.  It will have a faucet out by driveway to wash off equipment and a deep sink in this bay for hand washing.  This system will also be used to water garden and hopefully green house.

In floor radiant heat.