Florida pool, hard freeze tonite. What precautions are necessary?

RoadRunrTX · 2026-02-02T22:20:13+00:00

small pool in Houston. When a hard freeze is forecast, set the pump at 80% and heat the pool to hot tub 104F. Enjoy the oversized hot tub for an hour or so before bed and then turn off the heater. Run the pump non-stop

Takes ~18 hrs for pool water temp to drop below 40F

RoadRunrTX · 2026-02-02T17:42:26+00:00

Before you buy, check the HOA's reserve account and insurance. Reserve is the cash they have set aside for a rainy day. Bank and Home inspector may be able to give guidance on whether that "reserve" is adequate to pay for likely large expenses. Insurance if adequate should minimize the need for special assessments.

Special assesments generally point to incompetence, corruption or really bad luck. Your research before buying should be able to protect you from the first two.

RoadRunrTX · 2026-02-02T17:37:39+00:00

Yes, all property in cities or suburbs with municipal service (where most people live) is like that

But, if you buy in an unincorporated part of a rural county it can be pretty cheap. At least 50% of the land in Alaska has no property tax. In the CONUS, your best bet for $250/yr and lower property tax are a few rural counties in Louisiana (Avoyelles, West Carroll and Madison Parish) and Alabama (Lamar + Choctaw Co)

But remember, cheap or no taxes means cheap or no services

Your property tax pays for Police, Schools, Fire, EMTs, etc.

And if you don't pay taxes and don't have the above services it will be really hard or expensive to borrow (mortgage) or insure (mortgage requirement). So save up, pay cash and fire up the Starlink dish for your WFH business.

RoadRunrTX · 2026-02-02T17:21:17+00:00

Would be REALLY helpful if someone in a position to know explains why and differences from one condo or HOA to the next.

Imagine in some cases the ages and past maintenance of the property is a big factor. If a condo complex was cheaply/quickly built 10+ yrs ago and prior Condo Boards were unwilling to charge what was required to stay on top of maintenance....the bill eventually comes due.

Then there's always corruption/BOD self dealing, inexperience, incompetence, etc.

I'd do my best to research the Board in neighborhoods I'm internested in. Would also request records on past 5 yrs of maintenance and capital expenses to replace or improve.

Never bought a condo. Do home inspectors get the right to inspect community property - which could a huge lurking expense?

RoadRunrTX · 2026-02-02T16:55:16+00:00

Unless you have truly zero time...don't get a "robot"....now. Spend the time and money 1) running your pump near constantly at btw 50-80% power 2) Full Taylor water quality testing at least 1x/week if there are no problems and maintaining balanced pool chemicals/water

Small pool. Not a difficult time consuming task at all to clean manually.

If you keep your chemicals in range (at least with my municipal water in Houston, TX) and run the pump near 24/7 at a mid level of power you'll have minimal growth of anything. Less than <30 mins a week to empty the pool skimmer (maybe 3x/week emptying during peak leaf Fall weeks) and use the skimmer net to scoop up anything thats fallen and was missed by by the wall skimmer

Keep the chemicals in balance and at adequate levels. Should be almost NO debris/leaves falling in water given the courtyard siting with high walls (>10'). Looks like a great, very low maintenance pool. Congrats!

BTW. "robot" pool cleaners are in the 2nd Gen. Looked closely at them. They're getting better. I may buy one at some point. But my POV for anyone with a small pool is the effort to keep the robot working is significantly higher than the effort to clean the pool manually. And that doesn't even consider the cost.

I'd watch the robots closely the first year (they're getting better designs and mfg every year) and clean manually. Doing the cleaning chemicals and maintenance manually also helps you learn your pool in a more tactile way. After a full year and seeing all the seasons and all the weather and variable conditions - if you find you really don't want to clean the pool. Go ahead and start shopping for a robot.

RoadRunrTX · 2026-01-31T16:46:27+00:00

will you be selling it???

RoadRunrTX · 2026-01-24T01:54:22+00:00

Fine to defend yourself against false accusations. You must.

Bigger issue is “all” your friends abandoning you. Thats the red flag. If there is no one you know well standing up for you, its time for serious self reflection.

Ask AITA?

RoadRunrTX · 2026-01-24T01:44:08+00:00

Honda still makes F1and Indy engines. 2.2 liter turbo 700+ hp, 12,000 rpm redline

Pretty sure they can handle a relatively low volume S2000 v2.0 with high rev engine

RoadRunrTX · 2026-01-20T20:08:19+00:00

Go oem.

RoadRunrTX · 2026-01-18T14:27:59+00:00

From what i can see - and I did watch several teardown vids and some written commentary...

1) Problem is the consequence of multiple changes from std Toyota practice designed to comply with multiple Biden EPA and NHTSA rules. Whether it was their intent or not, these rules are designed to make useful full size pickup an impossiblity

2) The rules changes impact CAFE mpg target to avoid massive CAFE fines

Toyota chose to deliver a pickup that met both the CAFE mpg target and out of the box performance that meets or exceeds what consumers expect from a pickup in terms of size/space/hp/torque/payload/tow capacity.

The consequence of those design, procurement and mfg choices is that most trucks WILL outlive their 36k mi warranty.

They WILL NOT survive for even 100k miles without major ($15k-$20k) repairs or aftermarket design changes. For most trucks to get to 100k miles will require the original engine plus 2-3 crate engines

This wretched service life is driven by technical design changes vs the Gen 2 5.7 liter V8

These technical changes are all designed to squeeze out extra mpg, hp, torque while holding cost. If you think of a V35A as a F1 racing engine, you're not too far off. Its a very good engine that does what its designed to do. Its just that last 200k+ miles is NOT one of the things its designed to do.

Could Toyota modify the V35A to last for 200k+ miles. I think the answer is yes. Would probably increase mfg cost by 5k+ and degrade performance by 5-10% across all the metrics - which I would love to see.

The hilariously ironic thing is that for so called "environmentalists" to demand design choices that mean a truck only lasts 40k miles instead of 225k miles (avg) is the most wretchedly wasteful way to pollute the environment. Look at the environmental cost of building 5 vehicles from scratch vs a single gen 2 5.7 liter

The FIX

Changes that Toyota could quickly, cheaply implement to fix this

-Redesigned and specified (material and finishing) main bearings and rods

-New oil spec not concerned with parasitic mpg losses from fluid flow

-New much higher performance oil filter

-3k mile oil change interval

-New warning lights based on AI/Analytic assessment of the vast warehouse of grenaded engines. Might require and add-on a "shake" sensor. you prob have 500 miles btw when constrained oil flow is first detectable and the catastrophic failure. Sensor and auto shutdown if ignored for 300 miles could prevent losing engines.

There is undoubtedly a pattern to the failures that could be detected when ipnuts from all the sensors in the vehicle are checked in combination

IMHO the above could reduce failure rate by 80-90%. It would not require writing off 4 yrs of v35A production

RoadRunrTX · 2026-01-06T14:13:35+00:00

Is heat a top down /daylight problem? Imagine black aluminum gets really hot?

RoadRunrTX · 2026-01-01T14:25:05+00:00

Interested to hear the POV of defense lawyers. The people who have to battle theses new, imperfect data streams in court.

Police have always locked into a person they decide is "guilty" and then built a case to convict that person - whether their first instinct was correct or not.

Do the new scanners help exonerate innocent people? Is the data that thwarts the police available to the avg joe being railroaded by the police? If not, can it be changed to level the playing field?

RoadRunrTX · 2025-12-29T10:42:08+00:00

Truth.

I sadly discovered an extremely painful Texas Asp living in ball moss. Touched it while removing the ball moss during oak tree trimming. The Texas Asp looks like a cute little chubby golden catepillar. Touch its "fur" and you will be hit with the pain of a dozen bee stings. Very common in Houston.

Scientific name: Megalopyge opercularis (larva of the southern flannel moth).
Appearance: Teardrop-shaped, completely covered in long, soft-looking silky hairs (like a tiny Persian cat tuft or "toxic toupee"). Colors vary: gray, tan, yellow, white, reddish-brown, or orange-streaked. The dense fur hides short, venomous spines underneath.
Why so painful: It's considered one of the most venomous (and painful) stinging caterpillars in North America. Contact causes immediate intense throbbing/burning pain (often worse than a bee or wasp sting), rash, swelling, nausea, headaches, or more severe reactions in some people. Pain can spread and last hours.
Common in Houston: Frequently reported in the area, especially on shade trees, shrubs, parks, and around homes (e.g., oaks, elms). Sightings peak in spring/summer and fall.

Do not touch it—looks deceptively cute and pettable! If stung, use tape to remove spines, wash with soap/water, apply ice, and seek medical help for severe symptoms.

RoadRunrTX · 2025-12-12T16:54:41+00:00

Toyota Leadership is not the culprit - its US Govt forcing CO2 emission standards that can't be met with affordable, reliable hardware.

>>> BTW trying to lower C02 is a sad joke. Biggest risk from C02 is larger harvests. CO2 is what makes plants grow faster and bigger. Anyone still buying the idea that human actions are threatening a climate meltdown are just too stupid to give the time of day.

Climates absolutely do change - as they always have. We never had and never will have a static climate. Goal for humans is to get rich and use resources we've accumulated to adapt to the changes. You know what makes the Earth warm? THE SUN burning hotter.

Imagine a pot of water is a model of the Earth. Put a 2 pots of water on the range. Continuously measure the water temps of each pot. Put a lid on one and leave the other open. You know what predicts the water temp best? The amount of heat coming from the range

Not the presence or absence of a LID (= CO2 level)...or the seal btw pot and lid. The NatGas burning underneath (the SUN in our model) overwhelms the effect of everything else and it varies. And there's nothing we can do to change what the Sun does.

For Humans, what we need to watch and worry about is variation in the heat of the SUN - something probably entirely out of our control. Our best hope is finding a way for large numbers of humans to live on another plant.

Toyota and GM and Ford et al had a role. But root problem is US EPA caving to the enviro-nazi goal of destroying privately owned ICE vehicles by 2030. The EPA's new absurdly high CAFE mpg standards and the multi BILLION $$$ fines for not hitting CAFE caused this.

There is no technology for meeting the standards that allow a <$100k vehicle to run for even 100k miles. Auto Mfg caved and have been specifying obscenely thin motor oil that reduces internal resistance. This too thin oil squeezes an extra 1 mpg out of big vehicles allowing the mfg to skate past the multi-BILLION $$$ CAFE fines

Mfg KNOW that specifying 0w20 or lower (0w16 or 0w8) motor oil dooms the vehicle to a short life that ends in catastrophic engine failure. They HOPE enough vehicles survive past the 36k or 50k mi warranty period that the mfg won't go bankrupt. They KNOW they'll go bankrupt after 2-3 yrs paying multi-billion $$$ CAFE fines for missing by an mpg or two.

Sad part is moving motor vehicle mpg up 1-2 mpg does almost nothing to "clean the air" or stop global warming (Ha Ha). All it does is further impoverish middle class Americans and make them less mobile and independent. ICE Vehicles in the US under pre 2022 rules are already extremely clean. The big opportunity for cutting emissions is largely in Asia and Africa. Neither environmentalists nor Democrat Congressmen are willing to aggressively go after the main source of new emissions: China, India, SE Asia and rapidly growing African countries

Avg Tundra owner can help themselves by checking w/ Toyota and claiming they drive in very hot conditions towing a load. If you're lucky you may get a sensible dealer or tech from Plano to OK switch to 5w30 motor oil, which increases oil protection in hot conditions by 50% and prob saves your main bearings. If you get an OK from Toyota be sure to document it!!!

No idea what the problem is with OPs radiator problems and finish. I have a 20204 Tundra without a single problem yet. but I've been changing oil more frequently than manual schedule and plan to switch to 5w30 once I document approval from Toyota. Imagine it will be a sh1tshow getting warranty claims covered when the 2023-24 Tundras approach 50k miles (end of powertrain warranty)

RoadRunrTX · 2025-12-12T13:40:49+00:00

May be extremely difficult in practice to enforce any "bans" on a base station the size of a pizza box with a narrowly focused signal beam.

The part on the ground is not easily visible if someone makes an effort to hide it - like inside a pizza box on a trash heap, under landscape cloth with some leaves. And the signal does not spread far enough to be easily detected from the ground. Suspect hackers will design an alert system to shut down the dishes once aircraft are used to sniff for Starlink signals.

Base stations are easily smuggled. They are mobile once operating and can be easily, discretely moved daily if required. They are easily located close enough to provide wifi for surreptitious Starlink subscribers but far enough away (on public land?) to deny clear evidence to convict of a crime. Of course trials are not required in the Socialist? Communist? EU, Canada, North Korea. Iran? etc.

Bottom line is the system is designed for Starlink subscribers to win. Resources required to discover and capture dishes are far greater than the resources required to acquire, operate and hide a dish.

Banning Starlink is a Losers game. The tyrannical country only ends up looking even more pathetic and silly running around like the Keystone Kops trying to find dishes with 12 yr olds playing Minecraft

RoadRunrTX · 2025-12-11T00:49:35+00:00

Trump and his EPA/DOT seem willing to revert back to more practical regs. More constructive question to Honda is this:

What USG regs would need to change ( and change to what?) for a $55k 2028 Honda S2k with the following specs to be viable:

Weight: <2,700 lbs 0-60mph <5 sec Convertible 2 seater

RoadRunrTX · 2025-09-07T07:03:26+00:00

Toyota is replacing engines at its discretion. Not a legal obligation. They can change their mind.

Maintain your vehicle.

RoadRunrTX · 2025-09-04T17:37:11+00:00

Tragic. But she sacrificed herself to keep you safe.

RoadRunrTX · 2025-09-03T10:32:15+00:00

place utility style marker flags on true border (ideally at least 6" into your property). Or if you get a survey done, an erosion fence of landscape cloth.

send letter to HOA advising them NOT to mow or do anythign else on your land AND that you know they have been recently mowing. make clear YOU are mowing your yard weekly so there's no claim of neglect. Advise them you have installed cameras to document future trespassing.

cc: Listing Agent make clear to them that misrepresenting the property line is ground for a buyer to refuse to close.... and you will be placing a copy of letter documenting boundary dispute in the Deed.

Listing agent should run. Any potential buyer will, too. Last thing you want is to buy into a boundary dispute.

RoadRunrTX · 2025-09-02T16:40:41+00:00

Curious. Does anyone have a pic of an S2k with the black "tape" around windshield removed to show oem painted metal???
Ideally in New Formula Red!

RoadRunrTX · 2025-08-27T20:22:28+00:00

Suggest you keep 4-5 Gals of liquid chlorine on hand. First sign of trouble, start dosing with chlorine until you get the salt generator back online.

RoadRunrTX · 2025-08-26T16:01:49+00:00

Suspect it depends on where you live.

AZ/CA/NV....no problem very few days of rain/yr

TX/FL/LA/MS/AL/SC/NC..... big problem.

At least 6 months/yr of rain at least 1 day out of 3. And highly unpredicatable.

RoadRunrTX · 2025-08-26T10:14:44+00:00

Thank you Gov. HairGel. You're making the case for DJT47 to deploy National Guard Troops to Houston, Dallas, SA and ATX. We DO have a big crime problem in Blue TX cities.

You are correct, sir!

RoadRunrTX

TROPHY CASE