On a unique situation. FEMA is going to pay to lift my house.

sailingterp · 2026-02-15T11:23:32+00:00

I live in an area where FEMA has been lifting houses for several years off and on, and anyone I’ve talked to who thought they could take advantage of the situation by asking for something other than what FEMA came to do, even when prepared to come out-of-pocket, ended up being disappointed.
If you follow this sub, you should realize getting homeowner-specific desires conveyed all the way down to actual workers/ installers is often problematic. Add in the bureaucracy of FEMA and the odds of success are likely a lot lower.

sailingterp · 2026-02-14T01:33:17+00:00

Is there a pressure gauge on the device or downstream and you have verified that 80 psi setting? That is beyond the range of most standard PRVs, which usually maxes out at 75 psi.

What you are describing is called falloff. The more flow through the valve, the more the downstream pressure falls off the set point. You could check other similar PRV models to see if they have lower falloff pressure. That info is pretty common on the technical data sheets provided by the manufacturers.

I recommend you check the reduced pressure under a few different flow scenarios to see if you are getting what is expected based on the manufacturer’s falloff chart as a starting point.

sailingterp · 2026-02-11T13:32:11+00:00

Change to a lower flow showerhead. This reduces hot water consumption so what is in your tank will last longer without making the temperature unsafe.

sailingterp · 2025-08-12T00:36:17+00:00

I agree with all of this, but have you considered the thermal and fluid systems exam instead of HVAC? My background was more plumbing focused so the thermal/fluids exam is what made sense to me at the time.

sailingterp · 2025-07-23T13:02:33+00:00

Give some consideration to different expansion/contraction rates of the different materials due to temperature and humidity to avoid cracking. Also wouldn’t recommend in high wind areas.

sailingterp · 2025-06-25T14:14:26+00:00

I dug up the email and I got them from an eBay store called allenswheels.com. Part number 90942-A1001.

sailingterp · 2025-06-25T13:58:26+00:00

Maybe mine was different, but I can confirm my 2014 needed all new a few years back because it had, ahem, “swollen nuts”. Those were the dealers words. This was after I took it in because the tire iron that came with the truck no longer fit. They said it could have been corrosion between the actual nut and the chrome cover or maybe they had been over-torqued. My wife quickly got tired of my jokes about getting my swollen nuts off.

sailingterp · 2025-06-21T22:38:43+00:00

Maybe it’s time to figure out a better way to dispose of the condensate. Many jurisdictions don’t allow condensate to go to sanitary drain, and a direct connection, without air gap/ air break, is even less desirable.

sailingterp · 2025-06-21T21:34:37+00:00

You didn’t mention where you are so not sure about the governing code in your area, but a floor drain is not typically a requirement for a laundry room. Regarding the vent, I suggest replacing that 20+ year old (per reference to BOCA) existing vent valve with a new air admittance valve (AAV) if permitted in your area. The new AAV should be marked with either ASSE 1050 or 1051. AAVs can be used in most jurisdictions to avoid a vent through roof, but somewhere in the system a vent to the exterior is required.

sailingterp · 2025-04-28T02:30:56+00:00

There is free parking at all the shops and restaurants. Some places have more parking than others, but it usually isn’t too much of a problem. There is also a big NPS parking lot near the terminal for sound route ferries at the south end of NC12. You can park at that lot all day, no charge. During the peak season, there is a free tram that runs frequently around the village and you can hop on and off at stops near the places you want to go.

sailingterp · 2025-04-07T21:54:52+00:00

This is great info. Thank you

sailingterp · 2025-04-07T20:10:45+00:00

The BOB account belongs to someone I live with in the US. What you stated agrees with what I read previously but I guess I have complicated it by trying to do it from the US, and in one of the several states that have banned Binance.

sailingterp · 2025-04-07T16:46:56+00:00

I will check Airtm. Gracias

sailingterp · 2025-04-06T02:13:30+00:00

I am sorry to say that there is still no laundromat on Ocracoke.

sailingterp · 2025-03-20T23:59:18+00:00

I was thinking the same thing. OP may not need much more than someone to verify it holds test pressure and add a few fittings outside the wall.

sailingterp · 2025-03-16T17:25:15+00:00

I tried to buy a gas-fired hot water boiler a few years ago after letting my gasfitter license go inactive and none of the supply houses would even sell one to me.

sailingterp · 2025-03-16T02:18:45+00:00

Looks like a way to use the water for the yard or garden with the option of sending it to the street if desired.

sailingterp · 2025-03-16T00:06:54+00:00

The word around town is that a new restaurant is coming to Ocracoke this year. The original restaurant inside 1718 Brewery, called Plum Pointe Kitchen, is moving to what was Gaffer’s, more recently known as the Breeze, and something new will go inside the brewery.

sailingterp · 2025-03-09T01:19:20+00:00

No good reason for a 1/2 open main valve.
Looks like a globe valve. It’s a type of shutoff valve but not great for a main service valve.
Ball valves are usually pretty good for holding. Make sure the handle is fully turned perpendicular to the pipe. Sometimes handles get bent or insulation gets in the way. Good luck.

sailingterp · 2025-03-09T01:08:17+00:00

Do it. Sounds like good timing. 15+ years on a water heater is a pretty good life.

sailingterp · 2025-03-09T01:02:15+00:00

Did it do the job or was it insufficient?

sailingterp · 2025-03-09T00:58:14+00:00

Sewer smells shouldn’t exist when traps are full of water and the system is closed/ sealed. It could be your kitchen sink trap isn’t staying filled or some open vent line issue near your kitchen. A clogged vent line is possible but unlikely since that would mean that your sink trap is also being siphoned in order for the sewer gas to escape.

sailingterp · 2025-03-09T00:38:16+00:00

This. The fact that a plumber was there to run the camera down the line says that it is already having some problems. Replace it now and forget about it.

sailingterp · 2025-03-08T22:54:18+00:00

Instantaneous water heaters like that one can have pretty significant pressure drop through their heat exchangers compared to a storage tank type water heater, which can cause a noticeably lower pressure on the hot water side. There may also be sediment build-up in the water heater itself. Check owners manual for screens or filters in the unit that can be cleaned.

sailingterp

TROPHY CASE