Water Well Maintenance Tips & Advice for Longevity.
From time to time the points on the well water pressure switch need to be cleaned as sometimes they either get corroded or small ants or bugs get in the water pressure switch. Often you do not need to put in a new water pressure switch as most of the cleaning the point will make them work as good as new now. Typically the water pressure is adjusted for 40 to 60 psi. The main trick to extending the well pump life is to keep it from starting up (kicking over) a lot. Constant running of the well pump does not wear it out any where near as fast as the motor constantly starting up (that principal pretty much apples to many other electric motors).
One other thing that is very important for good water pressure and to keep the well water pump from starting up too often, is to maintain the air pressure in the water bladder. It should be checked every year. Most homeowners that have well water probably don’t know this. The way to check the air pressure in the water bladder is to first turn off the power to the well and then let the water out by turning on the a faucet. Then use a tire gauge and check the air pressure at the top of the water bladder at the air nipple. It should be at 38 psi when the bladder is drained of water. This air pressure causes the bladder to shrink and keeps the water pressure up so the well pump motor does not start up as often. This will greatly lengthen the life of both the well pump motor and the water bladder. The water bladder can last 30 years, if maintained correctly.
Additionally if you use the well to water the lawn you are better off using a few water hoses that keep the well pump running constantly versus using one garden hose at a time that causes the well pump motor to constantly be starting and stopping.
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My experience with my Shelter Designs Yurt – Alpine thermal windows:
https://my-experience-shelterdesigns-yurt.blogspot.pt/2018/03/my-shelterdesigns-yurt-alpine-thermal.html
With our yurt came 2 windows included in the yurt price and we have ordered 2 more for 2090 US (1045 US each).
Following the set up of the windows we noticed early that we had to insulate the windows.
When we set up the windows we have already used the tan cedar caulk for the 2 large connections at the side where the outer fabric connects with the window frames. BUT the horizontally overlapping wooden panels needed also insulation which we used silicon for. I am not very happy that we have received insufficient insulated windows. Using silicon does the job for short term, but needs to be replaced continously as it suffers from the elements and it doesn’t look very classy.
Furthermore due to the construction of the windows they seep water through the frame and holes at the lower corners when it rains. This water collects during normal rain, once the wind blows the rain horizontally more water seeps through. These “Alpine thermal windows” are of very inferior quality. The wooden frame is connected using nails, leaving holes and sometimes carelessly nails sticking out where you can rip your hands. The window is assembled in a sloppy way leaving gaps between the wooden structure and the inserted thermal glas or fully show some connections or insulation material. Once you look behind the lower interior white cloth cover you see that the cheapest possible wood is
used: plywood !
How plywood keeps up with humidity is well known:
All windows and door frames are connected to the lattice by using very long screws, leaving up to 1 full inch in the open. This is neither professional nor without danger for the daily life. On a sideline be very careful when you set up the windows because the surface of the wood is untreated, meaning all dirt coming from finger prints or handling the door needs sandpaper to be cleared away. So better buy some clear paint or coat to preserve the clean look.
Conclusion:
The windows we received are not suitable for living in a yurt. They are carelessly constructed out of
cheap materials with many flaws.
A price of 1045 US for such a low quality window is by my opinion not justified.
Had we known this beforehand we would never have purchased these windows and might have second thoughts about the other components of the yurt. But we will come to them step by step.