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Posted
13 minutes ago, gofuckyourself said:

Biggest offender I see of the constantly watering point are new constructions where the builder runs sprinklers four times a week for an hour each time, regardless of the precipitation that week.

Our previous neighborhood was a Perry Homes new build, and in a very small neighborhood there were at least 10 houses watering all the time.

They also ignored the drought water restrictions days and times.  

I forget why, but it's a thing on a recent build to saturate the ground around it.  

Posted
13 minutes ago, Spaulding Smails said:

PEX is far superior for freeze protection.  That study that Risinger did was very informative.  A properly built house should have PEX insulated on all exterior walls BEFORE spray foam or batts insulation.  It's a belt and suspenders approach, but it makes a huge difference.  And, I agree on the manifolds @drt.  They're cool, but not practical.  

I'm also a big fan of running hose bibs on a separate loop.  This allows you to shut off water to the bibs an drain them completely prior to a freeze, and it allows you to put a loop in for a softener to the house without it affecting water for irrigation.  

Lastly, I'd highly recommend a leak detection system.  Phyn is my favorite, but Moen makes a good product as well.  Some insurance providers are actually offering rebates if you install one, and rumor has it Chubb, Pure and a few others may require these to be installed to maintain coverage.  It's <$4,000 installed and worth every penny to prevent a catastrophic flood.  Phyn's technology is pretty amazing.  It's programmed using sonar and can detect minor leaks, let you know exactly where they are, and allow you to shut off water to one area or the whole house remotely via the app.  

https://phyn.com/products/phyn-plus-smart-water-assistant-shutoff-v2

I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn last night, but I do own a plumbing company in Austin.  We install several per month, and the reviews are fantastic.  

PM me your contact.  I'm always looking for plumbers.

 

Agree with your points.  I always put in a softener loop even if the client will not need a softener system because it provides an easy way to turn off water to the entire house. Going a trip; turn one valve on the way out. No searching near the meter in the dirt.

I've had multiple clients with massive water damage because paw paw or some hack did some work, broke a pipe and then couldn't get the water turned off for hours.

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Posted
55 minutes ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

I wonder why they start to drip at 37 and not closer to 32. It's not water starts to freeze at 37. 

So that the drip is started before the water has a chance to freeze. 

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Posted

I run my sprinkler all year round, but in the winter I only run it in the zones with trees, and manually turn it off on weeks with rain. I have ten bald cypress in my front yard that I do not want to die.

We are also limited to only one day a week watering schedule and it is enforced by auto notifications at the water company if you water outside of your one allowed day.

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Posted
29 minutes ago, Orange&amp;White said:

I have ten bald cypress in my front yard that I do not want to die.

Beautiful trees, but damn they litter up the ground in the fall.  We had one big one and I would rake all the time - can't imagine ten.  They are gorgeous when they turn that reddish/golden orange.  

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Posted
2 hours ago, Spaulding Smails said:

PEX is far superior for freeze protection.  That study that Risinger did was very informative.  A properly built house should have PEX insulated on all exterior walls BEFORE spray foam or batts insulation.  It's a belt and suspenders approach, but it makes a huge difference.  And, I agree on the manifolds @drt.  They're cool, but not practical.  

I'm also a big fan of running hose bibs on a separate loop.  This allows you to shut off water to the bibs an drain them completely prior to a freeze, and it allows you to put a loop in for a softener to the house without it affecting water for irrigation.  

Lastly, I'd highly recommend a leak detection system.  Phyn is my favorite, but Moen makes a good product as well.  Some insurance providers are actually offering rebates if you install one, and rumor has it Chubb, Pure and a few others may require these to be installed to maintain coverage.  It's <$4,000 installed and worth every penny to prevent a catastrophic flood.  Phyn's technology is pretty amazing.  It's programmed using sonar and can detect minor leaks, let you know exactly where they are, and allow you to shut off water to one area or the whole house remotely via the app.  

https://phyn.com/products/phyn-plus-smart-water-assistant-shutoff-v2

I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn last night, but I do own a plumbing company in Austin.  We install several per month, and the reviews are fantastic.  

Dunno how to save or favorite posts on the app so I'm quoting you for future reference.

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Posted

When I restored a vintage Airstream travel trailer, I replaced all of the "copper" with PEX.  I laughingly call it copper, because it was actually a massive collection of busted copper connected to galvanized pipe connected to PVC connected to electrical conduit (yes, electrical conduit) with a hilarious collection of heater hoses and rotting steel hose clamps making most of the transitions.

I replaced everything with clean runs of PEX and from then on the only winterizing I ever had to do was open the faucets, open the low point drains, and drain the water heater.  Oh and also I was no longer worried that the water in the trailer was going to kill my entire family.

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Posted
13 hours ago, utee94 said:

I replaced everything with clean runs of PEX and from then on the only winterizing I ever had to do was open the faucets, open the low point drains, and drain the water heater.  Oh and also I was no longer worried that the water in the trailer was going to kill my entire family.

And, they also make great crappie/bass habitats.  Just built four more.  Look just like these

34 Fishing structure ideas | crappie fishing, habitats, crappie

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Posted

So I’m thinking that today is probably going to be the last “cold” day of the year. We may have a few more freezes at night, but starting tomorrow we are in the 60s/70s through March.

Or, at least, that’s what I’m hoping for

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Posted
On 2/22/2025 at 10:27 AM, irishtexan said:

So I’m thinking that today is probably going to be the last “cold” day of the year. We may have a few more freezes at night, but starting tomorrow we are in the 60s/70s through March.

Or, at least, that’s what I’m hoping for

Yeah, my wife asked me to get some more starter logs from HEB yesterday, and I decided not to as my way of willing us past our winter weather.

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Posted
1 minute ago, Trey3216 said:

It unnerves me a bit.  I wouldn't rule out a nice 3-4 day cold event about 2.5 weeks into March.  Probably right after I start planting my garden.  

When working at a nursery the rule was wait until Easter for your tomatos.

Posted
53 minutes ago, Storm the Field said:

Saturday 2/22: 45 and raining all day long.

Saturday 3/1: High of 82 and sunny. 

Late Winter in Texas y'all!

oh well, what we do know is someone on here is going to bitch one of them.

  • Haha 2
Posted

Electricity keeps flickering on and off here in North Austin because of the wind.  That Texas Republican Controlled gov’t sure hasn’t learn a lesson on the whole grid thingy. But at least we will no longer call NY Strip Steak by its name here in Texas. Assclown Tx Gov’t FTW. 

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Posted
14 minutes ago, Al Czervik said:

Electricity keeps flickering on and off here in North Austin because of the wind.  That Texas Republican Controlled gov’t sure hasn’t learn a lesson on the whole grid thingy. But at least we will no longer call NY Strip Steak by its name here in Texas. Assclown Tx Gov’t FTW. 

You can eat your Texas Strip as you celebrate that darkness means the freedom is working.

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Posted

Getting every flavor of March weather this week ahead.

Overcast, brisk and windy today. 2 gorgeous Spring days tomorrow and Tuesday, then it's  suddenly summer Wed-Fri with highs close to 90 before it turns back into Spring next weekend.

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Posted (edited)
On 3/9/2025 at 11:38 AM, Storm the Field said:

Getting every flavor of March weather this week ahead.

Overcast, brisk and windy today. 2 gorgeous Spring days tomorrow and Tuesday, then it's  suddenly summer Wed-Fri with highs close to 90 before it turns back into Spring next weekend.

We will have a nice week next, which means all the Californians and other outs-of-staters in Austin for SXSW will think it wouldn’t be bad to move here.

Edited by atomheartbevo
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Posted
2 hours ago, atomheartbevo said:

We will have a nice week next, which means all the Californians and other outs-of-staters in Austin for SXSW will think it wouldn’t be bad to move here.

Darth Vader's "Noooo!" | Know Your Meme

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Posted

On a related note, this is probably the latest spring bloom that I can remember. I usually see the first bluebonnets popping up the last week of February, but almost always within the first week of March. I've seen no bluebonnets, indian paintbrushes or mexican hats pop up. The trees are still barren for the most part.

It's kind of confusing because the winter wasn't particularly cold, we've had mostly warm spring-like days since mid-February, and we got some rain this winter. Not sure why the plants aren't popping.

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Posted
1 minute ago, irishtexan said:

On a related note, this is probably the latest spring bloom that I can remember. I usually see the first bluebonnets popping up the last week of February, but almost always within the first week of March. I've seen no bluebonnets, indian paintbrushes or mexican hats pop up. The trees are still barren for the most part.

It's kind of confusing because the winter wasn't particularly cold, we've had mostly warm spring-like days since mid-February, and we got some rain this winter. Not sure why the plants aren't popping.

That last cold spell was probably the reason.

I would not rule out one more freeze this year either.

Posted

The bluebonnets in our neighborhood have 1 or 2 blooms. I also think the last freeze confused the shit out of the plants. 

Posted
30 minutes ago, drt said:

The bluebonnets in our neighborhood have 1 or 2 blooms. I also think the last freeze confused the shit out of the plants. 

Yep. My new sod that I put down in the fall is not looking like it wants to come back. Dammit. 

Posted

I drove through Hill Country yesterday, and everything looks dry as a bone, ready to go up in smoke at a moment’s notice. I didn’t notice a single wildflower of any kind. No bluebonnets, no Indian paintbrushes. Most of the live oak looked sickly AF. 

It’s bad out there in a 2011 kind of way.

Posted
2 hours ago, rage-a-holic said:

image.png.d3c3670482d9d774db3b2fea5bef8937.png

 

FUCK EVERYTHING

The only benefit I can see is my pool may hit 70deg under those conditions on Friday afternoon.  I can swim in that when it's 90deg outside

Posted
8 minutes ago, Wiler77 said:

The only benefit I can see is my pool may hit 70deg under those conditions on Friday afternoon.  I can swim in that when it's 90deg outside

fuck that noise. I dont get in my pool anytime its under 80 unless I'm trying out a new wetsuit

Posted
36 minutes ago, miguelito said:

It's the lack of rain that's keeping the wildflowers at bay.

Then it'll be the heat. Then the fires. Then the rabid monkeys.

Really wondering how much I want to plant this year for veggies. It saddens me to see them just struggling.

 

Posted
Just now, Samson&#x27;s Wig said:

Grass is just starting to green up in our hood, but no wildflowers yet.  One half decent rainstorm ought to do it.

Yeah....best I can do is the neighbor's dog pissing on 1 square foot of your lawn on his evening walk.

pawn-stars-best-i-can-do.jpg

Posted
12 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

Yeah....best I can do is the neighbor's dog pissing on 1 square foot of your lawn on his evening walk.

pawn-stars-best-i-can-do.jpg

That'll have to do I guess.  I'm not carrying this yard back to the car.

  • Haha 1
Posted
1 hour ago, Wiler77 said:

The only benefit I can see is my pool may hit 70deg under those conditions on Friday afternoon.  I can swim in that when it's 90deg outside

 

1 hour ago, rage-a-holic said:

fuck that noise. I dont get in my pool anytime its under 80 unless I'm trying out a new wetsuit

I agree, ain't no way I am jumping in 70 degree water.

But at 90 degrees outside, my heat pump can have my 11k gallon pool to 80 degrees in a day.

Posted
41 minutes ago, Orange&amp;White said:

 

I agree, ain't no way I am jumping in 70 degree water.

But at 90 degrees outside, my heat pump can have my 11k gallon pool to 80 degrees in a day.

Kid dropped something in the damn pool a few weeks back that I couldn't get with the net.  Hopped in; water was a crisp 50+ degrees.  All you polar plunge psychos.....no thanks.  

Posted
14 minutes ago, BabaYaga said:

Kid dropped something in the damn pool a few weeks back that I couldn't get with the net.  Hopped in; water was a crisp 50+ degrees.  All you polar plunge psychos.....no thanks.  

pool.gif

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