That worked surprisingly quickly...

This time of year, apparently all it takes is two walnuts and a squirrel will squeeze itself into a space barely larger than itself (there were no mid-size traps available at Lowes). I put it out last night as the sun was heading down and when I got up half an hour ago, I found... success!

Just released the critter into the arb. He was healthy enough to scoot from the trap to a tree 20 feet away in about .003 seconds, so I think he'll be fine.

Now to fully patch that hole in the porch eave so this doesn't happen again. This task will be made much easier, I hope, by the fact that I FINALLY bought a jigsaw. After several trips to Jamie's without stumbling across a solid one for cheap, I caved and decided that fixing the eave, building a vent slot for the laundry room, etc, etc were more important than bargin hunting. I may have failed flea marketers everywhere, but at least my house will not have unnecessary holes in it this winter.

Also done yesterday - ordered the shed, put up the second light in the hallway (thank you again, wire clippers!) and... something. I must have done something else yesterday. I need to keep two lists - things to do and things I've done. Yes, I realize this blog was supposed to be the latter.

Sump pump, part the first

While standing in the basement during a rain storm the other day (checking to see where seepage was worst - as expected it's near where the gutters have problems and water puddles near the house) I heard the sump pump come on and glanced over to see it in action. Turns out the hose, which the previous owner mentioned was getting near needing to be replaced, had a few small holes in it - on the basement side of the wall. I watched bemused as the table and bricks to the right of the pump got a shower, then switched of the breaker and went in search of a new hose.

First off, I need to learn to look closer at things. The pump manufacturer says this is a 1.5" outflow, so I bought a 1.5" hose. You'll note that the old hose (below) is attached not to the pump directly, but to an adapter of sorts that I can only assume makes it 1.25". Anyway, with some extra tightening of the screw clamp the new hose fit fine.

This is your sump pump after who knows how many years under water. This is your sump pump hose, cleaved to the adapter even after the clamp is removed.

Unfortunately, upon securing the new clamp, turning the power back on, and resubmerging the pump, it did not... pump. Some light surgery revealed that either moisture had finally gotten in to the power housing and corroded the connections or something was wrong in the motor section which I can't access due to severe corrosion and buildup around the screws holding the main housing.

Long story short, $110 at Lowes got me a new pump and a one way check valve that allowed me to connect the hose to the pump.

Few things make you feel so much like a homeowner as having to say 'Ben, I'm going to be late - I'm up at Lowes buying a new sump pump so my basement doesn't flood.'