snipped-for-privacy@googlegroups.com...
is totally out of my control... The only thing I have control over is the pump and the power (and cost) for it.
Careful! You appear to be taking this thread off-topic. Stormin has some strong feelings on that issue. He may have something to say about that...let's wait and see.
This house, it turns out, has a public bathroom attached to it. And you guessed it: this public bathroom uses -our- private water. While I don't mind sharing.... anyone, it turns out- can leave the water running, especially if they are a bit inebriated, as there is a bar nearby.
Usually this is not a problem, as I am home a lot and would just shut the pump off if it's the middle of the night or something.
I'm thinking of an automatic solution to this... To automate this, I need a device that will monitor how many times the pump turns on. If it's, say, 2x or 3x every 10 minutes... meaning that the water was most likely left on... this device would control a relay that will shut the pump off for an hour. Then try again after that. If the frequency of the pump turning on is spaced out more than 10 minutes at a time, then close the relay and let the pump do its thing.
Does any manufacturer make anything like this?
Any helpful suggestions are appreciated.
Ok how about this Buy a programmable timer from radio shack etc and set it to turn on the power for 10 minutes every hour. That will be the most the pump can then run. You don't need to monitor the status of the pump or anything, just cycle the power. The pump will come on durning the 10 minutes when it needs to. If you are using less water the it won't come on during the 10 minute window. Simple Mark
a water pump- turns on in, in lets say: 10 minutes. If it turns on more than twice, wait an hour and look again. If it is not turning on so often after an hour, let it rip.
all go down the drain... literally.
I thought you said it isn't your house. So force the owner to take of it, or live with it. Whatever you do will be considered sabotage by whoever maintains the public bathroom. I mean, you want to cut off water flow there for some periods of time, right? There's nothing you can do except convince the owners to address it.
And the option to rent from someone more reasonable.
e, say: a water pump- turns on in, in lets say: 10 minutes. If it turns on more than twice, wait an hour and look again. If it is not turning on so of ten after an hour, let it rip.
see it all go down the drain... literally.
Sorry for the delay in replying... Thanks for your suggestion. There are tw o 'water sources' for the bathroom... The tank on top of the house... which is supplied by the pump from a huge cistern dug in underneath the house. I f the pump is off, the tank will still supply some water... I want to be ab le to shut off the pump so that if the water is left on in the public bathr oom, the pump - which is triggered on whenever the water in the tank on top of the house gets low, is shut off... to prevent water in the cistern from flowing out. This usually happens at night... I can check to see whatever is left on in the bathroom the next morning, and shut it off.
People suggested using a timer. Thanks. This is probably the quickest, simp lest and cheapest idea.
m is totally out of my control...
You're suggesting that I 'fix the flapper'... There are two problems with t his, unfortunately... one: The flapper works... The floating ball thingie t hat supposed to be in the toilet is missing, so when the water valve is tur ned on, the water just flows like there is no tomorrow.
and two: Me fixing the toilet would set a precedent... So that whenever the bathroom appliances need fixing in the future, they would start to come to me, and probably hold me responsible to fix. I want to avoid this scenario altogether.
oom is totally out of my control...
this, unfortunately... one: The flapper works... The floating ball thingie that supposed to be in the toilet is missing, so when the water valve is t urned on, the water just flows like there is no tomorrow.
he bathroom appliances need fixing in the future, they would start to come to me, and probably hold me responsible to fix. I want to avoid this scenar io altogether.
You can't fix the toilet without being seen? Follow these steps:
1 - Set your clock for whatever is considered "after hours" for this bathro om 2 - Put on a disguise 3 - Put an Out-Of-Order sign on the door 4 - Lock/Barricade the door so no one can get in 5 - Fix the toilet 6 - Unlock/Unbarricade the door 7 - Walk out of the bathroom 8 - Option 1: If there is no one outside the bathroom, remove the Out-Of-Or der sign 8 - Option 2: If there is someone outside the bathroom say "Darn, it really is out of order!" 9 - Go HomeIf you used Step 8 Option 2, don't worry about it. Someone will eventually remove the Out-Of-Order sign or you can do it later when no one is around.
I don't see how your cockamaime, nonexistent electronic doodad is going to make any difference either.
The toilet and sink simply drain the tank when the pump is off, yes? Takes more than an hour to drain the tank this way, yes?
If so you are not going to save a single drop of water.
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.