12 January 2015

Today, the weather is mild and overcast; the temperature, at 17:00, is 45°F. The forecast high temperature was supposed to be 51°F, but I never saw the thermometer register more than ~47°F. The wind was blowing about 10-15 mph (estimated), which makes it feel cooler than it is.

After a long night’s sleep, I got up feeling okay, but lethargic and sore. Sore, because I started doing some new exercises this past weekend and, now, I’m experiencing DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness). In particular, my glutes and hamstrings are the most sore; but, my deltoids, traps (trapezius), and lats (latissimus dorsi)–those muscles are the shoulders and upper back–are slightly sore, too.

So, my first, scheduled running session of this week will not occur; instead, I have focused on getting a couple of maintenance items completed.

STARTING THE VOLVO

We arrived at the Summit Vacation and RV Resort on 15 November 2014. We had to wait a couple of days for our site to become available; so, on 17 November 2014, we parked our Mobile Suites 5ver (5th wheel trailer, aka, home) and our Volvo (tow vehicle, aka, toter). Since that date, eight full weeks have passed and I had not started our Volvo; today (12 Jan 2015) I was, therefore, a little apprehensive that, if our Volvo has some “phantom” leakage currents which would drain the starting batteries, it wouldn’t start today.

I used the remote to unlock the Volvo‘s driver door and was rewarded that it did unlock; I inserted the key into the ignition switch, waited for the diagnostics to complete, and turned the key. I was really relieved to hear the starter motor engage and the Volvo D12 came to life without hesitation! YAY!!! So, I set the engine idle (to prevent idle shutdown), gathered some tools from the driver-side storage compartment, and headed to my next chore. I let the Volvo run, idling, for about 45-60 minutes to partially recharge the batteries. This item is complete!

LOW WATER FLOW

Last weekend, I had removed the inexpensive pressure reducer (which screws right onto the faucet and into the water hose) that we have used for the past year–I had suspected that the pressure reducer was reducing the water flow (as well as the pressure) to our Mobile Suites. Even though the Mobile Suites‘ water system is rated for 100-120 psi, this campground’s water pressure is usually 70-90 psi, which means that the applied pressure is very close to the maximum rating; I accepted that as a reasonable risk for an anticipated short period of time.

Part 1

But, this past week on Monday (05 Jan 2015), Janet and I had noticed–independently (two different times)–water accumulating on the floor of the water closet. Initially, at least for the first time for each of us, we had just used a towel to absorb the water; but, it happened again the next day. The amount of water wasn’t great so that I knew that, if we had a pipe leak, it was a small leak that I could deal with later (when I is warmer). During the week, we had determined that the water leaked only when we operated the flush valve resulting in a severe water hammer.

So. I purchased a larger, more expensive, pressure reducer with a  means to adjust the pressure (preset at the factory for 50 psi) and two screw-in fittings (one male-male, one female-male). Of course, the new pressure reducer is for a building and has screw-in pipe threads for 3/4 inch pipes–that’s where the two screw-in fittings are needed: the fittings, both, screw into the pressure reducer housing and a water hose screws onto (or into) the other side of each fitting. I applied some Teflon® tape to the threads of each fitting and screwed it into the pressure regulator. Part 1 of this item, complete!

Part 2

I had not been successful in locating a short water hose (~36 inches) to connect the campground’s water faucet to our new pressure regulator; so, I had to make one. I have an extra 5/8 inch diameter, 50 feet length water hose; and, I cut off the desired length and installed a new hose coupling (repair kit) on each of the cut ends–one on the 50 ft hose that I had, now shortened, and one on my new short hose. The hardware salesman at the hardware store from which I purchased the hose couplings gave me a tip for installing the hose couplings: In a pot of boiling water, dip the end of the hose in the water for about 15-30 seconds, wet the insertion tip of the coupling into water, and insert the coupling tip into the hot hose; when the hose cools, it will shrink and conform to the shape of the coupling’s insertion tip.

I screwed the new short hose onto the new pressure regulator. Part 2 of this item, complete!

Part 3

I took the new pressure regulator and short hose to the campground’s water faucet serving our Mobile Suites. I turned off the campground water to our Mobile Suites and went back inside to open a faucet to reduce the water system’s pressure. I returned outside to the Mobile Suites‘ water connection compartment to disconnect the heat tape that we use to keep the water line from freezing. At the campground’s water faucet, I unwrapped the heat tape that I had wrapped around it and disconnected the Mobile Suites‘ water hose. I connected the new short hose to the campground’s faucet, then, connected the Mobile Suites‘ water hose to the pressure regulator, and verified the connections were tight. I wrapped the heat tape around the pressure regulator, the short hose, and the campground’s faucet; then, I plugged in the heat tape at the Mobile Suites‘ water connection box. Finally, I turned on the campground water–No leaks! Part 3 of this item and the entire item is complete!!!

We will be keeping our eyes peeled for water accumulation on the water closet floor; but, really, I don’t expect to find any.

End of another hard day of retirement.

 Safe Travels!!!