Saturday miscellany

I worked a little more on the coyote fence to hide the utilities. We had erected posts a couple of weeks ago and today I installed the cross-bars (left), using strap hinges (right) that will let me lift the fence off the posts to give full access to the electric transformer and communications cables. The front door lock has seemed stiff ever since it was installed. So today I disassembled the deadbolt and greased it (which did no good) then oiled a simple part (which solved the problem). It seems strange to me that manufacturers of hinges and locks never lubricate their products before they are shipped. One of the bifold door pairs that we installed last week was almost so stiff it was impossible to use. But a drop of oil placed on the top of the hinges made it smooth as silk.Some of the sand from the stucco rubs off and also spalls with the first frosts. So the roof has sand around the edges of the parapet walls. This is sharp sand (not smooth, like beach sand) and would eventually wear through the rubber roofing membrane in areas of high traffic (like the entrance to the mechanical room). So I swept the roof free of sand and a lot of leaves.

I also looked for a good place to install a switch that will turn off the circulating fan in the garage when the garage door is open. It will be tricky, but mostly to find the correct switch. I can either install it on the overhead track (but fear it may interfere with the belt) or at the bottom of the door (where it may be fouled by dirt). Ah! At the top of the door I can mount a bracket which projects over the track and does not collide with anything as the door opens. I can install a microswitch on the door jamb that will be closed when the door is closed, turning on the fan. Ordered the parts (switch, relay, and low voltage power supply).

I turned the ERV back on and measured the sound level in the bedroom again. It is 33 decibels, which is about 3 db higher than (or apparently twice as loud as) I would like. The installer replaced metal ducts with internally insulated flexible duct adjacent to the fans, but it is not acoustic insulated. May have to install an acoustic muffler in the ducts to and from the fans.

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