SUMMER IS COMING

I might as well submit two tips, both of which I used quite productively when, all on my own, I recently fitted two sets of leaf catchers, first-flush systems and downpipes from gutters to a water tank: Summer is on its way in the Winelands and we had better be prepared this time around ( see image below). I encountered two issues: 1. The fittings, connections and pipes from the local hardware store were all plastered with bar- coded stickers. Each one of them left a messy gluey residue after it was peeled off.

2. The pipes then only fitted into the rubber-sealed sockets with a lot of difficulty.

Getting rid of the glue residue left by price tags

When peeling price tags from any purchased item, one is more often than not left with the chore of then removing the messy, sticky residue the sticker leaves behind. My wife Annette taught me to use a little bit of Brasso on an old rag and to apply that while adding a little bit of elbow grease on the messy spot. It did the trick. Quick, simple and very effective.

Fitting pipes to rubber-sealed fittings or sockets

As a pen-pushing office Johnny, I relied heavily on a ‘How to install a rain water system’ Youtube video when I had to fit my leaf catchers, first-flush systems and pipes. The Youtuber conceded that the seals in the socketed fittings are tight and thus quite difficult to connect. But, he made connecting the pipes and the socketed fittings (bends or elbows) to one another look as easy as pie. ‘Just lubricate the seal with washing-up liquid and squish it in,’ was his advice.

Not so simple, I established – not even when connecting the ones I could connect while I was firmly anchored to Mother Earth, never mind squishing the pipes into the sockets higher up against a wall while balancing on a ladder! The Youtuber managed to do all of it so effortlessly – and all on his own, too!

After sweating, pushing, slipping and sliding with the first half of the project while following the Youtube instructions to a T, the second half connected much faster and easier – but only after I filed the blunt edges of the pipes away as I would if I were sharpening a big, hollow 110 mm pencil! I simply used the file from my Leatherman and voila! Only then did the pipes indeed slide into the sockets like child’s play, even while working high up the wall – albeit with a little help of the washing-up liquid … and the Youtuber. Hi Michiel. This was too good to publish in DIYW. Also, good use of Youtube, you should’ve filmed your fix. – Lindsey