To connect plumbing fixtures to the water supply network, a flexible water supply is used. It is in demand when connecting faucets, showers, toilets and other water intake points, and significantly simplifies the installation process. Flexible connections are also used when installing gas equipment. It differs from similar water devices in its manufacturing technology and special safety requirements.
Characteristics and types
The flexible hose for connecting plumbing is a hose of different lengths made of non-toxic synthetic rubber. Thanks to the elasticity and softness of the material, it easily takes the desired position and allows installation in hard to reach places. To protect the flexible hose, there is an upper reinforcing layer in the form of a braid, which is made from the following materials:
- Aluminum. Such models can withstand no more than +80 °C and retain functionality for 3 years. At high humidity Aluminum braiding is prone to rust.
- Stainless steel. Thanks to this reinforcing layer, the service life of the flexible water line is at least 10 years, and the maximum temperature of the transported medium is +95 °C.
- Nylon. This braid is used for the manufacture of reinforced models that can withstand temperatures up to +110 °C and are designed for intensive use for 15 years.
The fasteners used are nut-nut and nut-fitting pairs, which are made of brass or stainless steel. Devices with different permissible temperatures differ in the color of the braid. Blue ones are used for connecting to a pipeline with cold water, and red ones - with hot ones.
When choosing a water line, you need to pay attention to its elasticity, reliability of fasteners and purpose. It is also mandatory to have a certificate that prevents the rubber from releasing toxic components during operation.
Features of gas connections
When connected gas stoves, speakers and other types of equipment also use flexible hoses. Unlike models for water, they have yellow and are not tested for environmental safety. For fixation, end steel or aluminum reinforcement is used. Distinguish the following types accessories for connecting gas appliances:
- PVC hoses reinforced with polyester thread;
- made of synthetic rubber with stainless steel braid;
- bellows, made in the form of a corrugated stainless steel tube.
Santekhkomplekt holding offers engineering equipment, fittings, plumbing and devices for connecting it to communications. The assortment is represented by products and materials from well-known foreign and domestic manufacturers. Discounts apply for bulk purchases, and the quality of products is confirmed by standard certificates. For information support and assistance, each client is assigned a personal manager. The ability to arrange delivery within Moscow and to other regions of the Russian Federation allows you to quickly receive the purchased goods without unnecessary hassle.
Drainage is a drainage and drainage measure to remove excess groundwater.
If water does not leave the site for a long time, the soil becomes gleyed, if shrubs and trees quickly disappear (get wet), you need to urgently take action and drain the site.
Causes of soil waterlogging
There are several reasons for soil waterlogging:
- clay heavy soil structure with poor water permeability;
- aquifer in the form of gray-green and red-brown clays is located close to the surface;
- high groundwater table;
- technogenic factors (construction of roads, pipelines, various objects) that interfere with natural drainage;
- disruption of the water balance by the construction of irrigation systems;
- The landscape area is located in a lowland, ravine, or hollow. In this case, precipitation and the influx of water from higher places play a big role.
What are the consequences of excess moisture in the soil?
You can see the results of this phenomenon yourself - trees and shrubs die. Why is this happening?
- the oxygen content in the soil decreases and the carbon dioxide content increases, which leads to disruption of air exchange processes, water regime and nutritional regime in the soil;
- oxygen starvation of the root-forming layer occurs, which leads to the death of plant roots;
- the supply of macro and microelements by plants (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, etc.) is disrupted, because excess water washes out mobile forms of elements from the soil, and they become unavailable for absorption;
- intensive breakdown of proteins occurs and, accordingly, the processes of decay are activated.
Plants can tell you at what level groundwater lies
Take a close look at the flora of your area. The species inhabiting it will tell you at what depth the groundwater layers are located:
- perched water - it is best to dig a reservoir in this place;
- at a depth of up to 0.5 m - marigold, horsetails, varieties of sedges grow - bladderwrack, holly, foxweed, Langsdorff's reed;
- at a depth of 0.5 m to 1 m - meadowsweet, canary grass, ;
- from 1 m to 1.5 m – favorable conditions for meadow fescue, bluegrass, mouse pea, china;
- from 1.5 m - wheatgrass, clover, wormwood, plantain.
What is important to know when planning site drainage
Each group of plants has its own moisture needs:
- at a groundwater depth of 0.5 to 1 m they can grow on raised beds vegetables and annual flowers;
- water depth up to 1.5 m is well tolerated vegetable crops, cereals, annuals and perennials (flowers), ornamental and fruit and berry bushes, trees on a dwarf rootstock;
- if the groundwater is more than 2 m deep, fruit trees can be grown;
- optimal depth of groundwater for agriculture– from 3.5 m.
Is site drainage necessary?
Record your observations for at least some time. You yourself can understand how much drainage is needed.
Maybe it makes sense to simply redirect melt and sediment water along the bypass channel, rather than allowing it to flow through your site?
Perhaps it is necessary to design and equip a storm drain and improve the composition of the soil and this will be enough?
Or is it worth doing drainage system only for fruit and ornamental trees?
A specialist will give you the exact answer, and we strongly recommend calling him. But after reading this article, you will gain some awareness on this issue.
Upon completion of technological and production tasks related to the arrangement sewer system V apartment building, industrial building, as well as in private households, it is required to test the involved system using the forced flow method. This task is used to identify possible defects or improper installation of the entire involved sewerage part and the test report for internal sewerage and drainage systems will be material evidence of the work on acceptance of the facility.
A visual inspection should be accompanied by inclusion in the test report of internal sewerage and drainage systems according to SNIP, which is currently represented by the current regulations of the “D” series appendix, which corresponds to SP 73.13330.2012 “Internal sanitary systems of a building”, recently a new one has been applied updated working edition according to SNiP 3.05.01-85.
A snow shovel is an indispensable attribute of areas with heavy rainfall in winter time. The more convenient, reliable and lighter this equipment is, the faster the removal of fallen snow will occur. And sometimes there is especially a lot of it. But the industry is ready to offer large selection tools to combat precipitation.
Types of shovels
Structurally, the tool is a convenient handle on which a rigid sheet is attached durable material or, as it is called, a ladle. Before the widespread use of plastic, snow shovels were primarily made of wood or metal.
Bucket wooden versions was made from light plywood, sometimes framed metal plates, to preserve stiffeners. The handle is secured with self-tapping screws, regular nails or using steel tape. It was easy to make such a shovel yourself at home.
Metal ones are much more difficult to make at home, and in most cases they were made in a factory. The material used for the bucket is galvanized steel sheet or aluminum. The handle can be wooden or metal.
Relatively recently, snow shovels made of plastic have become widely used. The special composition of the plastic used allows the equipment to be used even in severe frost. This tool is not subject to corrosion and is easy to use.
Automotive tools
It is very convenient to have a shovel for your car in winter. Dig a rut, if the car gets stuck, clean it parking space or remove precipitation that accumulated overnight. This type of snow shovel is distinguished by several characteristic parameters:
- light weight;
- small size ladle;
- compact dimensions overall;
- lightweight material, from which the shovel is made.
There are both full-fledged types of shovels, as well as collapsible or folding ones.. The latter take up significantly less space in the car.
Purpose of the scraper
Essentially, a scraper is a wide shovel for removing snow. True, it is devoid of a cutting as such. Instead, the scraper uses an arched handle, which makes it convenient to push the pile with a bucket. Upon reaching the edge of the area to be cleared of snow, you simply need to tip the bucket over, dumping the snow.
The scraper copes well with large volumes of fresh and loose snow. But a compacted one will already cause problems, since there is no necessary lever for emphasis. The scraper can only push the snow.
It is worth noting that there are certain hybrids of shovels and scrapers. Their design is designed in such a way that it is possible to lift snow to a small height, as well as move large volumes along the surface.
Mechanized types
To facilitate snow removal, several types of mechanized means have been developed.
For example, a regular auger was attached to the scraper and the result was a small snowblower. The working method is similar to a classic scraper - it needs to be pushed, and the auger will send the debris to the side. However, there are also limitations - compacted snow and its thick layers will be quite difficult to remove.
Wheeled versions of scrapers made it possible to reduce the friction force and, accordingly, the amount of effort applied. Among them we can distinguish a snow shovel with one, large wheel installed between the bucket and the handle. The device is easy to roll, has a lever for lifting, and also has good maneuverability.
Well, at the top of the “snow removal chain” there are electric shovels. Probably the most convenient, but at the same time expensive way to remove snow. They have the following characteristics:
- ease of operation, the auger throws the snow to the side itself;
- minimum effort;
- compact sizes.
However, they are very expensive, require a power source and more careful handling.
The most popular shovels on the market are plastic products.. They are comfortable, lightweight and relatively durable. But they still have their limits of strength. Therefore, when choosing, you should pay attention to the presence of metal linings on the edges of the tool.
A large bucket will help you carry or transport a large volume of snow at once. But it is worth remembering that this increases the load on the back and arms. The presence of stiffening ribs on the bucket increases its elasticity and, as a result, durability.
It will be more convenient to use a handle in the shape of the letter D. It is convenient to grasp and maneuver. A simple handle tends to turn in your hands.
As for wooden shovels, they have not been particularly popular lately. This is due to the fact that when removing wet snow, a plywood bucket tends to get wet and form ice, which increases total weight and interferes with work.
Aluminum shovels have low weight, good strength and elasticity. However, they are quite expensive.
If you often need to remove large volumes of freshly fallen snow, then you should pay attention to scrapers. There are many varieties of them - from small and light to heavy and voluminous.
The main characteristics and materials from which shovels are made must be taken into account when choosing; this will help facilitate snow removal and select quality tool.
Snow shovel: choice of material
The most common snow removal tools are made from the following materials:
- tree;
- plastic;
- metal.
To find out which one is best suited for your purposes, you need to have not only a complete understanding of the quality and properties of each, but also about trusted manufacturers.
In online stores, snow shovels are presented by various Russian and foreign manufacturers. For example, the Russian company Belkhim, BRUST and trade, Istok LLC, the Czech company HECHT and others. The Finnish company Fiskars stands out from other manufacturers, combining such trademarks, like Buster, Iittala, Gerber and the subsidiary Wärtsilä. According to consumer reviews snow removal equipment Fiskars company is characterized by a high degree of durability, functionality and compliance international standards quality. The hallmark of all the company's instruments is a combination of colors - black and orange.
The main advantages of Fiskars models:
- light, comfortable, ergonomic handle that does not become loose over time and does not lead to muscle strain, reducing the load on the back;
- profiled pipe (not round like most manufacturers);
- lightweight aluminum or wooden handle (depending on the model);
- The bucket is reinforced with an aluminum edge, which prevents wet snow from sticking to the blade.
Wooden
A snow shovel with a wooden blade is the cheapest option available for making yourself. The structure and small thickness of the shovel affects its rapid wear, but there are more expensive options with a metal protective border on the scoop.
The photo below shows a wooden shovel from the Austrian company OFFNER (https://www.offner.at, Austria). This is a professional model made from 5-layer plywood with a durable aluminum edge. Curved blade, 145 cm, varnished hardwood handle, screw fastening with 2 screws and a wing nut.
This type is the lightest and most convenient, but is mainly suitable for removing freshly fallen snow. Removing ice or wet caked layers will be difficult due to sticking to wooden surface. Such shovels, despite the steel border and crossbars, are short-lived, and over time, cracks and peeling of plywood layers appear on them.
Plastic shovel
Modern manufacturers offer a large selection of tools from polymer materials. Plastic is very fragile, so most manufacturers produce models with metal edging. Its main difference is its resistance to frost and corrosion by chemicals.
The choice of such a tool is based on the principle: the higher the quality, the more expensive the shovel. It is also very important to pay attention to the manufacturer, and not trust Chinese companies when it comes to long-term operation inventory.
Plastic shovel for snow removal high quality has the following properties:
- wear resistance to a high degree;
- frost resistance;
- inertness to chemicals added to snow to make it melt faster;
- resistance to temperature changes.
It is good if a plastic shovel is equipped with a metal edge, which increases service life and protects against deformation.
Metal
Shovels made of light metals and alloys are leaders in durability and quality. The most popular:
- steel (very heavy, but as strong as possible);
- aluminum shovels (not strong enough if used to remove ice, but lighter than wooden ones);
- duralumin (a metal alloy allows you to maintain low weight and provide maximum strength).
The cost of the third type is higher than the other two; also, metal shovels for snow removal are priced unfavorably compared to wooden and plastic ones. However, this factor pays off due to its service life.
Metal shovels do an excellent job of both loose snow, and with wet during the thaw. In terms of weight, duralumin ones are slightly heavier than wooden ones, and the most durable are models with galvanized surfaces.
At wrong choice snow removal equipment the process can become labor intensive. Even for cleaning small area from snow, clearing paths and approaches to buildings will take a lot of effort. Therefore, before you go to the store, you need to study the characteristics that you should pay attention to when purchasing.
Weight
When choosing a shovel, you need to pay attention to its weight. The lighter the weight, the easier it will be to remove snow. The lightest are plastic and aluminum models.
Handle length and scoop size
This criterion is especially important when purchasing equipment, especially if it will be used by a woman or teenager. If the length of the handle is incorrectly selected, even a lightweight shape will not save you from physical overload; also, the wider the bucket, the more snow can be removed at a time, but the more force will need to be applied. This criterion must be selected individually, taking into account strengths and capabilities.
Design Features
When choosing, pay attention to the sides. A snow shovel can be available in two versions: single- and triple-sided. It is better to choose the second option, since the sides prevent snow from falling out of the scoop and the cleaning efficiency increases. Considering that freshly fallen snow is very light, it is better to choose a wide shovel to cover a larger area.
When choosing a tool, you need to pay attention to details such as the edge and the presence of ribs. The presence of ribs with reverse side provides sliding, and therefore ease of cleaning. The edge is the cutting part and can be three types:
- aluminum;
- plastic;
- steel.
Aluminum edging is most often used to strengthen plastic and wood in order to increase its service life and protect it from damage. The plastic nozzle is replaceable and is suitable for cleaning paths made of ceramic tiles, wooden painted fences, surfaces made of natural stone, varnished decorative objects, and usually wears out quickly. The steel edge is effective for removing ice and old snow.
Choosing a handle for a shovel
The main criteria for choosing a cutting are lightness, ergonomics, and durability. When choosing a cutting, pay attention to its length. It must match your height. Otherwise, there will be additional stress on the back, which will lead to rapid fatigue, and with large volumes of work can cause injury.
The attachment of the handle to the shovel should be at a slight angle. Thus, it acts as a lever, which significantly lightens the load on the body.
Handles made of wood do not slip and do not freeze your hands, but they can burst during large volumes of work under load. Plastic handles are used less frequently; they are not very durable and bend over time. If you plan to remove snow from roofs, then a shovel with a retractable plastic or aluminum handle, where the height of the handle can be adjusted, is suitable.
How to choose a shovel for snow removal: video instructions
Do-it-yourself wooden shovel: detailed instructions with video
If you wish, you can make a wooden shovel with your own hands and its cost will be minimal. You will need:
- plywood sheet;
- remnants of wood (small flat piece);
- strips of galvanized or aluminum.
It is best to purchase a cutting ready-made at any hardware store, since you can make it yourself without specialized tool quite difficult.
Formation of the back wall
For this you will need a piece wooden board, measuring 45 by 8 cm. It is necessary to make markings on the board so that you get an arc with a height of 8 cm in the center and 5 cm on the sides.
According to the drawing, we cut out an arc. To attach the handle you need to make a cut in the center rectangular shape along the width of the handle itself. In order for the handle to be attached at an angle, it is necessary to make a cut with a bevel of about 1 cm.
Sawing out a scoop
We cut out the working part of the shovel from plywood, which is about 6 mm thick. The most optimal size there will be a square of 45 by 45 cm.
Attaching the handle to the rear wall
The handle must be inserted into the cut and using a marker, mark the line along which the handle will be sawed off. Using a jigsaw, we saw off the cutting along the intended line and insert it into the cut itself.
Assembly
- Using small nails we nail the scoop to back wall.
- Using a ruler, measure the center of the scoop and draw a straight line. At this stage, accuracy in calculations is important, otherwise even a small error will lead to one-sidedness when used.
- Using self-tapping screws, screw the handle to the scoop. To avoid cracking the plywood, you need to drill small holes before screwing it in.
- Using a hammer, beat the cutting edge of the scoop with aluminum.
Video: how to make a wooden shovel for snow removal with your own hands
Bottom line
The choice of any tool is extremely important; it must be carried out taking into account the volume and nature of the work and individual loads. Before purchasing a snow shovel, take into account its characteristics, pay attention to its service life, design and build quality, so that the work is not only convenient, but also pleasant. If you need truly high quality, lightweight and extremely handy tool for snow removal, pay attention to Fiskars shovels. Choose something that will last a long time!
One of the representatives of the shovel production company told the American Popular Machanics what kind of snow shovels exist and what they are intended for.
We usually use a universal snow shovel, which is number 1 in the picture. But you might want to expand your arsenal.
- This is a universal shovel with a width of 60 cm. It is more suitable for shoveling snow than for systematic cleaning of large areas.
- A narrower 45 cm wide shovel with a curved handle is suitable for those who need to protect their back.
- A rectangular shovel will be very useful if you need to scrape the surface and remove ice chips from it.
- A wide brush is perfect for removing light, shallow and dry snow.
- A bayonet shovel is useful for working with frozen and compacted dumps.
- Ice axe. The only negative is that it will damage the surface of the pavement and paths.
- Aluminum shovel. It will be useful when throwing snowdrifts.
- It is convenient to work with a shovel with a 75-centimeter bucket by pushing it in front of you. But it can also rake and throw small amounts of snow.
- Coarse rock salt. Melts ice down to -7 C°. It’s a cheap product, which is why many people are too keen on using it.
- Calcium chloride. Your comrade-in-arms down to -32 C° (or even lower). Safe, and even registered as a food additive E509. But it costs several times more than salt.
In addition to standard shovels, a lot of others have been invented, which many may find much more interesting.
Snow scraper. There's nothing unusual about it, just a note.
But the manual snow blower Forte QI-JY-50 looks much more interesting.
Well, for those who want to protect their backs, we can recommend Shovelution. This is the second handle that attaches to the handle of the shovel, thereby reducing the time and amount of effort when raking snowdrifts.
Every year, with the onset of winter, an additional activity appears for summer residents - snow removal. Those who end the summer season in the fall encounter this less often. Although it’s worth coming at least occasionally and throwing snow from the roofs of buildings, shoveling wooden walls and windows, otherwise in the spring you may find the roof collapsing and other unpleasant consequences of wintering. Stores now offer many different devices for snow removal: from mechanical to complex units powered by electricity or fuel. And yet, in my opinion, the most effective device for removing snow is a simple shovel. After all, in theory everything is great: I launched the same walk-behind tractor with an auger and things went much faster, but in reality you can encounter a number of problems:
- the door of the barn where the walk-behind tractor is located is frozen and it itself needs to be cleared of snow and ice;
- no oil or fuel;
- won't start;
- The unit is electric, but the lights were turned off due to bad weather.
This will not happen with a shovel. It's either still usable or it's time to change it. You can always take a regular shovel to the edge and clear something with it, but this quickly gets tiring due to the large volume of work and the weight of the shovel itself. Therefore, it is worth having a special snow shovel on the farm.
Types and their features
You can make a snow shovel yourself or buy a ready-made one in a store. Samopal usually means a lot of weight, poor ergonomics, and weak strength. Especially if this is the first attempt to make such a tool. But it's relatively free.
Store-bought ones can be divided according to several criteria.
According to the material:
- wooden,
- plastic (composite),
- galvanized,
- aluminum,
- duralumin,
- titanium.
You can even find examples made of rail steel.
According to the shape of the bucket:
- single breasted,
- double-breasted (usually with a screw),
- triple-breasted.
By mechanization: with or without auger. By the way, the recently advertised mechanical snow shovel with an auger is not that effective in field conditions, as can be seen from the video.
For reinforcing structural elements:
- without them,
- with stiffening ribs on the bucket,
- with an aluminum edge on the working edge of the shovel.
By type of design:
- classical,
- scraper – distinctive feature: arc-shaped handle and wide bucket, designed only for removing snow by moving it, suitable for cleaning large areas with a flat surface;
- scraper - something between a drag (scraper) and a regular shovel: you can both move the snow and throw it to the side;
- manual bulldozer or grader - in addition to the bucket, it is equipped with wheels, which, together with other elements, are attached to a welded frame.
By brand and price.
Scraper (aka engine or drag)
Hand grader
What to look for when choosing
All those things that would be good to consider when choosing a snow shovel form a small checklist:
- Weight. The shovel should be as light as possible. After all, we have to work with snow for a long time. In cold weather this is not so critical, but in the spring or during thaws, when the snow masses are saturated with water, the loads become such that you don’t even have to go to the rocking chair!
- Handle length and shape. It is advisable to select the model according to your height, otherwise your back will quickly get tired. Also, a handle would not be superfluous - it makes it easier to carry snow in above-zero temperatures: there is less load on the arms and back, the shovel does not turn over on its own under the weight of the load with an uneven distribution over the area of the bucket. Taking a straight handle or a curved one is not for everybody.
- Material. In my practice, plastic has performed best. More precisely, a plastic bucket and a wooden handle. The tool is used regularly and has been in service for more than 3 years. It’s good if there is an aluminum border along the working edge - there is less chance of breakage in cold weather or when hitting rocks, metal structures in the yard while cleaning. Wood has one drawback - you can’t work without gloves. It leaves splinters, which is critical when you need to quickly clear the area.
- Bucket shape and equipment. It all depends on the principle of work and physical training. You can’t really leave the snow with a single-breasted shovel - it slides off, but it can be used as a scraper on narrow garden paths: Snow remains on the sides as you move forward. Allows you to avoid unnecessary movements. This trick will not work with a three-sided bucket. Here you can only scoop up snow and throw it aside. Can be carried over short distances. Ideally, if the bucket has stiffening ribs, it will withstand higher loads, i.e. you can scoop up a full bucket of snow and scatter ice-covered lumps of crust. The deeper the bucket, the faster the area can be cleaned.