I don't use my delay on the dw because I am alone and can start it just about any time. One thing I will say, a friend of mine is a plumber and one day he and his wife were here and we were planning on going out for the evening. I put detergent in the dishwasher and he said, "i think I know what you are planning on doing...you're gonna run that dishwasher while we're gone, right? Do not EVER do that!" He explained that there was a chance the solonoid (?) could stick and there would be water all over everywhere. Water would just keep running because it won't shut off. Just thought you who set it to run at night might like to know that.

One potential drawback (and the jury seems to still be out on this) is that PEX may require periodic sterilization, whereas copper is a natural deterrent to the growth of bacteria. The jury isn't out on this ... it's just that no one bothers to check the facts. This myth about PEX and bacteria growth traces back to preliminary report from a study comparing bacteria growth in different materials. This report came out a year into the study and showed, yes, copper has the smallest amount of bacteria growth. However, the study continued for another two years. In the end, it showed that PEX and copper had about the same amount of bacteria growth (if anything, the data showed PEX with slightly less growth than in copper). The data recorded growth of bacteria from nothing to X in all materials (I can't remember the exact value of X). The only difference was how long it took to get to X, and even than only varied by a few months (14 vs 18 months, IIRC). The theory is that copper does retard growth, but does not prevent it. Once the inside of the pipe is coated with bacteria, any "antiseptic" quality of the copper is neutralized and bacteria will grow just as well in it as any other material.

Rick I am in SC. When it rains it pours. After I did the repair, I went into the basement and cut the water back on. About 2 hours later, my husband and I were in the front yard about 75 feet from the house and my husband noticed a large area of soggy ground. We found an area that sank when we stood on it and I knew it was where the underground water line runs. My husband checked the meter and we were losing about 2 gallons a minute. We shut the water down, begun to dig and finally found the leak. The builder's plumber had done several elbow connections back to back and had used wire to support them. The elbow that was leaking had no primer and was spraying water at where the fitting met the pipe. By this time it was dark. I called a friend that had just had a house built and he recommended a plumber. The plumber came out about 10 p.m. He did not have exactly what he needed so he came back this morning and repaired the line. This plumber could not understand what in the world the wire was for or why so many elbows were used. We also noticed that the original plumber mixed Ipex and pvc lines. It was ironic that we happened to be in that section of the front yard and noticed the soggy ground. We normally are only in that area about once every two weeks. We had had a higher than normal water bill for a while but we blamed it on building a large pond and draining it and refilling it several times. We now suspect this had been a small leak for a long time and when I shut the water down to do the repair and then turned it back on the pressure against that elbow must have knocked it loose. LSST

Hi Dotz. I don't know how to answer you. Relationships are complicated enough when I'm one of the two in the relationship (parent/child, spouse/spouse, child/parent, etc.) but being on the "outside" as a SM with biodad/child on one side, and Sdad/child on another side... I just can't hope to ever understand those relationships completely, let alone what may have happened between your dh's kid and him to make their relationship less than ideal. People take out their anger on those they think will still love them despite the issues. Hopefully your skid will realize that dad means more than money and they can have a relationship beyond that later. I think, in my situation, where bio-mom keeps sd from us (by not contacting, etc), we will probably have a tough row to hoe coming up here soon as she becomes a teenager with angst. But, if her parents didn't have issues, the issues with her would be lessened. It's due to the parents setting up expectations that makes the kids resentful. My SD expects to be driven around in posh cars and going to outrageously expensive schools and if her dad doesn't contribute to the lifestyle BM has set up she is resentful. We prefer to place value on good manners, wholesome activities, enjoying being a kid instead of designer outfits for 9 year olds...Oh well... we simply don't have the same values. Having to straddle both value systems is difficult for children. And, outsiders, without all the little cobwebs floating around of past conversations/hurts/angers, can see any situation a lot clearer than the participants. As Sm's, we will never fully understand the nuances. Sooooo... my response Dotz, is just be as supportive of your DH as you can while he goes through this stage with his son. In my experience, my Ex and I have issues my DH could never understand, and my DH loves me, so automatically my Ex is the bad guy... and he hates his Ex, but I do my damnedest not to internalize that. I channel Switzerland. I attempt neutrality. I try to look at all sides, and I try to do it with love. It's far too complicated to figure out their issues. So I'm a cheerleader. Go (broken and taped back together) family of mine!!! win win win!