Learn How to Build Your Own Aeroponic Systems

!±8± Learn How to Build Your Own Aeroponic Systems

Now we all know that hydroponics means that the plants are grown without soil, but that they need some kind of growing medium. Aeroponics does away with the need for a growth medium, as the roots are literally suspended in the air. They get their nutrients as well as the water needed for the plant through a mist that keeps them alive and well.

Commercial aeroponic systems are rather expensive, thus many people envision building their own when they wish to venture in aeroponics. Commercial systems usually have pumps that are calibrated so that the plant receives aerating times between feeding times. Thus, in other words, the feed/aerate times are programmable. If you are to build your own, a simple timer with multiple on/off settings can duplicate this need.

Many commercial aeroponics systems also do not utilize the standard PVC piping that most use in home built systems. Instead, they use a higher grade PVC that is coated with titanium dioxide.

This suggestion is over simplified, and the results are rather primitive, but if you like the results you can build a bigger and better one in the future. By using a fountain pump, you will be able to rotate the nutrients and water into a constant feed and water time if you wish. Adding the on/off regulator suggested above should be easy. 1/2" poly tubing will carry the water and nutrients for you. You will need a few poly connectors, of course. Fogging or misting spray nozzles will do the job of misting your plants. You will also need some poly tube extenders to mist the roots higher up. Be sure and purchase hose fittings so that you can attach the tubing to the pump. You will also need approximately 12" of clear tubing and angle connectors. Ask for net cups next, and finally you will need a large heavy-duty plastic container that has a concave reinforced plastic lid. 

You'll next drill 2" holes through the lid spaced so that you do not drill through the plastic ribbing that gives it its strength. Using the net cups in the sealed "tank" you've created will enable you to utilize the aeroponic system to grow your plants.

By running the tubing and misting spray nozzles so that each plant's roots will be covered with the nutrients and water, you'll love how this works. Any runoff that congregates on the lid will run back into the plant, thereby not wasting nutrients or water. 

Aeroponics have a tremendous advantage over hydroponics, as the roots are suspended in mid air, enabling them to take advantage of both the nutrient solution as well as water, but the best part of aeroponics is that by hanging suspended in air, the roots will be able to stay oxygenated. You will not believe how quickly your plants will grow, nor how healthy they are, thus cutting out a lot of work to take care of sick plants, weeding them or just killing various bugs and such that can attack weaker plants.  Good luck!

Learn How to Build Your Own Aeroponic Systems

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Roof Rain Gutter Downspout Maintenance - Downspout Cleaning

!±8± Roof Rain Gutter Downspout Maintenance - Downspout Cleaning

The amount of the roof rain gutter downspout maintenance depends mostly on the rain gutter maintenance and the downspout bottom end / its extension condition. There's not much to worry about if you're living in a tree-free neighborhood, where your rain gutter downspout will (in most cases) require no maintenance.

However, every tree located close to your house will increase the chances of losing some of your valuable time on maintenance. The closer and taller the trees are, the more maintenance might be required.

The simplest method to minimize it and keep the gutter downspout interior clean is to install the rain gutter strainer. The gutter strainer will stop leafs and other debris from flowing into the downspout, and in some cases, contaminating it.

You have to remember to clean the gutter strainer periodically (depending on the number of trees surrounding your house) to prevent it from blocking the water flow.
Your rain gutter should do OK without the gutter strainer if there are no trees in your area.

Clogged Rain Gutter Downspout

1. Observe the downspout discharge while it's raining.

If there's little or no water coming out the downspout bottom end - check the gutter outlet first (top of the downspout / at the rain gutter attachment point). If it's contaminated - clean it and watch if that improves the water flow.

If your rain gutter is still full of water, the gutter outlet is clean, and not much is coming out of the downspout - start by checking the condition of the downspout bottom end (most likely at the point of a curve), and / or its extension (especially the flexible type). Be careful while doing it, though.

If the bottom end is clogged, there might several gallons of water just waiting for you to open the clogged section.

If the bottom appears clean and there's no mechanical damage, you'll have to work your way down the gutter downspout. The clogging debris usually accumulates at the first or second point of curve, right below the soffit level.

You can try to unclog the downspout with a plumbing snake by fishing it down through the rain gutter outlet. Anything long enough that is small in diameter, flexible, and strong enough to be pushed through a few downspout curves will work fine too. One of the examples would be an electrical "fish tape", just be prepared for it to corrode, unless you happened to have a fiberglass type.

Keep turning / wiggling the snake line if it gets stuck on any of the curves or obstructions until you get through. Try to go in and out a few times to push down or brake loose as much of the accumulated material as possible.  The sound of the rushing water and a suddenly emptying rain gutter will confirm your success.

If your rain gutter was empty, insert the garden hose into the downspout's top opening and open the water valve - full blast.  This should clear any remaining deposits from the clogged area.

Rain Gutter Downspout Back Seam

Clogged rain gutter downspouts, or their extensions, hold the water inside. The water freezes during the cold season and expands / cracks the seams open. When it gets warmer, the downspout spills water onto the wall behind the open seam, even after the clogging has been removed.

Look between the gutter and the house wall to see if it is intact. If the gutter downspout surface looks uneven - the seam is most likely broken. Other signs of the broken downspout seam might be a stain on the wall, deterioration of the house wall material, and/or interior wall damage in the area corresponding to the downspout.

You can try to squeeze the gutter seam together - sometimes it will snap back in, sometimes you'll need to replace this damaged section.

Rain Gutter Downspout & Underground Drains

Some jurisdictions do not allow underground drains anymore and require home owners to discharge rain water from their roof downspouts onto the surface. Others may require to use those drains.

If your gutter's downspouts run into an underground drain, do not permanently secure that connection, allow for expansion and contraction during the cold season. Just make sure that the downspout section is inserted into the underground drain opening. Also, install the gutter strainer to lower the amount of debris flowing into the drain.

Rain Gutter Downspout Extension

The further the gutter's downspout extensions run from the house, the better. Their installation directly benefits your house and various components around it.  The following are just some of the most important:

lower amount of water that might penetrate foundation walls lower pressure that water saturated soil puts on the foundation walls it helps to prevent house foundation cracking and uneven settlement it helps to prevent cracking, settlement, and displacement of the house's surrounding hard surfaces

However, any sections of the extensions resting on the ground surface that are left attached to the rain gutter downspout for the cold season will most likely freeze up. The ice will eventually build back up to the downspout preventing drainage and causing downspout seams to crack.

If your downspout extends almost to the ground level, disconnect that long extension as soon as the temperatures start dropping below freezing point. Also, make sure that the bottom discharge end is clean.

Another option is to cut a section of the downspout attached to the wall, so its extension starts higher above the ground. At the same time you also keep the extension suspended / supported above the ground level.

For practical reasons / in some high traffic locations around your house, such extension setup may not be possible, but it is something to consider.

And the next  step is to get your rain gutter downspout maintenance rolling.

Roof Rain Gutter Downspout Maintenance - Downspout Cleaning

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Water Jet Plus with 2 Spray Nozzles and Flexible Gutter ...

!±8± Water Jet Plus with 2 Spray Nozzles and Flexible Gutter ...

For More Info or to Buy Now: www.hsn.com Turn an ordinary garden hose into a powerful cleaning tool when you connect the Water Jet Plus with 2 Spray Nozzles and Flexible Gutter Attachment.Wash your driveway, windows, lawn chairs,... Prices shown on the previously recorded video may not represent the current price. View hsn.com to view the current selling price. HSN Item #377447

Water Jet Plus with 2 Spray Nozzles and Flexible Gutter ...

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