Winter Startup / Shutdown

Winter Startup

1. Heating

   1. The Nest thermostat should be programmed to start warming up the place before you get there, so that the place is up to temp by the time you get there.  If not, then talk to Richard or Louise to see what's going on.

   2. If the temps are very cold outside and/or the cabin is cold inside and you want to get it up to temp quickly, start a fire in the wood furnace (see HVAC section for video instructions)

2. Water

   1. Turn Black Domestic Flow valve to open (vertical)

Winter Shutdown

1. Turn black water valve downstairs to horizontal position (closed)

2. Drain domestic flow pipe into a 5 gallon bucket 

   • Open faucets to let air into the system

     1. Upstairs shower

     2. Main floor kitchen

     3. Main floor laundry room

   • Open the hot and cold valves downstairs to drain water in bucket

   • Close open valves again

3. Put anti-freeze solution into traps and some plumbing fixtures. We usually keep stocked on the lower shelf of pantry cabinet in the laundry room 2 gallons of "RV & Marine -50 Degree Antifreeze" for winter use. Pour antifreeze into each drain trap or fixture listed below.  Remove water from the water tanks of each toilet by continuous flushing. Leave water in the toilet bowl:

Main floor -

3. • Main floor shower trap, 2 cups

   • Laundry room sink trap, 1 cup

   • Main floor bathroom sink trap, 1 cup

   • Kitchen sink trap, 1 cup

   • Flush main floor toilet

   • Put antifreeze Main floor toilet bowl, 2 cups

Upstairs - 

3. • Upstairs bathroom sink trap, 1 cup

   • Flush upstairs toilet

   • Put antifreeze in upstairs toilet bowl, 2 cups

   • Upstairs shower, 1 cup

   • Upstairs vanity sink, 1 cup

Basement - 

Rarely do we ever entirely drain the water from piping in the basement and man cave areas. If the electric power for the building were to fail for an extended time then pipe draining would be required. Instructions for doing this are forthcoming.

4. Guest Bedroom

   • Close heat register vents

   • Close curtains

   • Shut door

5. Heating

   • Turn thermostat down to 60 degrees

     1. Set temp

     2. Press More

     3. Press Done

   • Turn on Auxiliary Electrical Heat downstairs

   • Turn off wood burning furnace (if on)

   • Close both dampers on wood furnace (1 on door, 1 above door)

6. Lock doors

   • 2 outdoor basement doors

   • Man cave door

   • Kitchen patio door

   • Front door

   • Front garage door

   • Back garage door

   • Upstairs garage door

7. Shut inside door to the basement

8. Shut off all the lights