Cape=
Ya gotta put a gate valve at a high point under your place to shut off the outside faucet so there is no water holding in the line or it will freeze.- blow out the lines both hot and cold and blow a little potable antifreeze in each line for the low spots--and drain the hot water heater when ya leave each cold weather trip- also gotta antifreeze all toilets and drains. You must also drain the feed from your under ground pump house too.
I have an apparatus affixed to the top of the water heater that allows me to blow out the systems and also put the antifreeze into the lines. Also rigged a system that allows me to drain the underground feeder line from above without having to dig it out and climb down,
To open up all ya gotta do is flick the switch for the pump and a minute later when the water heater fills flip the switch for that.
The air pump costs bout 50 bucks at the hardware store and the whole job only takes bout a half an hour. I did it my last trip up just in case since I cant get back up for a coupla more weeks. Potable anti freeze at most all the stores up there.
The plumbing shop in Pulaski cares for camps but might get pricey for multiple trips. He also did the rigging on top of my heater to accomodate the easy closing I do myself.
For snow I have a guy up there who lets me know if I need plowing when I call. Remember it isnt always how deep the snow is when ya go up but how deep it is packed like concrete at roadside in front of your driveway. At least once they couldnt use a plow and had to use a bucket loader to get through the deep hard packed entry snow.
I do not leave the electricity or heat on- with the exception of the frig. but ya gotta cover stuff like the tv cause of the possible inside dampness.
I am fortunate to be able to get up every 2 or 3 weeks in Spring summer and Fall most generally and do my own lawn mowing and house chores and other yard stuff.. In winter I get up several times including at least one and generally two trips of several days.
My lawn is an acre or more but I would strongly suggest that if you dont want to get heavily involved in mowing and leaf removal you have little or none.
Last year was easy and only needed one plowing even though I made about 7 Winter trips. Generally though it will need it most every trip up usually from early Dec till early to mid March.
Have never had electricity issues. They do a great job up there of maintaining and clearing lines and I regularly maintain trees keeping the feeder into my place clear. Just in case elec. is out my wood stove will care for the whole place but then ya need to get water for flushing. I always keep a coupla 10 gallon jugs in the shed just in case. Always figure river water flushes just as good as well water- lol.
It isnt as involved as it sounds once the right system is in place.
Trevor
Shoot me a PM and whenever we are up at the same time come on over and I'll show you the system and hook you up the the guy who installed it if ya wish.
post edited by retired guy - 2012/10/30 21:23:43