Summerizing

[jazzman]

How do people feel about "summerizing" at this point. This is really early and it seems like it could still get pretty cold at night.

[Winilyme]

Originally Posted by jazzman

How do people feel about "summerizing" at this point. This is really early and it seems like it could still get pretty cold at night.

Too early for me. We'll be up permanently 2nd or 3rd week in May and even then I'll hate the too-cool nights.

[steve-on-mark]

Originally Posted by jazzman

How do people feel about "summerizing" at this point. This is really early and it seems like it could still get pretty cold at night.

I feel pretty good about it...last year I opened up April 4th.

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[Descant]

In the past, I loved to open early, get stuff done and enjoy May instead of it being a working month. Now, I enjoy May anyhow because Island Construction does the heavy lifting/cleaning. Than you, Ben. Great job. Someday, Instacart will come to the island, and I will read another book, or play with the dog.

[mswlogo]

Originally Posted by jazzman

How do people feel about "summerizing" at this point. This is really early and it seems like it could still get pretty cold at night.

It’s 1AM in my uninsulated cottage and 50F right now.
It won’t go below 40F until April 14th it dips to 35F.

Not much rain either. Worried we are facing more drought.

To warm to fast and no rain.

[Slickcraft]

At 5:45 am it is 70 deg inside camp on Welch with the heat pump running. Water in yesterday for 1st overnight. Last year our 1st overnight was on 3/31 so a bit later this year.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by Slickcraft

At 5:45 am it is 70 deg inside camp on Welch with the heat pump running. Water in yesterday for 1st overnight. Last year our 1st overnight was on 3/31 so a bit later this year.

What was the outside/overnight temp?

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[chaseisland]

Not too many years ago we had a fire in the stove on July 3rd.

[fatlazyless]

With a heated mattress pad you can sleep warm as toast in an under insulated/heated seasonal cottage after the wood stove dies down, or after you lower the temp on the Rinnai for the night.

Best place to buy a heated mattress pad is on Ebay.

[Biggd]

I'm not on an Island but my the heat is off in my house and the temp inside is 52 this morning. I have big windows and sky lights facing south so the inside really warms up on a sunny day.

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[AC2717]

go for it, need a couple straight days below or close to freezing for it to freeze. and even if you are worried about it, leave a faucet at a drip and it wont. You are good to go!!!

[Garcia]

I would be on the island full time if I could. Hard to be a remote school administrator when school is full time in person. Weekends only for know. I look forward to retiring, someday, and staying on the island as long as possible.

[steve-on-mark]

Originally Posted by Garcia

I would be on the island full time if I could. Hard to be a remote school administrator when school is full time in person. Weekends only for know. I look forward to retiring, someday, and staying on the island as long as possible.

I commute to Dover most days...just sayin'...

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[winterh]

turned on my outdoor shower last week. Saturday morning it was frozen. Hit the pipes with a blow dryer and it loosened right up. No leaks. No problems since but I know I am living on the edge!

[Garcia]

Originally Posted by steve-on-mark

I commute to Dover most days...just sayin'...

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I'm not up for a four hour commute (each way). However, I love the idea of working in a school in the area and starting each day with a boat commute. Maybe the next phase of my career...

[Slickcraft]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

What was the outside/overnight temp?

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34 degrees on the weather system however a skim of ice formed on parts of the lake.

[steve-on-mark]

Originally Posted by Garcia

I'm not up for a four hour commute (each way). However, I love the idea of working in a school in the area and starting each day with a boat commute. Maybe the next phase of my career...

Nothing better than the evening phase of the boat commute...that thought gets me through the day!

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[FlyingScot]

It was 22 in Tuftonboro just a few nights ago...

[AC2717]

Friday into Saturday was 20-22 with strong wind guest. We are out of the woods now for Freezing, I would have been on this past Saturday if the association turn main on already, and just left a drip faucet until this weekend, and had the heat not turned on.
If the pipe, valve, or anything is not directly exposure to the elements we are past the freeze. if the valve or pipe was out in the open subject to the wind and direct hit of the 25 degrees for a multiple consecutive hours then it would freeze

[Sammy]

Patriots Day to Columbus Day you're safe!

[Mink Islander]

By mid-April you’re fine. Even if it drops below freezing briefly overnight, it would take a sustained cold snap to put pipes at risk. If you are at all worried, leave a few taps dribbling when you leave to keep water flowing. It’s not a zero risk that we could have a weather surprise, but it’s pretty remote. Just my 2cents from doing this for 25+ years....

[LIforrelaxin]

So I gave strong consideration to opening this weekend. I have opted not to...
Low overnight temps are part of the consideration.

The other piece for me is that I am re-doing some of the plumbing... In an effort to get my system to a design point, that will allow me to start the season early and end it late.

My point is it depends on your set-up, when I am done I will be able to blow my lines out, and the pump and HW tank will be in a closed shed.... with heat tape on the pump head....

[mswlogo]

Originally Posted by LIforrelaxin

So I gave strong consideration to opening this weekend. I have opted not to...
Low overnight temps are part of the consideration.

The other piece for me is that I am re-doing some of the plumbing... In an effort to get my system to a design point, that will allow me to start the season early and end it late.

My point is it depends on your set-up, when I am done I will be able to blow my lines out, and the pump and HW tank will be in a closed shed.... with heat tape on the pump head....

Supposed to be 70F Friday and Saturday !!

Lowest temp I see in forecast is 35F.

I am on the "warm" side. I'm there now WFH

I can turn on heat remotely if it dips when I leave, but I doubt I'll need to.

If things do freeze at this time of year, it tends not to break things. It really needs to be in the 20's to start bursting pipes.

[fatlazyless]

Been in the lake yet with just a swim suit, no wet suit, no dry suit ....... guess what ..... the lake water is still plenty cold! .....

You can wade in, slowly, up to your neck and easily live to tell about it, but I would not want to fall out of a boat into deep water or flip a small sail boat. ....

[barefootbay]

How long does it take for hypothermia in 42 degree H2O ?

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by mswlogo

Supposed to be 70F Friday and Saturday !!

Lowest temp I see in forecast is 35F.

I am on the "warm" side. I'm there now WFH

I can turn on heat remotely if it dips when I leave, but I doubt I'll need to.

If things do freeze at this time of year, it tends not to break things. It really needs to be in the 20's to start bursting pipes.

Ohhhh I will be working from my 2nd home plenty this year.... Just like last year....... I think what will prevent the water being in this weekend, really is the work I intend to do, to get on the road to a better overall situation... i.e. no more crawling around under the camp...

[mswlogo]

Originally Posted by LIforrelaxin

Ohhhh I will be working from my 2nd home plenty this year.... Just like last year....... I think what will prevent the water being in this weekend, really is the work I intend to do, to get on the road to a better overall situation... i.e. no more crawling around under the camp...

Just finished Well install today, no more lake water. One less thing to deal with.

[Mink Islander]

Fired up the water system today. Only challenge was the ice snapped off a ball valve I have down at the water that I use to drain the black pipe back to sea level in the fall. My son and I had to get wet up to the knees to cut it out and put in a splice, and yes that water is a wee bit chilly! But couldn’t ask for a more beautiful day to be on the lake.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Mink Islander

Fired up the water system today. Only challenge was the ice snapped off a ball valve I have down at the water that I use to drain the black pipe back to sea level in the fall.
My son and I had to get wet up to the knees to cut it out and put in a splice, and yes that water is a wee bit chilly! But couldn’t ask for a more beautiful day to be on the lake.

For years, I enjoyed getting freezing-wet just above the knees.

Granted, it was following knee-replacement surgery, but a few hours in that freezing water gave all-day relief. 'Actually looked forward to every morning "fiddling" at the shoreline.

[tis]

I really worry about people going out in kayaks and canoes without their life jackets this time of year. They just don't realize how paralyzed you become if you do fall in.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by tis

I really worry about people going out in kayaks and canoes without their life jackets this time of year. They just don't realize how paralyzed you become if you do fall in.

Agreed. We jumped off the boat into low 50's water a few years ago and were blown away by how crippled we felt. Even with a PFD, I think it's a risk.

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[tis]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

Agreed. We jumped off the boat into low 50's water a few years ago and were blown away by how crippled we felt. Even with a PFD, I think it's a risk.

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It is, even with a PDF. Not a good choice to be on the water now.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by tis

I really worry about people going out in kayaks and canoes without their life jackets this time of year. They just don't realize how paralyzed you become if you do fall in.

My wife and I went kayaking yesterday. Just the few minutes up to our knees in the water was painful.

[tis]

Originally Posted by Biggd

My wife and I went kayaking yesterday. Just the few minutes up to our knees in the water was painful.

I am glad you didn't tip over!!!

[jazzman]

Does anyone know what size inlet tubing is generally used on the lake? I need a new foot valve and forgot to measure the ID of my tubing.

I spent way to many hours on water this weekend. My tubing did get picked up by the ice and flipped over my neighbors breakwater. First time this has happened in 10 years. I had a really hard time priming, then couldn't build more than 40 PSI (so the pump never shut off), and then lost prime overnight and now I can't get it back.

All of this leads me to believe the foot valve is not working properly (especially the part about losing prime overnight).

[Mink Islander]

I use 1-1/4 inch (O.D.), which is typical, I believe. So 1” connectors.

The foot valve would certainly be a first thing to check, especially if you don’t hold the prime if you turn the pump off. Possible it’s in the sand? Unclear what you use to hold it off the bottom. And that pipe can get bent and kinked/cracked by the ice and if it got thrown around this year, that could be the issue — had that happen one year. That could also be the culprit for not holding a prime and maybe restricting the flow. Just a thought.

Black pipe is cheap. Might be easier to put in a temporary line until you can more easily check the existing line when the water’s warmer. Been there....

[Descant]

Next time your jet pump goes--consider a well pump. Several posters hewre have that as a solution. No foot valve, no prime, and it's under water so you don't hear it start and stop all the time.
I'm amazed to hear that the ice moved your feed line so drastically. Would it help to move the pick up point out into deeper water, say 10' deep.? This isn't something you want to fix very often in cold water.
BTW, many years ago, I had a brass foot valve fail from corrosion. I replaced with plastic. Then I got the well pump when it was time for major overhaul.

[Mink Islander]

Originally Posted by Descant

Next time your jet pump goes--consider a well pump. Several posters hewre have that as a solution. No foot valve, no prime, and it's under water so you don't hear it start and stop all the time.
I'm amazed to hear that the ice moved your feed line so drastically. Would it help to move the pick up point out into deeper water, say 10' deep.? This isn't something you want to fix very often in cold water.
BTW, many years ago, I had a brass foot valve fail from corrosion. I replaced with plastic. Then I got the well pump when it was time for major overhaul.

It would make me very nervous to have a power cord in the water around where people swim, etc. The risk of having an electric shock hazard is not zero. Just my 2cents.

[jazzman]

I would think it would be a pain to actually have a well pump in the lake. You'd have to pull that out every winter for sure. I have my black pipe inside some 4" PVC that gets through the transition to get below the freeze point. I suspect some of the run further out lost it's sand bags and was floating high enough for the ice to snag it.

My neighbor pulls his out every fall.

[Slickcraft]

Originally Posted by jazzman

I would think it would be a pain to actually have a well pump in the lake. You'd have to pull that out every winter for sure. I have my black pipe inside some 4" PVC that gets through the transition to get below the freeze point. I suspect some of the run further out lost it's sand bags and was floating high enough for the ice to snag it.

My neighbor pulls his out every fall.

Our pump has been in the lake for several years, out in deep water. One drain valve at shore just above the water line. In the spring, close the drain valve, turn the pump power on and watch the water pressure come up. Not much of a pain at all.

[Descant]

Originally Posted by Slickcraft

Our pump has been in the lake for several years, out in deep water. One drain valve at shore just above the water line. In the spring, close the drain valve, turn the pump power on and watch the water pressure come up. Not much of a pain at all.

Easy Peasy. For the many of us who have taken this route, we're fine. We relax while the rest of you sweat over prime less pumps. Do a search--there are other threads on this matter.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Descant

Easy Peasy. For the many of us who have taken this route, we're fine. We relax while the rest of you sweat over prime less pumps. Do a search--there are other threads on this matter.

In Autumn, I fill 6 one-gallon jugs, and leave them at the location of the highest hose bib.

In Spring, I open the cold water handle in the shower—closing all others. Then, put a ₁/₆ HP utility pump into a bucket, and add the water. Then attach the utility pump (using a spare washing machine supply hose) to that highest hose bib, and plug it in. Unplug it when water appears in the shower. Close the cold—open the hot (to vent). Open the supply to the water heater, and everything's primed, the water heater gets filled, and you're done.

This is the same pump we've used since 1992—30 years!
(And the same priming technique).

[jazzman]

I've tried that same thing using a submersible pump I put in the lake connected to a hose bib. I was wondering if that really forces water down the pickup hose. It seems like that would become air locked because the foot valve would prevent the water from making it's way out. Of course it has worked like a champ until this year. I think I'm headed back up today with a new foot valve since the temps look ok and it isn't windy.

[AC2717]

water being turned on this Thursday! will be all set for the summer no matter the dip