Summerizing

[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.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

[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.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

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.