Thermostat setting in unused cottage

[BeaverIslandGuy]

After two freeze-ups due to power failures on an island, though the house was built to be able to stay open (but cool) during the winter, we gave up and winterize. For heat to run, in most cases you need fuel (propane, electric, etc) AND electricity. Power outages can take many weeks to be fixed on an island, and this is where we had issues. (aquatherm issues too, but that would hijack this thread

That said, my recommendation is to drain and blow out pipes. We drain the hot water heater by gravity, hook up a 60 psi decent volume compressor, and use it as a large pressure tank. This allows sufficient volume of air at pressure to ensure we have blown out lines. All drains and traps get RV antifreeze.

We do use the home on occasion in the winter. We bring both drinking water and use buckets of water from lake to flush toilets (kind of camping out but with flush toilets). When we are done, we add more antifreeze to toilet and we are set.

This way, you don't have to heat, worry about freeze-ups, and you can still use the house.

[dpg]

Originally Posted by BeaverIslandGuy

After two freeze-ups due to power failures on an island, though the house was built to be able to stay open (but cool) during the winter, we gave up and winterize. For heat to run, in most cases you need fuel (propane, electric, etc) AND electricity. Power outages can take many weeks to be fixed on an island, and this is where we had issues. (aquatherm issues too, but that would hijack this thread

That said, my recommendation is to drain and blow out pipes. We drain the hot water heater by gravity, hook up a 60 psi decent volume compressor, and use it as a large pressure tank. This allows sufficient volume of air at pressure to ensure we have blown out lines. All drains and traps get RV antifreeze.

We do use the home on occasion in the winter. We bring both drinking water and use buckets of water from lake to flush toilets (kind of camping out but with flush toilets). When we are done, we add more antifreeze to toilet and we are set.

This way, you don't have to heat, worry about freeze-ups, and you can still use the house.

Wouldn't it be easier to rent a nice comfy hotel room in the winter? Hey, their even at cheaper rates then.