U.P. Question (Calumet) (rent, work, college)

[Great Lakes Pirate]

Hi JustT&Me & city-datataties at large.

winterizing: there are a lot of precautions to take to protect the home when you're gone. Chief concern would be pipes freezing and bursting - so shut off the water and drain the system. It's also advised to put automobile antifreeze into drains so those pipe don't freeze. (drain the water heater, too). I'd leave the power on, but shut off most of the electric at the breaker box.

Clear trees and tree limbs from the vicinity of the house, too. Ice storms, high winds, etc can knock them down and cause damage. You might lose some summer shade, but gain winter peace of mind.

Snow does not have to be removed from d'ways and s'walks. But if you have a nearby fire hydrant, place a 8-10' high pole or stick on it so the FD can find it (to use it and keep in clear).

You may need to have someone watch your roof. It's not a bad idea to re-enforce/brace rafters (the old homes up here don't have trusses). There are a number of guys that shovel roofs during the winters (roofers, contractors and the like, looking for off-season cash). They're experienced and shouldn't cause any damage - but make sure you have some kind of contract that CYA's in case they they injure themselves or your property.

Of course, get to know you're neighbors. They'll keep on an eye on your place without even asking.

Keweenaw Mtn Lodge - it is a beautiful place, eh. Most of their employment is summer seasonal, food/bev service and what-not. Most PT work. Unless you really know the road, I wouldn't venture up there during a blizzard - but 41 is a priority road, and definetly driveable most winter days.

[JustT&Me]

Originally Posted by Great Lakes Pirate

Hi JustT&Me & city-datataties at large.

winterizing: there are a lot of precautions to take to protect the home when you're gone. Chief concern would be pipes freezing and bursting - so shut off the water and drain the system. It's also advised to put automobile antifreeze into drains so those pipe don't freeze. (drain the water heater, too). I'd leave the power on, but shut off most of the electric at the breaker box.

Clear trees and tree limbs from the vicinity of the house, too. Ice storms, high winds, etc can knock them down and cause damage. You might lose some summer shade, but gain winter peace of mind.

Snow does not have to be removed from d'ways and s'walks. But if you have a nearby fire hydrant, place a 8-10' high pole or stick on it so the FD can find it (to use it and keep in clear).

You may need to have someone watch your roof. It's not a bad idea to re-enforce/brace rafters (the old homes up here don't have trusses). There are a number of guys that shovel roofs during the winters (roofers, contractors and the like, looking for off-season cash). They're experienced and shouldn't cause any damage - but make sure you have some kind of contract that CYA's in case they they injure themselves or your property.

Of course, get to know you're neighbors. They'll keep on an eye on your place without even asking.

Keweenaw Mtn Lodge - it is a beautiful place, eh. Most of their employment is summer seasonal, food/bev service and what-not. Most PT work. Unless you really know the road, I wouldn't venture up there during a blizzard - but 41 is a priority road, and definetly driveable most winter days.

HA! GREAT post GLP! I had to laugh... I just tried to rep you for it, and I got a msg back saying I had to "spread some rep around" before I could give any more of it to *you*! Guess I must've given you a little too much back-patting yesterday, eh? Lol. What's the point of giving reps if you can't give it out to someone for a lot of GREAT info?! Sooo... I'm coming here to give it. Right now, add one mental rep to your column. And I guess once I get more feedback from some other folks, then I can start feeding you again. Lol.

Anyway... great post. Some of those things I already knew, esp. the frozen pipes thing, but it helps to have it all in one place in somewhat of a checklist. So that was good. I *didn't* know about putting the anti-freeze in though (until yesterday when wordsmith or jeeg - also noted it). Okay - dumb chick question here, but how do you get the anti-freeze out of your system come spring without turning the system back on? Wouldn't it make a huge mess??? (Okay - guys, have a laugh on me!) I don't mind. Yoopers are nice enough folks...

I didn't think about clearing trees - great idea. I grew up in the South and the ice storms were *horrendous*. Trees breaking and splitting every winter and falling on ppl's homes. Thanks for the tip on that.

Fire hydrant stick - check.
Reinforce Rafters - check. Roofs - check.
Neighbors - check, unless of course, all the homes around me are empty. Seems to be getting that way up there more and more. When I went - I think in the fall - it looked like at *least* half the homes on most streets were up for grabs. Sitting dead empty.

I actually called the Lodge today once I saw Darstar's post. At least I made some contact. I think PT *there* might be more desirable than FT at a local store if I couldn't find anything else to get me started. Eh?

I'd really like to just setup business at home, but I've got a lot to figure out first. Also looking into AK and PA. Winters maybe snowbirding in TX. But I really like the U.P. and have been visiting for probably... 4 years now? But isn't that how it happens for some? We just get in our cars and go... and keep going, until one day, we just pack everything else up in storage and take up whatever will fit in the back. And we're home.

Hm... have a good night. Thanks again. (rep) (rep) (rep)

[and the]

You don't take the antifreeze out. You pour a few cupfuls down your sink and it goes into your P or S trap. Look under your sink. It's that curvy part of your drain. When you turn the water on, a certain amount of water stays in that low spot, the curvy part of the train, also known as the trap. This water acts as a barrier to the stinky sewer gas that will either come from your sanitary sewer or septic tank. That antifreeze stays in the trap all winter until you come back in spring. You turn the water back on and when you use the water, it just flushes the antifreeze down the drain.

I don't know about using automobile antifreeze though. That stuff is highly toxic. I wouldn't want it leeching into my leechfield. I'd use Recreational Vehicle antifreeze. It costs a little more, but it's non-toxic.

Your toilet bowl works the same way. You'll have to turn the water off, flush the toilet and then pour in the antifreeze so it displaces the water out of the toilet bowl.

[JustT&Me]

Originally Posted by and the

You don't take the antifreeze out. You pour a few cupfuls down your sink and it goes into your P or S trap... That antifreeze stays in the trap all winter until you come back in spring. You turn the water back on and when you use the water, it just flushes the antifreeze down the drain.

I don't know about using automobile antifreeze though. That stuff is highly toxic. I wouldn't want it leeching into my leechfield. I'd use Recreational Vehicle antifreeze. It costs a little more, but it's non-toxic.

Your toilet bowl works the same way. You'll have to turn the water off, flush the toilet and then pour in the antifreeze so it displaces the water out of the toilet bowl.

Okay - that makes total sense. I am aware of *SPS (Stinky pipe syndrome) Leased a new construction residential facility and had to go around every couple of days to run water in all the units and flush until the units were occupied. But I was definitely wondering about the anti-freeze thing - esp. having a pup. I was imagining having it put through the system in the amounts that water go through...! So just 1-2 cupfuls sounds much better. And thanks for the tip about using RVA - and it being non-toxic. I'm all about quality, so I would have no problem paying a little more ... esp. if it would help save a *lot* more if I didn't do it in the first place.

Just one question... for the toilet - do I pour the antifreeze into the bowl portion once flushed, or into the tank? Or does it matter?

Wow. I wouldn't have imagined getting housing tips on CD a week ago when I signed up! Great stuff! THANK YOU!

[and the]

Just one question... for the toilet - do I pour the antifreeze into the bowl portion once flushed, or into the tank? Or does it matter?

After you turn the water off, flush the toilet so the tank empties and doesn't refill. Put a little grease or oil on the rubber seal and the flapper where they meet so they don't dry out and crack.

You can use a plunger to plunge most of the remaining water out of the bowl. Then just pour in enough antifreeze into the bowl to displace the water. There's not really a trap in a toilet like under a sink. The bowl is the trap. No sewer gasses can get past the water in the bowl. Just other gasses...so to speak..... You don't want to leave any water in there to freeze....You don't need any in the tank as long as you empty it with a final flush after you turn the water off.

It might also be a good idea to leave a water fixture or two partially in the open position in the house, just in case someone turns the water back on while you're gone.

[JustT&Me]

Originally Posted by and the

After you turn the water off, flush the toilet so the tank empties and doesn't refill. Put a little grease or oil on the rubber seal and the flapper where they meet so they don't dry out and crack.

You can use a plunger to plunge most of the remaining water out of the bowl. Then just pour in enough antifreeze into the bowl to displace the water. There's not really a trap in a toilet like under a sink. The bowl is the trap. No sewer gasses can get past the water in the bowl. Just other gasses...so to speak..... You don't want to leave any water in there to freeze....You don't need any in the tank as long as you empty it with a final flush after you turn the water off.

Are you a plumber, or just a very capable handyman? I am always impressed to see/hear such things coming from a home where Mom was the one who called the plumber, auto-mechanic, and such while Dad sat in his office to research, write, and read books. Lol. Somewhat like I am doing now, but I am certain much more enjoyable!

I have seen a toilet get a new wax ring/seal, so I think if I could manuever and/or lift it, I could probably do that myself if I had to. I guess if I move to MI and buy a place, I'd be doing a lot more of the reading that probably Dad was doing while Mom was actually getting the job done! Lol.

Originally Posted by and the

It might also be a good idea to leave a water fixture or two partially in the open position in the house, just in case someone turns the water back on while you're gone.

I would hope that no one would be in my place while I was gone - unless of course, I asked them to do so. But I'm guessing it happens, eh? Esp. with so many houses sitting empty up there right now anyway, huh?

My older sister had a small cabin in MO she bought in college very cheap (a long time ago - *very* cheap). She didn't use it as much as she thought she would esp. once she married and they had their son. I knew they'd been looking to sell it at some point, so I called them up and we talked about my living in it for a year, putting in the plumbing, wiring, etc. as "rent" for the year, then they could sell it. A win-win. I made a trip down - about a day's drive, and they made a trip up (about two hours North for them with a newborn).

First clue to disaster... we couldn't find the cabin. Literally. We all kept looking around in the woods (which were really not that wooded, so it was a bit odd) and finally "found" the cabin amongst some pretty thick brush.

Second... once we found it, there were several broken windows - no surprise to any of us. Anything that hadn't been boarded... was busted. Oh well, her husband is fairly handy, so no problem now that we'd found the cabin, so far, so good - just a few broken bits of glass. It was a bit hard to get the door open, but my BIL gave it a good shove, and in we went. It was a two-room cabin plus a bathroom. Not too bad, but really nothing done in it yet - just a shell. But what we did find that *was* a surprise - was a *major* hole in the roof where some raccoon had gotten in to take a look around who had *apparently* not been able to climb his way out once he got himself in (men)!

The hole was kind of like the one you saw watching "The Birds" when they opened the door at the top of the stairs and all the birds flew out. This made the whole cabin scene just a little extra creepy - thinking this is where I was going to be living for the next year. Creepier still was that the raccoon was actually still there - but just *less* of him or it, and not too far from a squirrel who was also missing most of it's parts. The pair of them had obviously torn up the place either chasing one another for winter fixin's, or just having a darn good ol' time at my sister's expense. Or maybe they were just hiding out for the winter and someone *else* did it! HA! But nonetheless, the place was an absolute mess!

The frig was so bad nasty inside that my BIL drug it out and pushed it down the hill to have carted off at some point when he'd come back to fix the windows. He said it was so bad, he didn't want anyone trying to use it! The bathroom never had *had* any plumbing except the fixtures... that was "just one more thing" my sister "never got done"! (Okay - now *I'm* ROTFL just reminiscing about the whole mess!) She didn't get that from Mom, that's for sure! (And now you have a clue of why your little plumbing talk has me so impressed!) Lol.

The mattress in the bedroom was flipped sideways - we all just looked at each other like, "Don't tell me the *raccoon* did all that!" (My BIL & Sister swore it wasn't either one of them.) And there was *nothing* in the closets although there wasn't much there to begin. But not even a bedsheet for the mattress which had been flung in an obvious battle of frivolity.

The ol' church pew my sister just "loved" and "had to have" was still there in the front room. But somebody had somehow pushed it in the opposite direction from the way she'd had it and seemed to be using it to sleep on (maybe as a kneeler asking God how they were going to explain the whole mess if they got caught). They'd also made a fire *on the floor* in the middle of the kitchen and left the ashes and a few charred sticks there to prove it.

We just stood there looking all around. My BIL was smiling. I went room-to-room, and came out and told my sister (since we'd already somewhat made our little verbal agreement), well... *I* think I could do something with it! (I think I can, I think I can!) But I might just need a little help with that hole in the roof! She just looked at me, and her husband ... who'd always up to that point been somewhat of a jokster - and an annoying one at that sometimes - spoke up and said, ...

"Now. I *know* you two made an arrangement or something, then he looked at my sister and said, "... but even *I* wouldn't let your little sister live here and clean up a mess like that!" Lol. We all started laughing knowing that if it hadn't been for the hole in the roof (which he would have had to be the one to fix) that he probably wouldn't have minded me cleaning the rest!

He said he'd have to come back later to pick up the frig and replace the busted windows. Her little investment which she'd planned on being their "retirement cabin on the lake" someday - which was another joke bc the "lake" was more like a scum pond, and it was about 1 1/2 miles away from the cabin which also didn't have easements. She always had to park down a hill and walk up a hill, carting their stuff inside each time they went. Ah - sisters! What a hilarious day that had been. Wouldn't have been so bad had the drive for me not been about 9 hours - one way! Lol.

And they wonder over in the Arkansas threads... where anybody ever came up with the stereotype for "Hillbillies!" Lol.

Paradise lost.

[and the]

Are you a plumber, or just a very capable handyman?

Wish I was a plumber.....Every time I try to handle plumbing, I end up needing to repair several other things that get broke while I'm plumbing.....I guess that's the nature of plumbing in 80 year-old houses though...

[JustT&Me]

Originally Posted by and the

...Every time I try to handle plumbing, I end up needing to repair several other things... I guess that's the nature of plumbing in 80 year-old houses though...

I can imagine! Years ago I cleaned house for a couple who were restoring a Mission style home - very nice. But it seemed almost everytime they identified a "small" project they thought they could "tackle in a weekend", it ended up becoming a 2-3 month deal. I love old homes. I'd be more one to restore them though than to renovate which it seems more ppl are inclined to do. I'm a HWF, clawfoot tub, water radiator, built-in cabinets, ... kind o' gal.

[wordsmith680]

Hey ME t, What is "HWF"?......It must have something to do with the gift of gab! Is "BIL" best interim listener?(oh ! bro in law??) Good story tho.....( No reps to give to ya, I may not get to 50) Do you know how expensive those claw foot tubs are?..... to bad I got rid of 2 that I had.

[and the]

I'm guessing Hard Wood Floors....Steam heat is pretty good if you have an efficient boiler....Kinda rules out an easy central air installation though......

I went to Ft. Wilkins in AZ...It was well over 100 degrees out. But the old government building the museum was in was shaded by trees, had very high ceilins and walls that were about 2 feet thick with brick. They open the windows at night and shut them during the day until late morning and it actually stays pretty bearable.

Yeah, I hate plumbing...especially old galvanized plumbing.....