Water
Water
Cabin water is supplied from a 1,100 gallon tank on the mountain to the east of the cabin. Water is generally left on during the summer months. The only task is usually to check the tank status as needed during your stay.
Water Tank Inspection
At least one inspection of the tank is advised early during a visit. The purpose of this inspection is to check the tank for level and for algae growth. Hike up the mountain behind/east of the cabin to find the tank next to a pine tree. Remove the blank lid and inspect the water both visually and by smell. If the tank smells "swampy" or has visible algae growth, add 1/8 cup chlorine granules per 500 gallons water. The chlorine granules are in the shelfs in the great room between the stove and the door.
If the water level is below 300 gallons, then a refill trip should be planned soon. Typically a person will use 25-35 gallons of water a day, including a shower. Plan accordingly.
Water Heater
The propane water heater is in a closet in the loft at the top of the stairs. It is left on during the summer. If there are issues with hot water, check according the instructions on the heater.
If the cabin runs out of water or the water is shut off, the water heater should be turned off according to the instructions on the heater.
Filling the Tank
There are three 1,000 liter totes at the cabin for transporting water from Price, UT. The water is at a dispenser on the north east corner of S Fairground Road and S Fairground Way. It is coin vending. $0.25 will buy about 100 gallons of water. $0.75 will fill a tote, which will weigh approximately 2,500 lbs. You will need to large orange RV hose from the shed to fill a tote.
Water is pumped up the mountain to the tank using the large black pump in the shed. The pump is connected to the pex at the south east corner of the shed, and to a tote using fittings in the shed. Two the totes will require a black 2" coarse buttress thread to 2" white NPT male adapter, while the third can connect directly to the white 2" NPT thread. Black 1" ABS pipe is used to connect the tote to the pump. Extension cords are in the shed and garage to run power. Plug into a garage outlet.
The pump must be primed before it is started. If there is water in the tank on the mountain, you can merely open the valve on the PEX (handle is stored in the shed) and the valve on the tote. The water pressure from the tank will force air through the pump and into the tote. Once the bubbles/gurgling in the tank stops, connect the pump to power to start pumping. If the tank on the mountain is empty, open both the pex and tote valves, them remove the square headed bolt on the front/top of the pump. Air will come out, pressured by the tote. Once water comes from the hole, replace the square heded bolt and start the pump.
The pump has a pressure switch built in. Sometimes it will begin to cycle on/off quickly. Disconnect power, then reconnect to stop this cycle.
It will take 20-25 minutes to empty a full tote. The pump should be monitored the entire time. There are frequently odd issues to address. Listen of the sound of the pump to change to alert you to an issue. Once the tote has less than 100 liters of water you can prop up the back with a rock to help empty it completely. When you hear air start to enter the line, disconnect the pump, and quickly close the pex valve. Move the fittings and ABS pipe to the next tote and repeat. Note that if the tank had more than 200 gallons, it will not hold three full totes of water.
When pumping is complete, disconnect and drain the pump and return all fittings, hoses, etc to their original locations.
The Fall "Drain"
Once October has arrived, you are in danger of having the water line from the tank freeze. It is time to drain the tank and prepare for winter.
Start by placing two totes in the garage, stacked. They will fit next to shelves, between the garage door tracks and the shelves. Place them far enough back to not block the door.
Turn off the water heater by following the directions on the heater. Next, connect a hose to the water heater drain, and run the hose to the bottom tote. Open the water heater drain valve and let water drain into the totes in the garage. Hopefully there will be enough water to fill both totes completely. Generally we use about 1,000-1,200 liters of water during the winter visits, so two totes is ample.
Once the totes are full, close the drain on the water heater and open several faucets in the cabin. Next, open the PEX valve next to the shed and let the tank fully drain. During this time you will hear air being drawn into the faucets open in the cabin. Open each faucet in turn to help clear the lines.
After the tank empty, re-open the water heater drain to drain the remaining water from the water heater tank. Keep a hot water faucet open to prevent a vacuum from forming. When empty, close the water heater drain valve, disconnect the hose and carefully drain the hose.
Winter Water
Toilets and drains can be used as normal during visits during the winter, but the toilet water closets have to filled manually from a jug after each flush. There are a number of blue 2.5 gallon jugs for this purpose. During the winter 3-4 are kept full in each bathroom for this purpose
Blue jugs are filled with water from the totes in the garage. There are fittings and small section of hose to facilitate this process in the shed if they are not already connected to a tote. Please ensure the short section of hose is drained before leaving. While the totes will not freeze, any water left in the hose will.
When leaving the cabin, flush the toilets by holding the handle down until the water closet is completely drained. Put 8 oz of pink RV antifreeze in each sink/tub drain that was used, in each toilet bowl and in each water closet. Check to ensure sufficient RV antifreeze is available before using sinks/toilets.
I Like Water!
