Toller wrote:


It is a big chore to shut off the water, and then I am without water until
next Spring.

Just winterized my place in Flagstaff last weekend for the first time
this season. Nighttime temps have started dipping down below freezing,
and not sure what the weather will be like before the next time we get
back. We usually get up there 5 or 6 times during the winter, and it
doesn't seem like a very big deal to winterize each time.

I usually budget about 1/2 hour, and it's not all downtime because I'm
doing other things at the same time. Usually goes something like this:
Turn off water heater (learned the hard way it's very important to do
this first), shut off the water at the street, hook compressor to
outside hose bib, open water heater drain and let the compressor blow
the water out. Usually this takes long enough that I can turn off the
furnace, close the propane, and load the car while waiting. When the
water heater's empty, go through the house blowing out the faucets and
toilets. Pour antifreeze in the drains and the toilets, put the
compressor back in the shed, and I'm ready to go.

Been doing that for 6 years now, only had 2 problems, both my fault.
One time, forgot to blow out the supply pipes to the washing machine
(outside on the rear deck), had a nice split in the copper pipe when I
turned the water back on. Other time, as I mentioned above, forgot to
turn off the water heater before winterizing, burned out both elements.
Kind of amused the plumber who came out to repair the water heater - it
had been installed with both access panels facing the side wall of a
kitchen cabinet base, about 2 inches away, only way to change the
elements was to bring out the Sawzall and cut a couple of holes in the
side of the cabinet base, patch them up later. Oh, and he had to drive
back to town (a 40 mile round trip) because he didn't have the right
element for our heater in his truck. These are the kind of lessons that
stick with you, I have never made either of those mistakes again.

After the first winter, I have gotten to the point where I don't think
it's a big deal to winterize. But, that's my cabin. Is there something
about yours that makes it more complicated?

Jerry