Hints & Tips

• Winter Water Supply
  (Anonymous Tip) Try using a submersible pump installed in the river to pump water up to the cottage in the winter. The key here is that the water is pumped up when you turn on the power. You then fill your 5 gal buckets until you think you have enough. When you turn the power off, the water drops back into the river - no standing water in the lines - no frozen burst lines! Just think of the unexpected "dips" into the river you will miss out on those cold frozen nights when you need to flush....
  
  Ideally you should bury the water (and power) line 3-4' so it is below the frost line. Buy a good submersible pump with the proper lift rating. Make sure it does NOT have a foot valve!
  
  
• Winterize Water Lines
  Reiner Worerman (Colony Rd) suggests using a compressor to blow out the water from cottage lines. This prevents water standing in "dips" of your plumbing. 
  
  Steven Manzer (Previously of Colony Rd) suggests that after you blow the lines out, add plumbers antifreeze with a funnel into the water lines. Then blow this through, until you see the reddish colored liquid blow out through the opened taps. Remember to leave all your taps open.
  

• Extend Woodstove Heat
  Ok, now you have your nice woodstove...and its 90 degrees in the family room, but only 50 degrees everywhere else.  Here is a simple tip: Go to the build all store and buy a thru wall fan.  Mount it close to the ceiling for maximum heat movement.  These fans mount between 16" on center studs.  Either wire it up to a switch (may have to mess up the dry wall), or just plug it in to a socket.   An inline switch can be purchased for a couple of dollars to make it easier.  
  
  Now when its too hot in the family room, turn on the fan and the hot air from the family room will be exhausted to the other rooms.  Ideally your fan should have a shroud to direct the head down to the floor.  This is a fairly cheap way to move your heat without ducts!
  
  
• Dock Basics
  The Muskoka River can fluctuate four or more feet in a very short time. The summer of 2000 destroyed many docks and carried away many unsecured items. Always make sure you have your dock secured with an anchor in addition to its "normal" fastening to the shore. That way it will still be there when you come back after a flood. When you design your dock consider the water at it highest point. Use a floating platform, connected with a hinged ramp to a solid base. Use hurricane clips and large (10" minimum) sonotubes with concrete to secure the base. Insert Eye bolts in to the wet concrete so you can tie the wooden members to the wood (in addition to the saddles).
  
  There is a very good dock primer manual available at Dock Primer.

• Emergency Tie Down Post
  If you have the room, it may be a good idea to either sink a sonotube with some sort of eye, or just hammer in a steel peg close to shore. Keep a rope near this emergency tie up. Should there ever be a flood, you will have someplace to quickly tie up a runaway boat until you can safely dock it.
  
  
• Emergency Phone Numbers
  Since you are reading this you obviously have a computer. Steven Manzer (Previously of Colony Rd) suggests using your computer to store all your phone numbers. Now here are two neat ideas:
  
  1) After sorting the names, use color so you can quickly find the number by category. Suggestions are Red for emergency numbers, Green for cottage, Black for Home. Don't forget the fast food category ;-)
  
  2) Print one copy out and stick it to your fridge. Print one (or more) copies for your purse/wallet. Use packing tape on the side that is printed to protect the printing from damage. The back is left without tape. Now you always have your phone numbers with you, and a place to add new numbers when you meet a new friend!
  

Please note that these are only suggestions or ideas by local area residences.  Please check with local building codes to ensure that all suggestions are legal and safe.  If you are unsure, please consult a professional installer or the local building department (Bracebridge).

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