Tuesday, December 2, 2008

When you Arrive

• • Turn on water: the valve is just off the street on the cabin side of the water meter and downstream of the hose bib valve. The main shut off valve is partially buried. Turn it all the way on and test that you have water by cracking open the hose bib.

 • • Turn on hot water heater: On the north side of the cabin (driveway side) towards the back is the water heater cabinet. Open the door and then turn the water heater control valve from “Pilot” to “On”. You should hear the flame kick on immediately. If you do not hear the flame, then follow the pilot lighting instructions (you will need the flexible nozzle lighter – in the kitchen hutch, upper right).

 • • Turn on the wall furnace: The wall furnace is inside of the cabin on the north side wall. Remove the bottom cover. Observe the pilot flame through the clear round window. If you see a flame, turn the control valve from “Pilot” to “On”. Turn up the thermostat (located next to all the hats on the west wall) to 60 to 65 degrees. The heater should kick on within 5 minutes. If you do not see the pilot light, then follow the pilot lighting instructions.  

 • • Other Pointers: The key to the down stairs storage is on the Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn plate hanging on the kitchen cabin (it’s the large brass key). The broom is downstairs and it is a cabin tradition to sweep all the decks upon arrival. There should be wood in the wood box and it is a good idea to make a fire and keep it going during cold weather since the fireplace puts out much more heat than the wall furnace. The stereo has speaker selections for “A” for the inside and “B” for the back deck speakers.

When you Leave

Turn off the wall furnace: Turn the valve back to the “Pilot” position.
 

• • Turn off the water heater: Turn the valve back to the “Pilot” position.
 

• • Turn off the water: Turn the shut off valve all the way off and open the hose bib to drain some water. 

 • • The final once over: Check that all perishable food is removed, that the coffee pot and toaster are unplugged, that the overhead fan is turned off, that all lights are turned off, that the thermostat is turned all the way down, that the front window shades are lowered, that the furniture is covered with sheets, that the stereo is off, that the sauna is off and that no children or pets are left behind. Do not leave any garbage behind – bag it up and haul it out. Lock all the doors and leave by the door on the north side making certain the screen door is latched (put the floor mat up against it). Drive home safely.

Tub and Sauna Instructions

Snorkel Stove Instructions

Starting Up the Tub:

 • • Remove the wood covers, set aside out of the way on the deck and drain the tub by pulling up on the thicker rope. The tub will take about a half hour to drain.

 • • From the cabin basement, along the right side wall about 1/3rd of the way into the basement are the tub supplies. Gather together the chlorine, the test strips (in a little plastic bottle), the scrub brush and the foam cover (blue on one side & black on the other). There is also a detailed instruction booklet if you have any questions.

 • • Once the tub is drained, remove any pine needles or leaves by hand and then use the spray nozzle to hose down all of the debris in the tub. Use the scrub brush to give all surfaces a rub down.

 • • Once the tub is clean, fill the tub with the nozzle removed from the hose and turned on full blast. It should take about 40 minutes to fill (380 gallons). Fill the tub to with in a couple of inches of the top.

 • • Once the water level has reached the top of the stove (AND NOT BEFORE!!), you can light the fire. Use newspaper and kindling to get it started and once you have the fire established, fill the firebox with wood. The heavy metal cover, which can be lifted off to drop wood into the firebox, also slides back and forth to control the amount of air feeding the fire. Once the fire is going, side the cover so that it is almost closed (leave about a 2 inch gap – see picture on next page). If the fire starts to die out, you have slid it too far. If you see flames coming out of the fire box you have not closed it enough. 

 • • Turn the filter pump on. The switch is next to the two ropes and just under the end of the deck. You should hear the pump kick on and see the water start to move in the tub.

 • • Add about 2 to 3 tablespoons of chlorine. Wait for 15 minutes and test. You should have 3 to 5 ppm. If you are low, add more chlorine and wait another 15 minutes. Continue as necessary – see instructions on the chlorine bottle if you any questions.

• • Depending on the outside temperature and the starting water temperature, the tub will take anywhere from 1 ½ hours to 2 ½ hours to reach temperature. Check the fire occasionally and add wood to maintain a strong fire. When the tub reaches about 90 degrees back off on adding much more wood. Ideal temperature for bathing is 100 to 104 degrees. If the tub is too hot, you can cool it down by adding cold water.

 • • SHOWER BEFORE YOU ENTER THE TUB.

• • You can shut the filter off while in the tub – in fact, the filter pump is only needed when the tub water appears cloudy or when adding chlorine. 

 • • If there are several people in the tub, some water will spill over the top. Make certain to add water when you get out so that the stove is always covered.

 • • Once finished bathing, place the foam cover over the tub (you do not need to replace the wood covers unless you are finished for good with the tub). The tub will maintain much of its heat the following day.

 • • Before entering the tub on a following day, turn on the filter pump, check the chlorine level and add more chlorine as necessary, and start a new fire (much smaller this time) to get it back up to temperature.


 • Shutting Down the Tub:

 • • With the filter pump on, add about 2 to 3 tablespoons of chlorine.

 • • Replace the wood covers.

 • • Slide the firebox cover completely closed.

 • • Shut off the filter pump.

 • • Return all of the tub supplies to the cabin basement.

Sauna Instructions:

Just outside the Sauna, turn the dial to “10” and set the timer for 60 minutes. The Sauna takes about 30 to 40 minutes to reach temperature. A good sauna temp starts at around 180 degrees up to just over 200 degrees. The proper technique is to sit in the sauna until you start to sweat. Once you are covered with sweat, take a cold shower and then return to the sauna. Let you skin dry off and then return to a full sweat again. At this stage you can sprinkle some water (not too much!) on the rocks. When the steam hits you it will feel like the temperature has jumped but in fact the temperature has dropped – all you have done is increase the relative temperature by increasing the humidity. Take a final cold shower and then rest for at least 30 minutes. 

 • on, add about 2 to 3 tablespoons of chlorine.

 • • Replace the wood covers.

 • • Slide the firebox cover completely closed.

 • • Shut off the filter pump.

 • • Return all of the tub supplies to the cabin basement.