all season water system page 1

chas

03-24-2004, 08:15 AM

Anyone have a good plan for an all season water system for a seasonal cottage? We want to extend our use of the cottage into the winter, but need to know what the options are. I heard of some kind of piping that won't freeze. Does anyone have any info on this? Much appreciated- Chas

charlie

03-24-2004, 11:12 AM

I'd talk with some good plumbers myself. You are right, there is some kind of system using electricity inside the pipes, I don't know if it vibrates or what. Also I should think that you'd want the pipes to drain back to the lake when not aactually in use.

fatlazyless

03-24-2004, 12:11 PM

www.pyrotenax.com, a subsidy of NH's Tyco, in Ontario makes inside-the black poly vinyl butyl c---- (pvbc) heating systems for use in seasonal or semi seasonal or winterized cottages that can be installed professionally or by the do-it-yourselfer looking for a "money saving project(!)". Gilford Well, which is located in Gilford of all places has freebie give-a-way literature on the Pyrotenax heating systems. An uninstalled do-it-myself system including a 125' x 1 1/4" black high pressure flexible tube, internal heating wire, wall mounted contol box, and underground thermostat control sensor cost aprox $1050. at Gilford Well in 1992. Thirteen years and never a mishap, no problems what-so-ever, a perfect record of water service. One year I forgot to turn on the circuit breaker and the whole tube froze solid but due to its' high presssure design, it did not crack, and by turning on the juice it thawed itself out with no repairs needed. It runs on 220 volts - 3 amps - 88 or 880 watts, cannot remember, and costs less than $40./month even when it is very cold.

The local chipmunks will also be very happy with it.

Non-Voting Taxpayer

03-24-2004, 01:21 PM

Do you have a full cellar?
I have a full cellar that is mostly below ground level except for about three feet and it never goes below 32 degrees in the winter. I don't heat the cellar where my pipes are and have not had any freezing problems in seven years. I obviously do heat the upstairs.

skimmer

03-24-2004, 02:07 PM

Check out this link.

This is the heated poly line you can use year round.

just two things:

(1)
If you loose power it freezes up. Luckily, the line will expand and contract with the ice... but will other parts of your system?

(2)
Its expensive. more than $10/foot. and you need special connectors and adapters.

I like the $30 ice auger to get water from the lake!




heat line (http://www.heatline.com/retrline.htm)

Belmont Resident

03-24-2004, 07:37 PM

Give JRC plumbing of Belmont a call. I believe they can at the very least steer you in the right direction.
Lot of things to consider. How well insullated is the place, where the plumbing is routed through the wall's, etc. A lot of very well built houses that never had problems in the past had them this year.
Good luck

MPC

03-26-2004, 03:51 PM

I have just gone thru my first winter on the lake with "all season water" in a seasonal cottage, and have learned much. I have the pryotech heater running down the line, into the lake. The line has a foot valve, so pipe is always filled. The water pump is under the porch, boxed in and insulated. If I were to do it over I would go with a submerged pump. When not at the house, I drain all the water from the house pipes and the pump, and fill all the traps with glycol. The water lines that go under the house are wrapped with heat tape and insulated.

The big problem I had was the waste pipe freezing. I now have that pipe wrapped in heat tape and insulated (warnings about wrapping waste pipe in heat tape, I only turn it on if I have a problem). When starting up the house I run lots of hot water down the pipe to warm it up, and flush twice!

If you want to talk more about my trials and tribulations e-mail me your phone number.

Gilford Well did my set up, and was very happy with the service.