Sunday, April 15, 2012

New Water Tank, Gas Lines, Heater

All our snow was just about gone because of warm spring weather, but we got a good little blast of snow the other day. I like it. It will make things nice and slimy and prolong the work life from getting busy for a little longer. Things were actually starting to get pretty dry out there.
I spent $200.00 on fire extinquishers the other day. One for my rental unit, one for the garage, and one for each floor of the house. Thats 5 extinquishers. I guess, just knowing that soon there will be real propane flowing through the gas lines, and also getting closer to playing with electricity, I just thought maybe I should have a fire extinguisher in the area.
I was pretty busy today with all the gas lines. Just getting them all to fit and all that. I still have to take them all apart and apply teflons tape or pipe dope and tighten things up. Just wanted to see what it all looks like before I make it too permanent.
I also hung the north heater. This is the second one I installed. Still gotta install the vent system for this one. These babies are meant to be more of a backup heat system if I am away for longer periods of time in colder weather. They are probably not the most energy efficient heat source that one could be running, but it is nice to have them there in case. I'll be doing alot of experimenting with the heating systems next winter. (I hope). lol.
I bought a new 81 gallon water pressure tank. $450. I have been looking at this tank for quite some time now while trying to find a better deal. It'll work, but now I want to buy another one just like it. The more the pressurized water storage, the less the pump cycles. And this way, I can wait till the sun is shining then hit the water pump switch to stock up for the evenings. I have tanks of different sizes that I want to have in the system and as far as I know it should all work together, but it is possible that it could cause some problems that may need to be ironed out. We'll see, I guess.
So I am still kinda trying to get myself all back into the groove of things again. I'm going to get a bunch more supplies in town tomorrow, and then I just might go to work a little later on at the pay job just to try and get that all over with. Still got a little catching up on truck and trailers.


Disclaimer--IMPORTANT


This is a personal blog, mainly for my own use. I am building a house with my own two hands, but I am learning alot of things as I go. I do not claim to know what I am doing, or if anything I do is even close to being done correctly or safely. So please, if you are planning on using any of my ideas or methods for your own use, please get professional advice before actually following through with your actions. I will not be held responsible for any injuries or damages of any kind caused by information or comments from this blog.

16 comments:

  1. Hi Mark - I live part-time off the grid in a float cabin on Powell Lake in BC. I would be there full time, except I am dealing with some family obligations right now. We have a small solar system for a few lights and recharging cell phones, computers, etc. We also have a wind generator, but where we are it mostly works only during storms. Propane gives us our refrigerator, stove and more lighting. Heat is from our wood stove. The cabin is about 675 square feet including a loft and a new bathroom addition with a compost toilet. We are water access only, about 25 minutes up the lake. All our supplies and propane have to come up by boat. It is a wonderful way to live. Sounds like you have land based version of what we are trying to do. - Margy

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  2. Hey Margy nice to hear from you. Interesting blog too. I'll have to check it out some more yet. Sounds like you're living the life. I don't know about you, but I love this off grid way of life and seeing others such as your self doing it too. Thanks for the visit.

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  3. I just found your blog - very inspiring!

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  4. Thanks Carol. I flicked through your blog and found it to be pretty interesting too.

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  5. Canada, heat, hot water.... life is good and will soon be better! :) I just went in and painted a three bedroom house.... and i'm soooo tired of painting. I can't imagine having to install the walls and all else that goes into building a house before you even get to the painting part... I'm sure the closer you get the happier you are. :)

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  6. Every little thing that gets done makes me a little happier Lynnanne. It's all good. I plan on being in the house before winter, but, I would be willing to bet big bucks that it won't be completed when I move in. I can't wait till I'm painting walls. Not that I like painting a whole bunch, but I still can't wait. Kinda sounds like you like Canada. It's kinda cold here sometimes but I like it.

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  7. I'd like to think I like Canada. :) My dad used to make a trip up there every year to fish and he loved it.... I've never been. I'm hoping / planning on being there next winter for a week. I CAN'T WAIT!!! I just bought some snow shoes to take along. lol I'm good with cold and snow so long as I don't HAVE to go out in it... I like it to be by choice. But I love winter wildlife watching. :)

    Here's to getting to the paint job soon!

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  8. I think you would like Canada Lynnanne. I never did get real serious about snow shoing, but I did tie 2x4's to my feet one day to check out the acerage here before I moved in. It did'nt work very well for me, but it was better than nothing I guess. Yes, hopefully the paint job soon.

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  9. 2x4s? That's classic. What? No photos? lol

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  10. Lol. I don't think I have a picture of me actually on the boards, cuz my dog did'nt know how to run the camera back then. But I do have a post.

    http://simpleplansimpleplan.blogspot.ca/2009/04/my-exercise-for-month.html

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    1. Lynnanne, I do remember back then too. I was seriously considering buying some snow shoes after this day. lol. Maybe I'll purchase a set some day.

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  11. Yeah, looks like it'd be a wise purchase... if for no other reason, to get to your beer cooler. lol great story... love the pic of the broken 2x4.... and... have you checked the replies on that link you sent? lol

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  12. Ya, I just did. lol. I deleted that one advertisement. Just so happens that I don't need that product, not yet anyway.

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  13. yeah, well.....always good to have a back-up plan, i guess. lol

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  14. Installing back up heat systems is always a wise decision for the home especially when the central heating system happens to fail. You could also check further information regarding heaters at websites such as www.heater.com.

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