With the nights and mornings getting very chilly it seems even more imperative that we pick up the pace with regards to getting the White House January ready! To that end we spent last week winterizing the water supply. We have a little over 40 feet from the well to the back corner of the cabin and another 30 feet underneath the cabin before the water comes inside; keeping in mind that whatever we did would have to withstand the spring flood.

The plan was to trickle tape (tape with an electrical charge for heating), wrap and protect the line from the well to under the cabin, trickle tape and insulate the line under the cabin and raise it off the ground. Once inside the pump shed we will split the water lines and run them inside the cabin to prevent freezing and damage from fast moving water! Skirt the cabin with easily removable panels and insulate the pump shed – also where the water heater is located.

Too good men, one crazy lady and a week later the outside portion of the plan is complete – now we wait to see if our plan passes the test!

Papa got the pump shed insulated, didn’t take too long, but very warm in there

wrapping insulation around the water pipe in the trench Jim dug

water line taped, wrapped and in pvc from the well to the cabin

cutting skirt panels – Papa did most of this back breaking work by himself – nothing here is straight or level, so each panel had to measured many places in order to fit. While Papa was doing most of this Jim and I were under the house taping and wrapping the water line

Papa and Jim examining a cut

Skirting

Water line being buried and skirting painted

finished skirting – skirting is fastened with a few large bolts that will be easily removed when temperatures begin to rise in the spring

Should have new grass growing in a few days