Daughter is currently fulltiming in our FR TT on our property. So far, so good...thanks for the info on the Progressive EMS. Pretty sure it saved her electronics during a spectacular thunderstorm this summer. The Flojet macerator is a godsend. So happy to put the stinky slinky to bed for now. In case anyone is interested it pumps on level surface 70' with garden hose, slowly. We made sure there was plenty of water in the system before starting and flushed with grey, then plenty of clean water. Takes a while but it was a beautiful thing!
Next issue is going to be wintering over...interested in hearing from others who have done this. In northern NV we have winter, but nothing like the upper Midwest or back East. Nights are cold (usually not under 0, but it has happened) but days are usually sunny and above freezing. We get snow, sometimes heavy and wet, but it typically melts the next day. We aim to keep the TT around 50 degrees when she is not home, and whatever she wants to crank it to in the evening for a few hours. She sleeps with an electric blanket and she purchased an oil filled radiator heater that kept it toasty warm on some 20 degree nights last Spring. We have since added R-10 rigid foam board insulation to skirt the bottom.
1) How do you winterize the outside shower? No one is ever going to use that thing (what a waste!) and what a pain for the winter. Is there a way to permanently isolate it from the plumbing system with a shut off valve?
2) Since the TT will be reasonably warm, and she will disconnect from city water for the winter (she can run in the house to shower and use bottled water) my husband figures he should bypass and winterize the water heater that has never been turned on by any of us.
3) Open all the low point drains and blow out the lines.
4) We have in her previous fulltiming experience, left the toilet alone and she has continued to use it without problems, but no showers or faucets running. Anyone see a problem? In the past we would just empty her black tank monthly pouring plenty of water down the toilet to rinse at the end since the grey tanks were dry.
5) What about the slide out? We've never had one before. Should we slide it in for the winter? Is 6" of snow on the top going to hurt it? Can we slide it in with the threat of heavy snow or are they less reliable in the cold?
Have to admit that having her fulltime in the TT has made multi-generational living on our property enjoyable. She has her space and we have ours. And come to find out that 5 others in her social circle are doing the same thing. The cost of rent or purchasing a house is out of reach for most college grads these days, even without student loan debt. The cheapest 1 bed rent where they had an available unit was $1200/month. And then out-bid 5 times on condo/ starter home offers by folks with all cash. So for now, a tiny house it is!
Linear Mode
