Overview
Four kinds of heaters exist in the home: whole-home furnaces, fireplace, propane stoves, cadet heaters.

Main Level and Basement Furnace

The main furnace provides heat for the main (middle) floor was well as the basement. The thermostat is located on the wall across the from the kitchen island. It is set at 'permanent hold', which means whatever it is set at, it will maintain that temperature until someone changes it. Generally, when away from the home, the furnace heat should be set to 52 deg. When occupied, 68-70 is more than sufficient. Even at that setting, the basement has a tendency to warm up excessively. We recommend turning the temp down just a bit before bedtime. When arriving, the heat should be turned up to the 68-70 deg temp. It only takes about 20-30 minutes for the cabin to arrive at a comfortable temperature. When departing, it is imperative that the temperatures be lowered back to 52 deg. Otherwise, the propane consumption becomes costly and there are times in the winter where getting more propane is difficult. Conversely, do not turn off the heat altogether. This is harmful to the home if the temperature is allowed to fall to freezing levels or beyond.

Upper Floor Furnace

The top floor has its own furnace. The thermostat is located on the wall, close to the landing seating. Like the main floor thermostat, it is on permanent temperature hold. When the home is empty (vacated) it should be set at 52 deg. When present, it may usually be set to 65-68 degrees. This is less than the main floor because the upper floor does not need a lot of heat because the heat from the main floor rises to warm most of the second floor. However, if the bedrooms are too cold, then the upper floor temperature should be increased. It is not uncommon for the upper floor temperature to naturally rise above its thermostat setting simply due to rising heat from the main floor. When arriving, you may want to turn the upper floor heat up, but when departing, it is imperative that the upper floor temperature be returned to 52 degrees.

Family Room Fireplace

The fireplace in the main living room is propane and is controlled by a digital thermostat on the wall to the right. It is kept at 52 degrees (not off). To use the fireplace, simply punch up the temperature to about 70-72 degrees or until the fire starts. Turn it back down to 52 degrees when sleeping and certainly when departing the home. When the fireplace is used, the upper floor accumulates heat very quickly. So, when the upper floor’s temperature is undesirable, it is often the fireplace in the living room that is causing the problem. It should be lowered.

Propane Stoves

Two propane stoves exist in the home. One is the master bedroom and one is located in the media/family area of the basement. These are controlled by analog thermostats on the wall. These stoves are mostly for ambiance but do heat up an area significantly. We recommend they only be used when in the room. The thermostats have a manual slider. If left all the way to the left (low temp), the heaters turn off. To turn on, simply slide to the right to about 70 deg or until they turn on. These must not be left on at night when sleeping. They are the most risky and costly form of heat in the home and special care must be taken not to leave them on when not in the room. Certainly, they are the most important consideration when departing the home. Double check to ensure they are both turned off by sliding the control levers all the way to the left (low temp side). We highly recommend they not be used accept in rare, very cold conditions.

Cadet Heaters

These are found mostly in bathrooms and in the mud room near the laundry room. They are not very effective and are costly to use. They take too long, for instance, to heat up sufficiently when taking a shower or using the restroom. And if these heaters are left on accidentallym, they consume massive power when forgotten for long periods of time. We recommend avoiding their use. But, if desired, only us them when in the bathroom and turn off when finished. Double check these units before vacating the home. There are 4 of them in various bathrooms and 1 in the mud room.

Garage Heat

There is a garage heater mounted on the ceiling. It is operated from the breaker box in the garage. Please do not use garage heat. It is very inefficient and too easily left on, which is very costly.

General Lighting Information

There is an excessive amount of lighting in the home. When not occupied, the entire home must be scanned for lights left on and all should be turned off. As a point of interest, there are 242 lights controlled by 106 light switches.

Light Switches

In may cases, lights have two or three switches (and sometimes 4) that operate the same set of lights. Consequently, when preparing the house for departure and turning off lights, one cannot simply look at switch positions to determine if the light is on or off – one must look at the light itself to ensure it is turned off. When dark, it is obvious, but in the daytime, it requires careful observation.

Lamp Light

Most rooms in the home are wired for lamps, which are controlled by a wall switch. Consequently, this can make the use of wall outlets a bit confusing. In rooms, most the top plugs at each outlet are wired to a switch, which when off, disrupts power to that outlet. It is easy, for instance, to plug your phone charger into the top plug on an outlet, not realizing that when you turn the room lamps off at bedtime, you inadvertantly discontinue charing your device. To keep something powered from an outlet continuously, utilize the bottom plug from outlets. Otherwise try not to turn off lamps at the lamp - use the wall switch instread.

Door Locks

Double check to ensure all exterior doors our deadbolted before leaving. There are two front doors (main and garage), and two garage doors into the mud room and laundry room. Three doors lead to the deck, and one door in the master bedroom that leads to its own deck. About eight doors in total.

Keys

If a key is forgotten, there is a lockbox on the front porch, mounted to the wall in the corner. Contact the owners for access.

Garage Door Openers

If you find garage door openers, please do not use them. They are too easily left in cars and lost forever. Simply use the buttons on the garage wall to open and close garages.

Food Outside

Do not leave even the smallest morsal of food on the deck or outside anywhere. There are bears in the area, including grizzlies, and when they find food, they return more often because they begin thinking our home is a good source for food. As lovely as that sounds, we choose not to share our deck with bears. Neighbors report that even empty soda cans left outside can draw them in. When grilling, the grill should be moved into the garage to avoid waking up to a bear on your deck. Also, be careful not the leave food items near the firepit when roasting hotdogs, marshmallows, etc.

Bears and Bear Spray

There are bears in the area. Mostly, there are black bears that are afraid of humans and will likely head the other way when they know you are around. However, during spring and summer, when cubs are out with their mother, bears can be aggressive. When taking a walk outside, or waking the path to the creek, please take a bear spray belt found in the mud or laundry room. There is also a bell on the belt. Black bears hear the bell and usually go the opposite direction. If you discharge any bear spray from on the cannisters, please leave $40 for replacement. Do not discharge them for fun or casually. There are guidelines for using bear spray on the internet. Please familiarize yourself with how to remove the safety cap quickly and where to point the spray when a bear is advancing.

If you see a grizzly bear, you are supposed to contact fish and game and report it. They keep track of their location and sometimes must intervene to reposition them when they become dangerous to a population. This has happened before in our neighborhood.

Moose

Moose are also in the area. They are fun and pleasurableto watch but do so from a distance. The seem docile, but can turn on you instantly. The are fast, heavy and very likely to injure you if too close, especially in the spring and summer when they have offspring. You may seem right off the back deck in the morning.

Other Wildlife

Watch for foxes, mountain lions, elk, deer, owls, eagles, and mink.

Fishing

Fishing can be done from Robinson Creek, which is on the lower edge of our property. Our property goes to the water’s edge but the creek itself is public domain. This means you can walk up and down the creek or its banks freely. Even though you are technically on the other people's land when walking along the banks, there is a 50-foot allowance for owners and guests to traverse the property of others near the creek, as long as you stay within 50 foot of the creek. And, you can fish. However, it does require a fishing license.

Path to the Creek

Fishing can be done from Robinson Creek, which is on the lower edge of our property. There is a pathway to the creek that requires some agility to traverse. Generally, there are rail-road-tie stairs to help, but the pathway varies and requires extra attention. At one place, the pathway traverses a rock field that requires balance and agility to manage. The pathway is not ideal for very small children or aging adults with balance problems.

There are however, several beautiful stops along the path and afford sweeping views of Robinson Creek. Keep in mind that wildlife, such as bears and moose, are prone to use those paths to move up and down the hillside, so be watchful. It is a difficult place from which to flee quickly so keep an eye on your pathway forward and watch for dangers and wildlife as you make your way.

ATVs and Snowmobiles

The neighborhood does not allow ATV recreational use withing the boundaries of neighborhood. They do allow use for ingress and egress, meaning you are using the roads to get outside the neighborhood or back to your home. But travel slowly and as quietly as possible. Keep speeds and engine sounds down.

Trash in General

All trash should leave with you, no matter how smelly or gross. Please remove from the property and discard elsewhere. We do not use trash pick up service as it is too intermittent and attracts bears until picked up.

Inside Garbage

Food (only food) should be discarded in the trashcan under the sink while empty cans, paper trash, etc., should be discarded in the large black metal can at the end of the counter. Food should NOT be discarded down the sink. A few bits can go through the garbage disposal, but because we have a spetic system, we ask that you be gentle with our drains - most food should be scraped into the garbage can under the sink and then removed frequently from the property.

Well Water

We have a well. This means we try to be conservative with water use. To help with that, the house has a heat circulator pump so that when a hot water faucet is turned on, the hot water comes out immediately. This is to help avoid leaving the water running for long periods until hot water comes.

Septic System

Be gentle with our septic system by only using the provided toilet tissue and use it as sparingly as possible. Please do not put feminine products or flushable wipes into the toilet. They should be discarded into trash receptacles and removed in a timely manner as needed.

Neighborhood Gate Access

There is a keypad at the main gate to get into the neighborhood. Get the code from the owners. Do not use the code after your visit to enter the neighborhood anytime you want. Such activity can cause the owner's code to be revoked. Do not share the code with others. It is the owner's special code and they feel obligated and desirous to protect the privacy and seclusion of the neighborhood and their fellow neighbors.

Driveway Gate

We normally keep the gate to our driveway open. However, if closed, we don’t usually lock it and it can be opened manually. If found closed, close it when you leave. If found open when you arrive, then let it stay open when you leave.