The House Maintenance
Observation - Detecting a problem - Fix or impruve - Permanent solution
It's very important to create a system that works for us to don't burn ourselves.
Estructures
Leaks
We have to keep on eye on it and twice a year go up to the roof to look if there are broken tiles and to clean of residual organic matter accumulated by the wind.
We have pruned the maximum of pine branches that pass over the house to avoid falling leaves and choke the flow of water causing more leaks. |
Beams
The reasons that has damaged the beams were the leaks and wood worms.
We need to keep the beams as dry as possible as moisture has rotted part of some of them, and consequently leaves those to be more vulnerable and weakened to being attacked by pests. Will be good to once a year apply linseed oil by spraying the beams to protect them from the small invaders. |
Systems
Safety
I feel that the house will never be entirely save, anytime all kind of thieves may come taking any chance to break the door and see what they can get.
Already is been four times that robbers have come to steal during the two years period that we have been, especially vulnerable when we are not at home.
You can make the most resistant door on the world but thieves always find a way to break in. So the best way to protect the house is that someone is here at every time, so thieves will not risk to put themselves in a complicated situation.
This is one reason why we would like to have more people living with us.
Already is been four times that robbers have come to steal during the two years period that we have been, especially vulnerable when we are not at home.
You can make the most resistant door on the world but thieves always find a way to break in. So the best way to protect the house is that someone is here at every time, so thieves will not risk to put themselves in a complicated situation.
This is one reason why we would like to have more people living with us.
Water
For the water that supplies the needs of the house can flow free, clean and safe, we must keep clean gutters from dirt and keep clean the tanks from algae and parasites.
As is our first year we will have to check it regularly and make sure that the water can be stored clean.
As is our first year we will have to check it regularly and make sure that the water can be stored clean.
Energy
Per now we don't have to be worry about the electric maintenance more that take in and out the few solar lamps that we have.
In a future if we have solar panels will be much more investment in the maintenance by buying batteries or having reparations to do.
In a future if we have solar panels will be much more investment in the maintenance by buying batteries or having reparations to do.
Heat
We have to cut and store fire wood trough the summer and let it dry to be ready to use in winter, now I'm cutting by hand all the wood by my self and it's another of this things that takes me energy and free time. To help me with this we have in mind to buy a machine saw in a future. Until now during the fall and winter months I spent an hour each day to cut our daily wood needs.
Maintenance Plan
Bellow you can see the list of some of the things we have to do to keep our home alive. I have clasificated it depending on how many times a week or year it have to be done.
Every day
Twice a week
Once a year
Twice a year
Every day
- Collect and cut fire wood for the winter
- Clean the fire heater
- Take in and out the solar lamps
- some one stay at the house (for safety)
- Compost and recycle our waste
- Feed our pet (pest control)
Twice a week
- Go for drinking water to the spring
- Keep contact with neighbours friends
Once a year
- Clean and repair the roof tales
- Apply linseed oil to the beams
Twice a year
- Clean the gutters and water tanks