Regular maintenance is important

UV systems, filters, reverse osmosis units, water conditioners etc. need to be maintained as per manufacturer’s guidelines. Recently I’ve had a few calls from new residents who were told by “a friend” that as long as the green LED indicator was lit, the UV disinfection lamp was still good. That is true, only if the UV lamp has been changed yearly, and the quartz sleeve removed, inspected and cleaned. No matter the brand, UV lamps need to be replaced every 9000 hours (i.e. a year) as lamp life intensity drops continuously after that time to the point of offering little or no germicidal radiation. Check on your filters and change as needed. (Typical households need to change filters 2 – 6 times per year.)

Rainwater collection system ready for cold weather?

With about a metre of rain falling on Gabriola during the winter months, this is the time to make hay for rainwater harvesting. Check to make sure your cisterns are clean and vents are screened, gutters are cleaned and collection piping is connected. Ensure your pumphouse, exposed collection and distribution pipes are insulated and protected from rain and cold. If your rain collection pipes are a wet-system (i.e. a portion of the pipe always holds water), you will need to watch the thermometer and drain out the exposed wet pipe, before sub-zero weather hits or it may freeze and crack.