Die machine

Most of the progress in the past month has been advancing the mechanical systems:  plumbing, heating and electrical.

Temporary light fixtures in the ceiling.

Now we can work around the clock.

The crawlspace is filling up.  The heavy black pipes drain the plumbing.  Thin white tubes carry water.  Squared silver ducting feeds the heating system.  And the thinner round silver ducts vent the building through an HRV (heat recovery ventilation unit).

Woven pipes and ducts.

Now that the municipal water system has been turned off for the winter, the pump on the right is drawing our water stored nine feet underground in a concrete cistern where the frost can't get at it.  We have hot water now too from the tank on the left.

This electric furnace is our primary heat source.  There is also a backup baseboard heater in the crawlspace. 

This HRV draws fresh air into the building and pushes the stale air out.  During this circulation it transfers heat from the outgoing air to the colder air coming in.  It also effects changes to the humidity in the building when the relative humidity is drier outside. 

The HRV is drawing air from these intakes in the walls of the laundry room, bathroom and library.

This pipe houses the main electrical line that was trenched under the ground outside.  Here it comes into the crawlspace and runs straight up to the main electrical panel.  It may not look like much, but it is a big deal to us because when it was first installed it was attached to the outside of the building where a two meter length of ugly grey pipe was visible.  To relocate it, I dug under the footing so the electrician could reroute it. 

Here is the same pipe running up to the panel whereas before it came through the wall to the back of the panel.  The little grey box is the security system control.  It will monitor motion detectors and door openings but it will also signal temperature drops in the building so we don't get damage if the heat cuts out while we are not there.

Sunsets are now much further south.  That's okay because with heat, lights, hot water and plumbing, we are ready for winter.