When you arrive we try to have an at least partialy full propane tank connected to the grill. We also have a full tank available that can be swapped out if the first one runs out. In a normal situation you should always have at least one full tank available, usually more. There is a gauge on the tank that will show how much propane is left. If the happens to be empty, we normally have a spare tank available for you. Please contact us to find out where it is located.
If there has been what we call a quick turn-around (the previous guests left the same day you arrive) they may have left an empty tank in the grill and we haven’t been able to change it out. Again, please let us know.
If you use up all the propane (both tanks) during your stay, you can refill the tanks at Lowe’s for $20.
As we mentioned previously, we have sensors on the doors to detect if they are being opened, and the thermostat will then turn off the air conditioning in order to avoid wasting electricity. Unfortunately one of the sensors was damaged recently, and we have disabled the automatic turn-off of the air conditioning. So we ask our guests to make sure you close all doors as quickly as possible and don’t leave them (or any windows) open while it is warmer outside than inside.
We have also added an additional air vent in the upstairs TV room. This should cool down that room faster. If you keep the door to the bathroom open it will help cool that room as well.
We have an electric boat lift on our dock so you can bring your own boat while you stay at Sunny Mornings. A few weeks ago it broke, and we had to get the GFI (Ground Fault Interrupter, also known as GFCI) replaced. The lift is now working, but we realized that we should explain a little bit more about how it works.
Ground Fault Interrupter on dock
The electrical power to the lift as well as to the lights on the dock goes through a conduit along the side of the dock. On the land side of the dock, on the concrete wall of the old boat house, you find a GFI and two electrical outlets under a protective cover. If the orange light is on, the GFI has tripped and there is no power to the dock. Press the reset button and you should head an audiable click and the light should go off. Please do not use the switch to the left of it.
On the dock there is a handle that regulates the lift (marked up – off – down). There is also another handle switch that turns on and off the overhead lights. It is located high on one of the horizontal beams. The light at the end of the dock has a light sensor and comes on at dusk and turn off at dawn.
As mentioned in an earlier post, we have several systems in place to handle the cooling. In the past we have had renters who left the doors open with the air conditioning running full blast. Not only does that use (and waste) enormous amounts of electricity, it can also cause the air conditioning unit to work so hard that it will actually freeze up.
Open/Closed sensor similar to the ones installed at Sunny Mornings
To prevent this we have installed sensors on the doors that will detect if they are opened. After a pre-determined time period (currently 1 minute) the thermostat is automatically turning off the cooling until the doors are closed again. However if the doors are left open for an extended time the air conditioner have to work really hard trying to cool down the house again, and it can take some time, or even cause the system to freeze up.
It is important to note that setting the thermostat to a lower temperature will not cool down the house faster. The system will cool down the air at a fixed speed, the only thing the thermostat is doing is to stop the cooling process when the target temperature has been reached. If you set the temperature too low, the air conditioner will never reach the target temperature and the system will continue to attempt to cool. So please set the target temperature to a reasonable level. Take in consideration that this is an older house with less insulation as well as big windows facing the lake.
Most air conditioners are not designed/able to lower the temperature more than about 20 degrees. So don’t expect to be able to keep the temperature inside at 70 degrees when it is 100 degrees outside, especially if the doors are being opened and closed constantly.
If the detectors at the door are ripped off, damaged or removed, the computerized system will think the door is open, and the thermostat will keep the air conditioner turned off. If this happens, contact the us at once.
There are also several fans, including a powerful vortex fan in the living room. It will help circulate the air and help cool down the living room area.
So to keep the house as cool as possible:
- keep the doors open only short times to keep cold air inside
- try to reduce the times doors are opened as much as you can
- make sure the doors are fully closed and sensors not damaged
- use the fans to circulate the air to help cool air reach warm areas
- don’t over-extend the air conditioning to avoid it freezing up
By following these tips, you will have a nice and comfortable stay at Sunny Mornings!