Heating System
Heat in the dome is provided by a hot water radiant floor heating system that can take many hours (or even days) to respond. In other words, when you change the thermostat, you won’t feel the effects for a while!
Thermostats are located (1) in the living room and (2) in the bedroom.
The digital thermostat in the living room is wi-fi enabled, and the host can monitor or change the setting remotely (for example, before your arrival).
Are you cold? Do you need heat now?
Use the portable electric heater or wood stove.
Radiant floor systems maintain a constant temperature
They are not designed for short-term modifications (e.g. day/night variations).
How to use the Honeywell digital thermometer in the living room
Use the up and down arrows on the right side of the thermostat to raise or lower the temperature. Try to achieve a constant temperature that is comfortable for your needs.
Woodstove
Do NOT chop wood Inside
To light the woodstove, pull the knob on the front of the stove straight out to increase air flow; crack door of woodstove; crack an outside window or door.
Keep the stove door mostly closed during lighting to eliminate smoke entering room.
Once hot, push the front knob in to reduce air flow and slow the burn.
Woodstove Tips
Build the fire “top down” with big logs on the bottom and smaller logs and a couple of “fire starters” on top. Use lighter or propane torch to ignite.
Before opening the door to add more wood, increase burn by pulling the front knob out – open the door slowly.
Dry wood is stored on a covered woodpile near driveway.
Heating System Troubleshooting
Boiler (furnace) not working / No hot water
Most likely the pilot light went out (sometimes caused by wind). Are you handy? Instructions are in the pantry, beside the boiler, and below. Alternatively, text or give us a call!
You can visually check if the pilot light is on or not, by pivoting open the cover on the right side of the boiler:
You need to slide open the cover to the burners (it pivots on a screw) – it’s a thin piece of metal so you can use a spoon or something to push it if that’s easier. If the pilot light is lit, you will see it like this:
If the pilot light is out, then find the long-tip lighter and the Dark Brown Dial Switch with the Red Button that regulates the gas.
Push in the Red Button and then push in the Brown Dial and turn to PILOT (you may need to jiggle it a little bit to get it to turn).
Next pivot open the metal plate on the front of the boiler, and get the lighter ready.
Push in the Red Button and HOLD IT DOWN, and the LIGHT THE PILOT LIGHT with the lighter, located just inside the opening, and down a little to the right (see photo above).
After the pilot light is lit, hold the Red Button down for another 30-60 seconds. If the pilo light goes out, the repeat the process, this time holding the button down for 60 seconds.
Never lit a pilot light?
Get psyched! (In this video, there is no red button, only a knob to push down)
This video starting at 1:04 shows the operation of the knob and button (but with a different pilot light configuration): https://youtu.be/QaM_3zJ3Qz8?t=1m4s
Digital thermostat
Honeywell thermostat user manual / Host login
Radiant floor glitches
If you are trying to heat the dome, and you build a large hot fire in the woodstove for some temporary warmth, then take care to maintain the thermostat setting above the room temperature – otherwise, the heat will go off.
Most people keep the bedroom temperature lower than the living area temperature. It’s possible that you won’t need heat in the bedroom. However, if you want some heat in the bedroom floor, then you may want to keep the door shut so that the air temperature is not influenced by the living room air.