A
“bonus feature” of
Sabbaticals 101:
A Practical Guide for
Academics and Their Families
by
Nancy Matthews
Note: The following is a template to be adapted by
sabbatical-takers to reflect the requirements of their homes.
Table of Contents
|
1
Water, Heating and Appliances |
|
|
1.1 |
Main Water Shut-off
|
|
|
1.2 |
Water Conditioner
|
|
|
1.3 |
Hot Water
|
|
|
1.4 |
Refrigerator
|
|
|
1.5 |
Freezer
|
|
|
1.6 |
Washing Machine
|
|
|
1.7 |
Clothes Dryer
|
|
|
1.8 |
Stove
|
|
|
1.9 |
Microwave
|
|
|
1.10 |
Furnace
|
|
|
3
Rent, Mail and Utilities |
|
|
3.1 |
Rent |
|
|
|
3.2 |
Mail |
|
|
|
3.3 |
Utilities |
|
|
|
|
3.3.1 |
ABC
Power |
|
|
|
3.3.2 |
City
of ABC |
|
|
|
3.3.3 |
Cable
TV |
|
|
5.1 |
Storm Windows |
|
|
5.2 |
Eavestroughs |
|
|
5.3 |
Snow Shovelling |
|
|
5.4 |
Lawn Care |
|
|
5.5 |
Garden |
|
|
5.6 |
Barbecue |
|
|
7.1 |
Neighbors |
|
|
7.2 |
Keys |
|
|
7.3 |
Absences |
|
|
7.4 |
Idiosyncrasies |
|
|
7.5 |
Spills
or Stains |
|
|
7.6 |
Walls
and Ceilings |
|
|
7.7 |
Breakages |
|
|
7.8 |
Garbage and Recycling |
|
|
7.9 |
Telephone Jacks |
|
|
7.10 |
CorningWare™ |
|
|
7.11 |
Baking
Soda |
|
|
7.12 |
Fire
Extinguisher and Smoke Detectors |
|
|
7.13 |
Kitchen Floor Care |
|
|
7.14 |
Rugs and
Carpets |
|
|
7.15 |
Iron |
|
|
7.16 |
Curtain Care |
|
|
7.17 |
Timers |
|
|
7.18 |
Kitchen Utensils |
|
|
7.19 |
Hot
Weather and Security Advice |
|
|
7.20 |
Indoor
Plants |
|
|
7.21 |
The
Car |
|
|
7.22 |
Unfinished Business |
|
|
7.23 |
Moving Out |
|
|
7.24
|
|
|
1
Water, Heating, and Appliances
NOTE:
Owner's manuals for all appliances can be found in a file folder
located above the microwave in the kitchen.
1.1
Main Water Shut-off
The main water shut-off tap is
located in the furnace room, inside the storage area under the
workbench. If you have trouble locating the tap, follow
the piping with your hand after it exits from the water meter.
To turn the water off, rotate the tap clockwise.
It is a good practice to turn the
water to the house off at the main water shut-off tap whenever
you expect to be away from the house for more than a couple of
days. In winter this practice should be routine whenever
you expect to be gone for longer than a day. Otherwise,
the insurance will not cover water damage due to frozen pipes
unless a responsible adult checks the house each day it is
vacant.
1.2
Water Conditioner
Because our water is very hard,
there is a water conditioner in the basement that softens most
of the water used in the house. The water conditioner is
located beside the washing machine, and consists of a
conditioning unit (rear) and a salt tank (front). A timing
mechanism on top of the conditioner automatically triggers
regeneration of the conditioner; at the present time, it is set
to regenerate itself at 3:00 a.m. on Saturdays. If the
electrical power in the house is off for a fairly long period of
time, the timing mechanism may need to be reset. See the
owner’s manual for specific details.
The salt tank must be refilled periodically, using the large
plastic bags of salt that are stored in the corner of the
furnace room. There should be an adequate supply of salt
for the year that we are away, but if we have underestimated the
amount required, additional premium grade salt may be purchased
at ABC Water Conditioners.
1.3
Hot Water
The water heater is a gas unit
that is rented from the City. It should give no trouble,
but if problems arise, simply contact the City gas service (see
section 2, Repairs). The usual setting for the temperature
control is halfway between Warm and Hot. If you expect to
be away for some time, there is a Holiday setting on the dial
that helps to conserve gas.
1.4
Refrigerator
The refrigerator was purchased in
1991. For information concerning its operation and care,
please consult the owner’s manual.
1.5
Freezer
In addition to the freezer
compartment above the refrigerator, there is a large deep freeze
in the fruit cellar. This appliance was purchased in 1990.
The freezer is factory-set to maintain its contents at 0 degrees
F (-18 degrees C). When you close the freezer lid,
check to be sure that nothing is caught between the lid and the
body of the freezer, which would prevent the lid from forming a
proper seal.
1.6
Washing Machine
This appliance was new in 1999.
If you're not familiar with a front-loading washer, please
consult the instructions in the owner’s manual.
Because the water is soft and this type of washing machine is so
efficient, use only 1/4 cup or less of regular detergent to do a
normal-sized wash. If you use more soap, you'll end up
with too many suds and the clothes won't wash well.
1.7
Clothes Dryer
The dryer is the oldest appliance
in the house (30+ years), and while it continues to work, we
fear it could go up in flames. So, please avoid using the
dryer except in emergencies. Note that it is essential
that you clean the lint catcher every time you use the dryer.
Do not put in the dryer any item that is made of rubber or is
rubber-backed (such as rugs or sneakers). Use the indoor and
outdoor clotheslines to dry your clothes. (Not only will
you be helping the environment and saving on electricity,
clothes smell great after drying outside!) Clothespins are
on top of the washing machine.
1.8
Stove
The stove was purchased in 1996
and is a self-cleaning model. We use the self-cleaning
feature perhaps twice a year. For operating instructions,
especially with respect to the self-cleaning feature, check the
owner's manual.
1.9
Microwave
The microwave is a very simple,
older model that we acquired from a friend, and thus has no
instruction manual. It only has two power settings, High
and Defrost, and a simple analog timer that you set by turning
the dial clockwise.
1.10
Furnace
The furnace is a high-efficiency,
forced-air gas model that was installed in October, 1993.
It was serviced in May 2008 and pronounced ready for another
heating season. At that time a new evaporator pad was
installed in the humidifier, which is located on the west side
of the furnace.
The thermostat for the furnace is
located on the wall of the living room. When you first
decide to use the furnace, you will need to push the switch on
the thermostat from the OFF position to HEAT; unfortunately, the
COOL position is not connected.
The control for the humidifier is
located on some of the furnace ductwork. When you start to
use the furnace in the fall, remember to turn on the humidifier
as well, to increase the humidity in the house during the winter
and to avoid static shocks as you shuffle across the carpet.
To keep the furnace functioning
efficiently (and to keep your gas bill as low as possible), the
air filter should be removed, cleaned with the vacuum cleaner,
and reinstalled in the fan compartment; do this once a month
during the heating season. The fan compartment is located
at the side of the furnace farthest from the workbench.
Inside the furnace’s upper access
panel, on the left side, you will find a switch that turns on
the furnace fan. We use this “summer” switch to draw cool
air from the basement and circulate it throughout the house on
the hottest days in mid-summer.
2
Repairs
In an ideal world, nothing would
ever break down. We certainly hope that nothing stops
working while we are away. However, in the event that you
need assistance, please call one of the following service
numbers:
Gas:
City of ABC [phone number]; for furnace and hot water heater
repairs
Water:
City of ABC [phone number]
Electricity: ABC Hydro [phone number]
Furnace:
ABC Heating and Cooling [phone number] for anything that the
City of ABC is not willing to repair
Other
night emergencies: City of ABC [phone number]
Other
electrical: ABC Electric [phone number]
Plumbing:
ABC Plumbing [phone number]
Major
appliances: ABC Appliances [phone number]
Water
conditioner: City of ABC [phone number]
Extermination service: ABC Pest Control [phone number]
For other problems with the
house, please call Bob at ABC Craftsmen [phone number].
Bob knows we're out of the country and would be able to evaluate
what's needed to solve a problem, give you an estimate, and make
the necessary repairs once we/you give him the ok to proceed.
In all likelihood, if something serious enough develops that you
need to call in ABC Craftsmen, you will probably want to contact
us, either by telephone or via email first (see item 7.24).
3
Rent, Mail, and Utilities
3.1
Rent
Please deposit the monthly rent
in our bank account, ABC Bank account [number]. If you're
asked, the account name is [name]; however, all you should need
to make a deposit is the account number and cash or a check
payable to one of us. You can make the deposit at any ABC
Bank branch. For your own protection, we suggest that you
request duplicate deposit slips, and keep them in the envelope
at the back of this guide, just in case ABC Bank makes a
clerical error.
3.2
Mail
According to the rental
arrangement, you will be sorting our mail and forwarding
anything that you judge to be important or time-sensitive to us.
There is a bundle of pre-addressed, large brown envelopes above
the microwave for this purpose. If you're not sure whether
to forward something, just describe the item in an email and
we’ll let you know whether to send it. Please keep track
of the cost of mailing these envelopes to us and subtract that
amount from what you deposit each month in our bank account.
Mail that you don't forward, such as catalogues, newsletters,
and magazines, should be stored in the large, empty box that is
located in the small, upstairs bedroom.
3.3
Utilities
3.3.1
ABC Power
The electricity bill comes every
two months, usually in the first half of January, March, May,
July, September and November, and is based on a reading taken on
the electricity meter (usually on the 26th of the previous
month). The meter reader usually knocks at the back door
about 8:30 a.m. The electricity meter is located on the
back wall of the laundry room.
3.3.2
City of ABC’s Gas and Water Bill and Municipal Taxes
The gas and water bill (white
envelope, City of ABC crest) usually arrives during the last
week of the month, except during June and July when no bills are
issued.
You will probably receive notices
from the City of ABC about municipal taxes. These payments
are our responsibility, and should be automatically deducted
from our bank account. Please leave any statements from
the City of ABC concerning municipal taxes in the box for mail
in the upstairs bedroom.
3.3.5
Cable TV
At present, the house is wired
for cable TV, but we chose to discontinue receiving cable
service years ago. You’re welcome to arrange to restore
cable service at your own expense.
4
Insurance
The house and car are both
insured with ABC Assurance, through the local branch of ABC
Insurance. If any problems should develop which require
the advice or assistance of the insurance company, please
contact: [insurance agent’s name, insurance company, address,
phone number].
The relevant policy number for
the house is [number]; the car is policy number [number].
Although our belongings, as well
as the house, are covered by the homeowners’ insurance policy,
your belongings are not. If you wish to insure your
worldly goods, you should make separate insurance arrangements
to do so.
5
Outdoor Matters
5.1
Storm Windows
On the main floor you’ll find
five windows that have screens that can be replaced or covered
over with storm windows. We normally do this in
mid-October, which of course, guarantees that the following week
will break all existing high temperature records! However,
it’s still better to put the storm windows on in early fall, or
you could end up doing it with frozen fingers. The storm
windows are stored in the garage.
The traditional time for
installing the screens is late May. Of course, the
preceding week will be unseasonable hot, but immediately after
you put the screens on, it’ll turn cold and rainy. C’est
la vie.
5.2
Eavestroughs
When all the leaves are down,
it’s essential to clean out the eavestroughs or they will become
clogged during the winter, and meltwater may back up under
the shingles. Ladders are stored in the garage.
5.3
Snow Shovelling
A large snow shovel is stored in
the garage. City bylaws require that sidewalks must be
kept clear of snow, plus you’ll want to make sure that the mail
carrier and others can make their way safely to the front door.
If you end up with icy patches, use the container of sand in the
paint room, rather than salt, to provide traction; it’s easier
on the plants.
5.4
Lawn Care
The electric lawnmower is stored
in the garage with an extension cord nearby. The only
exterior electrical outlet is located at the front of the
garage. Don’t collect the grass clippings – just leave
them on the lawn to enrich the soil.
As for the lawn itself, our yard
is pesticide-free, so please decline all offers of lawn care
companies to spray, de-bug, fertilize, or even “repair” our
grass. We also don’t water the lawn during the summer,
since the roots simply go down deeper during droughts and then
“green up” when it rains.
We compost any yard or garden
waste in the compost bins behind the garage. Adding layers
of dirt or previously-made compost, plus dampening the plant
material with water, helps accelerate the process.
In the fall, the city has a
biweekly schedule for bagged leaf pick-up at the curbside.
You should receive a schedule in the mailbox. Leaves
(rakes are in the garage) can be put in large paper, not
plastic, bags and put out for pick up on regular garbage days.
5.5
Garden
Most of the plants in the front
and back yards are perennials. Feel free to snip off the
dead growth, just don’t pull the plants out of the ground or
they won’t grow back next year! There is one rose bush in
the back corner. In October please cut it back to one foot
(thirty cm) high and mound some dirt and compost around the
base. Then place a big, plastic pot upside down overtop,
to protect it from winter storms.
5.6
Barbeque
Feel free to use the gas
barbeque. To clean the grill rack, just lift it out and
wash in soapy water in the basement sink. If the electric
starter doesn’t work, the barbeque must be started with a match.
For lighting instructions and other information, please check
the owner’s manual.
NOTE: Never store a propane tank that contains any gas in an enclosed
location, including the garage. This is why we keep the
barbeque on the back porch. During the winter, it should
be covered and stored against the wall of the house.
6
The Cat
Food: The dry cat food is
in a plastic container in the drawer under the stove. The
wet food is the small canned cat food. Additional food is
in the basement. (Wet and dry cat can be purchased from the vet – see below). Dishes are located
on the shelf above where he eats. Morning:
give the cat 1/4 cup dry food in his bowl; Evening: 1/4
cup dry food + 1/4 of the small can of cat food in a clean dish.
Keep his water bowl filled with fresh water.
Litter boxes:
Both boxes (upstairs in the kitchen and downstairs under the
stairs) will need to be cleaned once a day. Use the
plastic bags on top of the dryer. The pooper scoop hangs
on the wall by the downstairs toilet. The bag should be
put in the garbage can in the garage each day.
Other info:
Our cat is a totally indoor cat and never goes anywhere except
to the vet. Please be extremely careful never to let him
out.
Our vet’s name
is Dr. Cat-Lover at ABC Animal Hospital, [phone number,
address]. The cat’s travel cage is purple and is in the
basement on the workbench. He’s not keen to go into it, so
you have to be sneaky – good luck!
7
Miscellaneous Items
7.1
Neighbors
The occupants of the corner house
on the east side of Any Street are named x. Proceeding
north along the east side of the
street
you find 123 (that's us), 125 (x), 127 (x), 129 (x), and 131
(x). Thereafter, we're a bit unsure of names.
On the west side of our street,
the house at the corner is owned by the x family. Beside
them, proceeding north, is 124 (x), 126 (x), and 128 (x), and
there our knowledge of the neighbors runs out once again.
7.2
Keys
If you lock yourself out of the
house, x has a spare set of keys.
7.3
Absences
If you are going to be away,
you’ll need to find someone to feed and clean up after the cat
at least once a day. We’ve traded such duties with our
neighbors (x) in the past, so you should ask them first.
They also kindly check to be sure our mail and junk mail are
pushed completely through the letter slot.
If the house will be vacant for
more than a weekend, the following is a list of things that you
should do before you leave:
*Arrange
for someone to care for the cat;
*Turn off
the water at the main water shut-off tap in the basement;
*Turn
down the temperature setting on the water heater to Vacation;
*Unplug
the water conditioner;
*Install
a timer in the living-room to turn on the floor lamp each
evening for a period of several hours;
Please DO NOT, under any
circumstances, ALLOW THE HOUSE TO BE UNOCCUPIED for a period of
thirty days or more, since the insurance coverage will
automatically lapse.
7.4
Idiosyncrasies
Both the FRUIT CELLAR and the
PAINT STORAGE ROOM off the furnace room occasionally become
quite damp after heavy rainfalls. It's not something to
worry about, but we’ve strategically placed some buckets to
catch the main drips.
If the DRAINS in the tub and the
bathroom sink become too slow for you to tolerate, take the
plunger, which is located by the toilet, and plunge one or both
drains. Pouring baking soda, followed by white vinegar,
down the drain periodically is another environmentally friendly
way to help keep the drains open. (It might also remind
you of childhood science experiments when you tried to make a
volcano!)
The ELECTRICAL OUTLET in the
bathroom only works when the light is turned on.
The DOORBELLS do not work.
We suggest putting masking tape over them and a sign to
encourage visitors to knock loudly. (This is especially
important if you plan to answer the door on HALLOWEEN. In
the past, kids have started coming around 6:15 pm and ended by 8
pm; often there were fewer than 30 visitors in total.)
7.5
Spills or Stains
In case of spills or stains,
reach for Mary Ellen's Best of Helpful Hints, the
book that is located above the microwave.
7.6
Walls and Ceilings
Please do not use nails, pins,
staples, or tape of any kind on the walls or ceilings.
Many of the walls already have nails in them for hanging
pictures or posters. To hang additional items, please use
Blu Tack™ or its equivalent.
7.7
Breakages
If anything breaks, e.g., a
plate, glass, casserole dish, please tell us about it before you
purchase a replacement. It may turn out to be an item that
we don't care to replace.
7.8
Garbage and Recycling
Garbage and recycled materials
are collected every Monday morning, even on holidays.
There is a large, metal garbage can in the garage.
Recycled materials should be placed at the curb in the blue,
plastic recycling bin, which is kept in the garage. At the
present time, the blue bin is only used to recycle cans, clean
glass jars and bottles, grades 1-7 plastic, rigid containers,
newspapers, corrugated cardboard, and boxboard. Details
about the various materials that can be recycled are taped to
the green cupboard in the furnace room. The blue bin
should be full when you put it out for collection.
7.9
Telephone Jacks
There are four places to plug in
phones: on the baseboard in the dining room, in the music
room (behind the piano), in the small, upstairs bedroom, and in
the basement (behind the desk).
7.10
CorningWare™
Do not use abrasive pads, such as
Scotchbrite™ or steel wool, to clean the casserole dishes,
teapot, and other CorningWare™ dishes, such as the blue and
white Corelle™ plates. Instead, use baking soda and a
dishcloth on the damp surface, if normal cleaning isn’t enough.
7.11
Baking Soda
In addition to being useful for
cleaning CorningWare™, baking soda is great for putting out
fires on the stove; we have first-hand experience of its
effectiveness! Therefore, it's useful to keep some near at
hand, accessible from the sink and the stove.
7.12
Fire Extinguisher and Smoke Detectors
While we hope you’ll never have
to use it, a fire extinguisher is located at the back entrance.
Please familiarize yourself with it by reading the owner’s
manual. The extinguisher can be used on all types of
fires.
There are three smoke detectors
in the house, one on each floor. As of August 2008, all
the detectors contain fresh batteries. They should be
tested periodically by gently pressing on the round centerpiece
– you’ll hear a loud beep, if they’re working.
7.13
Kitchen Floor Care
Please check the flooring
information booklet that is located above the microwave.
NOTE: Do not use any kind of soap or wax on this
wood floor! It should be swept with a broom or vacuumed.
(The broom is located in the basement next to the furnace.
The vacuum cleaner is located in the front hall closet.
Its cloth bag can be removed, emptied and re-used, with the
contents added to the compost bin outdoors.) If further
cleaning is needed, use the special bottle of floor cleaner
located on the kitchen counter.
7.14
Rugs and Carpets
The blue rug in the front of the
kitchen sink is an all-cotton, hand-woven throw rug that can be
easily washed, along with the rubber mat underneath. Wash
the rug in cold water only, delicate cycle, with Woolite or a
similar cold water wash liquid.
The gold carpet in the rest of
the house was professionally cleaned in May 2008. (See vacuum
cleaner instructions in 7.13.)
7.15
Iron
Feel free to use the iron that’s
in the laundry room above the dryer.
7.16
Curtain Care
Since the living-room curtains
are white, please open and close them carefully. If they
become stained, tell us. The curtains can be dry-cleaned,
but talk to us first.
7.17
Timers
In addition to the timing
mechanism on the water conditioner, there is a timer located
outside the paint room. It operates the pole light at the
front of the house. The settings that turn the light on
and off will need to be changed seasonally. Instructions
for adjusting the timer settings are on the back of the unit.
If the house is going to be
vacant for a few days, e.g., at holiday times or for a weekend,
please connect portable timers to living room and bedroom
lights. Two timers are on top of the workbench.
7.18
Kitchen Utensils
We are taking the following
kitchen utensils with us: can opener, grater, scissors,
dry measuring cups, and measuring spoons. You may want to
provide these items yourself, if you find that you miss them.
7.19
Hot Weather and Security Advice
Turn on the furnace fan “summer”
switch (inside the furnace upper access panel, see item 1.10) to
circulate the cool air from the basement around the house.
Open the screened windows until around 9:00 a.m., then close all
the windows and shut all the curtains to keep the house cool
during the day. When the air begins to cool in the
evening, open up the house again until you go to bed.
NOTE: Always close all the main floor doors and windows at night and
when you leave the house. Also turn on the back porch
light each evening.
7.20
Indoor Plants
There are two philodendron plants
in the dining room. Please water them when dry.
7.21
The Car
The car is parked in the garage
and we’ve left you a key. Please open the garage door,
start the engine, and back the car out onto the driveway about
once every two weeks. Let the engine run until it gets
warm, and drive the car back and forth on the driveway a few
times so that the brakes get some exercise. Then park the
car in the garage again.
The gas tank was filled before
the car was parked in the garage, so you should have plenty of
gas. If you need to buy more, it takes ordinary unleaded
gasoline. Since the car is unlicensed (after January,
2009), without plates, and uninsured (except for fire and
theft), you will need to buy gas in a can and pour it into the
tank. There is a regulation gas container in the garage.
7.22
Unfinished Matters
ABC Craftsmen should be sending
us a bill. Please notify us when it arrives.
7.23
Moving Out
When you vacate the house prior
to our return next year, if there is a gap of more than three
days, please connect the timers, turn down the water heater,
unplug the water conditioner, turn off the water at the main
water shut-off tap, and turn on the back porch light.
Also, please remember to leave us a note indicating how you will
return the keys.
7.24
Last Resort
In the event that some problem or
concern arises which neither this guide nor common sense covers,
please feel free to contact our local friend, who has agreed to
advise you if we can’t be reached: [friend’s name, address,
phone number, and email address].
Of course, please call us in
Australia if you have any urgent questions or concerns about the
house. Our full, direct-dial, telephone number there is
[phone number]. When you call, try to remember that the
time in Australia is ET (Eastern Time, daylight or standard)
plus 16 hours. For example, if it’s noon on Tuesday
here, it will be 4 a.m. Wednesday morning in Newcastle (not the
best time to call!). During daylight savings time, the
difference is only 14 hours.
If your concerns are not urgent,
email us at [email address] and we’ll get back to you as soon as
possible. In addition, our snail mail address there will be:
[address].
Enjoy the house!
