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 KEEP IT HOT (the water)- Taking care of your water heater
Dirt and mineral deposits build up over time in your water heater. This build-up can decrease the heating efficiency of the heater and it can reduce the capacity of the tank. Water heaters are pretty much maintenance free but if you take the extra step of flushing out the residue once a year you can increase the efficiency and life of the applicance.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions. Generally:
1. First, you should open one of the hot-water faucets in your lakeplace to relieve the pressure or vaccum in the water lines that can occur when you flush the water heater.
2. Locate the drain valve on the water heater and place a bucket under it. Turn it on.
3. Let it drain until the murky water subsides and the water coming out of the valve is clear. The murky water is the residue being removed from the tank of the hot water heater. It will probably drain about 1-2 gallons before the water becomes clear. Once it does - the job is done.
Dishwasher: Use It or Lose It
The phrase applies to muscle tone for your body, but did you know that it could also be true for your dishwasher? If you have a dishwasher in your lakeplace, keep in mind that underuse of the dishwasher can dry out seals in the dishwasher and cause leaking. So don't feel bad if you run half of a load of dishes once in a while.
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THAT SPECIAL TOUCH. Whether for your lakeplace or as a gift, here's a perfect and affordable idea. You can order a coaster, glassware, journals, or playing cards with the outline of your lake on it. Creek's Edge in Rock Creek, MN. (Tele: 320.629.3680) carries a line of these items in the store but also offers them by mail order. The store carries some of these items in the store with certain area lakes already etched onto them. If they don't have your lake yet, you can order it for an additional set-up fee. Creek's Edge Web Page
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RICH COFFEE. You, or a guest at your lakeplace, may want some steamed milk for their coffee, or froth in their hot chocolate. Without an espresso machine, you are out of luck, right? Not so! You can buy a milk frother for a fraction of an espresso machine and have gourmet coffee. Both the Brookstone and the William-Sonoma stores carry it for $20, and the Kitchen Collection in the outlet mall in Albertville, MN. (Telephone: 763.497.5797) carries it for $14.99. When at the lake, you have to sometimes improvise, and we have found that the frother can make dry creamers taste rich and fresh in coffee. Dry hot chocolate mix froths to a rich, creamy hot chocolate that tastes like you have been to the local coffee shop. At William-Sonoma it is called Bonjour Primo Frother. Brookstone's product is called "Café Milk Frother."
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