TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Directions
2. Well Water & Septic Tank
3. Garbage & Recycling
4. Washing Machine - Full Instructions
5. Washing Machine - Quick Instructions
6. Heating & Cooling Units
7. Induction Range

The cottages have many modern features, including some you may not be familiar with: a heat pump system for heating and cooling, an induction stove, and a combo washer-dryer unit. Please review the onsite instructions and cautions carefully when you arrive, as a fine will be levied if misuse causes damage. 

Use of the beach is at your own risk. Please check tide times (a chart will be available onsite), use all safety precautions and do not leave children unattended.

Please use the dark washcloths provided for makeup removal and beach towels for beach use. White towels are for indoor use only. 

If you are bringing your pet(s), you are responsible for any damage they cause, including stained and damaged furniture and linens. Pets should not be on the furniture, including the bed, without a protective cover. If you do not bring your own, please let us know in advance so we can provide you with something appropriate. 

In Richmond County, domestic brush burning and campfires are permitted between 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. Burning is prohibited from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM daily to reduce wildfire risk during the peak hours of the day. The daily restrictions are reassessed and updated at 2:00 PM, so it's crucial to check the Burn Safe map on the Government of Nova Scotia (https://novascotia.ca/burnsafe/ ) website each day you are considering having a fire. Please also read our fire safety page before starting your fire.

Richmond County is very strict about its garbage and recycling programs. If recycling is not properly sorted or is found in clear garbage bags, it will not be picked up. Please carefully read the instructions sheet onsite and place any garbage/recycling bags in the bins by Thursday morning and upon checkout. 

1. DIRECTIONS

Our address is 70 Orion Crescent Walkerville, NS, though GPS may list it as Cleveland, Louisdale, Evanston or Richmond County. Don't ask why, we don't know either! 

Note that Walkerville Road is a sharp right turn off Whiteside Rd and is a gravel road. Orion is the only road off of Walkerville Road, so when you see a white road sign and a blue garbage bin a few kilometers in, that is us. 

Once you come down the gravel road and see the blue buildings of Ocean Point Retreat, the first one you'll pass is the garage on your right. After that is Cottage 1, then Cottage 2, and so on up to Cottage 4. You will also see the outdoor kitchen on the left, across from Cottage 4.  

Parking is to the right of each cottage, next to the entrance. Please keep the main road clear for other cars to pass. 

2. WELL WATER & SEPTIC TANK

WELL WATER: Our water comes from a 140-foot drilled well on the property. That water is pumped into the garage holding tank and then to each cottage. It is not safe for drinking due to high salt and mineral content, but the well has been sterilized using UV light treatment to inactivate harmful organisms (viruses, bacteria, parasites). The small tap in the kitchen has potable water that has been filtered by the Reverse Osmosis tank under the sink. Please use this water for drinking and cooking.

SEPTIC TANK: Our water does not flow into a municipal sewage treatment plant but instead into a septic tank on the property. The tank filters the waste, and the water portion seeps slowly into the surrounding land. 

Because everything that goes into the system must be fully and rapidly biodegradable, there are very strict rules that keep the system clean for the environment as well as functioning without backing up!! 

Please follow these rules without exception: 

• Only human waste and toilet paper can be flushed down the toilet.

EVERYTHING ELSE MUST BE THROWN IN THE GARBAGE. THIS INCLUDES:

• "Flushable" wipes
• Excess toilet paper
• Paper towels
• Kleenex
• Tampons
• Prophylactics

3. GARBAGE & RECYCLING

Richmond County is very strict about its garbage/recycling program, and if it’s not properly sorted, it will not be picked up, so please read the directions carefully and let us know if you need any clarification. 

The Clear Blue Bag Is For: 

• Glass Jars and Bottles 
• Beer and Liquor Bottles 
• Wine and Juice Bottles 
• Steel/Tin/Aluminum Cans (labels included) 
• Milk and Juice Containers 
• All Plastic Containers and Packaging 
• Pop and Water Bottles 
• Plastic Bags (grocery and bread) 
• Cookie and Sweet Trays 
• Shampoo and Conditioner Bottles 
• Cleaning Fluid Bottles

The Clear Bag Is For:

• Everything else, including 
• Papers and Cardboard (Corrugated cardboard must be flattened and placed beside the bag) 
• Food and Pet Waste 
• Cooking Oil and Fats 
• Styrofoam Products 
• Chip, Cookie and Candy Bags 
• Oil and Antifreeze Containers 
• Light Bulbs 
• Feminine Hygiene Products 
• Toothpaste Tubes 

We are allowed one small bag per week in a non-clear bag placed in the clear bag for personal bathroom waste. These are the white non-clear bags that are in the small garbage bins distributed throughout the cottage. 

4. WASHING MACHINE INSTRUCTIONS

This is a washer-dryer combo unit – it will do both functions so you don’t have to switch your laundry from one machine to another. It may seem tricky at first, but there are only a few little changes from your normal laundry machine. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us for clarification or more details. 

When you turn the unit on (press the power button to the left of the large dial), it will prompt you to clean the filter. THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. If the filter is not cleaned out every time, the dryer will take a very long time to dry or will shut down completely.

Cleaning the Filter:

• The main filter is on top of the unit and labeled. Pull out the lid and grasp the bottom of the cartridge, like a drawer.
• Lint will collect on the scraper under the lid. Slide the filter back in gently to reattach it.
• Before replacing it, check the side filter (right side of the opening). Remove it by pressing the arrow down and pulling away.
• Clear any lint, open it for a quick clean, and return it to its slot. Then replace the main filter

Adding Detergent:

• The detergent drawer is in the top right corner of the front panel.
• Pour detergent into the white dispenser only. Do not use the blue reservoirs.

Selecting a Cycle:

• Turn the large dial to choose a preset cycle. You can always use Normal Wash/Dry and adjust settings.
• Adjust temperature (cold for colours, warm/hot for lights and whites), spin speed, and soil level.
• Dots will move as you press buttons.

Drying Options:

• Check if the dry option is lit.
• Choose your preferred dry level (if available for the selected cycle). The main dial will display your selections.

Starting the Cycle:

• Press the Start/Pause button (to the right of the dial). The machine will sense the load and show an estimated time.
• This may appear longer than usual—it's a ventless system running on 110V (vs. 220V in most dryers).
• Often, clothes are dry with 30–40 minutes left. If not, press Start/Pause to continue drying.
• You can also run a Dry Only cycle or use the drying rack.

If Drying Takes Too Long (Over 3 Hours):

• Drain the condenser unit. Place the tray at the bottom left of the unit (open the panel).
• Locate the small hose with a plug on the left side. Unplug and drain water into the tray until it stops.
• Replug the hose, reattach it, and empty the tray into a sink.

Adding/Removing Items Mid-Cycle:

• Press Pause and wait for the door to unlock (you’ll hear a click).
• Open the door, add/remove items, close the door, and press Play to resume.

Ventilation Reminder:
Please press the ventilation timer on the right wall of the laundry closet three times.

5. QUICK INSTRUCTIONS

(Please read full instructions in the binder) 

1. Drain the water from the condenser at the bottom left of the unit before each cycle to reduce dryer time. 
2. Press the Power Button to turn on.
3. Remove filter from top of machine and clean out lint from the main and side cartridges. Reinsert both filters securely.
4. Choose cycle from main dial. Ensure temperature, spin, soil and dry options are appropriate for your laundry load. 
5. Press Start.
6. Press Pause if you want to add or remove items at any time – wait for the click of the unlock before trying to open the door. 
7. Press the fan timer (right wall) 3x and leave unit door open to prevent moisture and mold build up 

It is important to wash any dark and beach towels separately: they shed lint that clings to other fabrics and is difficult to remove.

6. HEATING & COOLING

Instead of furnaces, each cottage runs off one split heat pump/air conditioner, with 3 fan units inside (one in each bedroom and in the living room). There is one remote control in the cottage that you can point at any of the fans to adjust the temperature using the UP/DOWN ARROWS. 

Please do not touch any of the other buttons (except the LIGHT button, which turns the temperature light on and off) without explicit permission from us. Changing the mode in just one room can cause the heat pump to short out. This will mean a service call at your expense. 

It’s in your best interest to keep the remote out of young or irresponsible hands! Wall-mounted holders are provided in each room to store the remote safely.

Our installer tells us that the most efficient way to run the units is to “set it and forget it”. Once you find a comfortable temperature, avoid frequent adjustments to save energy.

If you need to change anything beyond the temperature, please contact us.

If you choose to keep the screened windows or doors open, please be responsible and power the air conditioner units off in the affected rooms. Please do not touch the baseboard thermostats (Stelpro). 

We have an HRV unit that circulates the air on demand. Control pads are located to the right of the stove, beside the washer/dryer and in the bathrooms. Please press the “PUSH” button for active ventilation when you are cooking, doing laundry and showering. Press once for 20 minutes, twice for 40 minutes, and three times for an hour.

7. INDUCTION RANGE

If you’ve never used an induction stovetop before, there are only a few differences from gas or electric. 

Stovetop Controls:

• Located on the left side of the control screen (bottom of the stovetop).
• Press and hold the Induction power button until you hear a chime and the controls light up.
• Place your pot(s)/pan(s) on the desired element. They must fit and stay within the dotted outlines: otherwise, the magnetic element won’t activate.
• Press the square for the element you wish to use until it lights up.
• Use the slider bar to choose a temperature.
• Repeat for additional elements as needed.
• To adjust the temperature later, press the element’s square again and use the slider.

The elements heat up extremely quickly (similar to gas). Please be careful not to leave a pot/pan on “to warm up” before adding food, or leave food unattended, as it could result in burning your food or ruining the pot/pan. Left on high (9) or with the Boost activated, you can boil a pot of water in under a minute. 

Oven Controls:

• The oven is a standard electric oven. Controls are on the right side of the panel.
• Press and hold the Oven power button until it chimes.
• Use arrows or the slider to change from Bake to another function.
• Press OK to confirm.
• Adjust the temperature using the arrows or slider, then press OK again.
• The oven will ask for a final confirmation—press OK.
• Use the clock icon to set a Cook Time.
• To set a timer, press and hold the lightbulb icon to access Settings.
  Timer is the first option—press OK, then use the slider to choose a time.
• Use the Return icon to go back to a previous screen or option.

Please clean up any spills on the stovetop or in the oven to help maintain our appliances.