Here’s How to Close Your Cottage for the Season

Cottage living brings lots of fun and leisure throughout the summer. Unless your cabin or chalet is winterized, you need to close it up before the first frost makes an appearance. Here’s how to close your cottage for winter to avoid unwanted surprises come spring.

Utilities & Related Equipment

When closing up your summer home, the most important chores are related to the power and water utilities. Unattended, they are the most likely to cause problems in winter temperatures.

Turn off the Water

Turn off your main water supply and drain all pipes to avoid freezing and flood damage. The easiest way to do this is to attach a hose to the lowest point in the plumbing and use an air compressor to blow out any water. Turn off the water heater power supply and empty the water tank.

Shut Down Your Appliances

Appliances like the washing machine and dishwasher also need to be drained. Be sure to disconnect them from the power supply before closing up the cottage.

Check Your Septic System

Dealing with the septic system is one of the biggest challenges for new cottage owners. Your end-of-season prep depends on the type of system. If you plan to disconnect all power, it’s a good idea to have your septic system serviced before closing your cottage. Below are a few general tips, though remember to always follow the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions. 

• For aerobic septic systems, you should turn off the blower even if you leave the power on for the winter 

• For anaerobic systems, add a little home plumbing or RV anti-freeze (not car anti-freeze) to each toilet bowl to help keep the pipes from freezing and bursting 

• Place an insulating cover over any exposed elements to protect them 

• Cap off any exposed openings to protect the system components and prevent helpful bacteria from freezing 

• Mark out your septic system area to prevent vehicles from driving or parking on top

Inspect Your Pipes

Take a close look at all your pipes to make sure there are no leaks. Consider wrapping them with pipe insulation as an extra measure of protection. It’s a good idea to leave cabinet doors and sink doors open to allow available building heat to move around the pipes.

Check Your Sump Pump

If you have a sump pump, it will be hard-wired into your electrical system or powered by a pressurized water system. Either way, you will need to keep the sump pump running all winter long. To avoid potential flooding during a power outage, you must have a battery-operated backup pump! Here’s a few other things to check before leaving: 

Clean the Basin: Debris can enter into the unit and hinder the float mechanism causing the pump to fail. 

Test the Float: Fill the basin up with water to ensure the sump pump will properly start and stop. 

Inspect the “Check” Valve: Make sure water is not flowing back into the pump when it’s turned off. The check valve’s arrow should not be pointing toward the sump pump. 

Clean the Weep Hole: If your sump pump has a weep hole it should be located between the sump pump and the check valve. Clean it with a small safety pin. 

Clean the Impeller: It can become easily clogged and cause your sump pump to stop working. 

Smell for Sump Pump Odour: If present clean the basin with a mixture of five parts water to one-part bleach. 

Check the Power: Make sure your sump pump has a secure connection to the power supply.

Install a Backup Power Source: Heavy rains can overwhelm your sump pump, and power outage will stop it from working altogether. A backup generator can give your sump pump the power it needs to cycle through all of the excess water.

Check Your Backup Sump Pump: Make sure the batteries are full and the pump is operational.

Power Down

Visit every room in your cottage and disconnect all electric-powered appliances. It’s a good idea to turn off the breakers too. Leave the door open on your emptied refrigerator so it can dry completely. Then turn off any breakers that service outdoor plugs as well. The things that need to stay connected are the security system, smoke detectors, and sump pump. Be sure to replace batteries in any devices you have.

Turn Down the Temperature

Lower your heating system’s thermostat to no lower than 10 °C or 50 °F. This will prevent dampness and frost buildup. If your cottage doesn’t have a heat source, winterize the pipes with pipe insulation wrap.

Outside Closing Tasks

Outdoor closing chores are more weather dependent so you might want to tackle these first before working on the inside.

Inspect the Roof & Gutters

Inspect the roof and replace damaged gutters and shingles. You’ll also want to repair any holes or cracks to avoid clogging and snow build-up over the winter.

Outdoor Fire Hazards

Winter fires are rare but you still don’t want to leave potential kindling close to the cottage. Remove any firewood and store it at least 30 feet away. Use a rake to move leaves away to a similar safe distance.

Outdoor Storage

Collect all your outdoor furniture, toys, landscaping tools etc. and store them inside a shed, boathouse, or the cottage. Your hoses, sprinklers, and BBQ should come inside as well to prevent damage but leave any propane tanks in the shed.

Lawn Care

Grass areas should be mowed one last time. Then give the lawn mower a thorough cleaning and oiling before storing for the winter.

Lake Cottage Prep

When to Take Your Dock Out: If your cottage is on the water and you have a standing dock it definitely needs to come out of the water. If you have a floating dock and your waterfront is subject to ice movement it should come out too. 

When to Leave Your Dock In: You can leave it in if your waterfront is sheltered from ice movement and dams. Place your dock on the waterfront close to shore and secure it to a strong tree or fence. Store hoists, motors and electric lines in the shed or boathouse if you have one.

Inside Closing Tasks

There are a few last-day tasks to complete before heading out:

Look for Air Leaks

Inspect your windows, doors, vents, electrical wiring etc. for air leaks. Seal them with caulking or adding weather stripping.

Clean & Close Your Fireplace

If you have a fireplace, clean it out and close the damper. It’s also a good idea to seal the opening with a piece of wood to keep rodents out during the winter.

Remove Perishable Food

Empty and clean the fridge, leaving the door open so it can dry completely. Power outages could result in spoiled food that attracts wildlife. If you leave your cottage unheated, it’s wise to remove cans of food and dry goods as well. Don’t leave discarded food in an outside garbage bin unless you are sure it will be picked up by a local refuse collector.

Indoor Fire Hazards

Remove anything that could be a fire hazard, including newspapers, loose paper, cardboard and firewood. Chemicals, oil, gas, propane tanks etc. should be stored in a shed.

Protect Your Furniture

Prevent dust from accumulating on your furniture by covering it with sheets, and pull down your shades or draw curtains as well to protect your flooring from sun damage.

Protect Your Clothes & Linens

Store any summer clothing and linens in sealed plastic bins, and put moth balls or dryer sheets inside and around the cabin to prevent insect damage.

Before Leaving

Almost ready to go? Here are a few last-minute tasks that could save you unforeseen trouble come spring:

Take Photos Before Leaving

Create an up-to-date photo or video record of the cottage’s condition. Should the building or property sustain any winter damage, you will be able to present this to your insurance company.

Check Your Insurance

Take a look at your most recent insurance policy to ensure nothing has changed. Be sure to check if a security system is required or if periodic owner check-ins are needed through winter.

Don’t Forget to Lock Up

Time to go! Remember to lock up everything up including the cottage, bunkhouse, sheds, boathouse, and garage. Make sure that nothing is visible from outside. There are multiple tasks involved with closing your cottage. Take it one step at a time, and make sure everything is done correctly. Remember, protecting your cottage through winter means you can start enjoying it right away again come spring.

There are multiple tasks involved with closing your cottage. Take it one step at a time, and make sure everything is done correctly. Remember, protecting your cottage through winter means you can start enjoying it right away again come spring.