Here’s How to Close Your Cottage for the Season

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.

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.

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:

Before Leaving

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