Table of Contents
- Winterize Your Cottage: Essential Tips
- Clear Out Food and Trash to Prevent Pests
- Shut Down Utilities for Winter
- Keep Your Gutters Clean
- Ensure Your Roof is Winter-Ready
- Secure Your Plumbing
- Ensure Year-Round Cottage Security
- Secure Your Cottage for Peace of Mind
Winterize Your Cottage: Essential Tips
As summer ends, many Canadians begin the process of closing up their cottages for the winter. If you’re getting ready to secure your cottage until next spring, follow these six helpful tips to ensure a smooth transition as you winterize your cottage.
Clear Out Food and Trash to Prevent Pests
Before you close your cottage for the winter, take the time to clear out any perishable food and remove trash. This step will help prevent animals from being attracted to your space and ensure you don’t encounter unpleasant surprises when you reopen your cottage in the spring. By preparing now, you’ll make the transition to spring much easier and more enjoyable.
Shut Down Utilities for Winter
Start by shutting off your hot water tank, heaters, and pumps. Next, unplug all devices from their electrical sockets and turn off the main circuit breaker. Taking these steps will help protect your cottage from potential fire hazards during the winter months. Additionally, this proactive approach ensures that when you turn the power back on in the spring, you’ll reduce the risk of electrical issues and keep your cottage safe.
Keep Your Gutters Clean
Hiring a gutter cleaning service allows you to clear away leaves and sticks that can accumulate in your gutters, preventing potential ice damming. This proactive measure is crucial, especially if you don’t plan to return to your cottage until spring. By ensuring your gutters remain clean and functional, you can avoid water damage and costly repairs that might arise from winter ice buildup. Taking this step now will help protect your cottage and make your spring opening much smoother.
Ensure Your Roof is Winter-Ready
As you prepare to winterize your cottage, take the time to inspect your roof for any missing or broken shingles. If you notice any issues, address them promptly, since winter snow can accumulate and lead to leaks. Accumulated snow creates pressure on damaged areas, increasing the risk of water seeping into your cottage. Ensuring your roof is in good condition before winter arrives will help you prevent potential water damage and costly repairs. A well-maintained roof will safeguard your space throughout the winter months, keeping it safe and dry until you return in the spring.
Secure Your Plumbing
To protect your cottage from winter damage, turn off the main water supply and drain all the pipes. This proactive step ensures that any remaining water doesn’t freeze and expand, which can lead to cracks and bursts in the plumbing. Freezing water can cause extensive damage that may result in costly repairs, so taking the time to drain your pipes will help you avoid these headaches. By addressing this now, you can safeguard your cottage and enjoy peace of mind throughout the winter months.
Ensure Year-Round Cottage Security
Make it a priority to check on your cottage regularly during the off-season. When cottages sit empty for extended periods, they become prime targets for burglaries. If you can’t make frequent visits yourself, arrange for a neighbour or family member to conduct regular check-ups on your property. Additionally, consider installing a monitored alarm system to enhance security. This proactive approach will help deter potential intruders and ensure that someone is always looking out for your cottage, giving you peace of mind while you’re away. Taking these steps significantly reduces the risk of theft and keeps your property safe throughout the winter months.
Secure Your Cottage for Peace of Mind
Even with regular check-ins, it’s important to bring all your valuables home with you and to cover the windows to prevent people from seeing inside. For any of your items that are left, it’s a good idea to take a home inventory. See our blog post about home inventory for more information.
Taking precautions can help mitigate the risk of the worst happening when you’ve closed up your cottage for the season—but the unexpected can happen no matter what. For complete peace of mind, speak to your insurance broker about protecting your cottage with comprehensive coverage against burglary, vandalism, weather-related damages and more. You may even be eligible for discounts when combining your home, auto and seasonal property coverage!
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