5 Steps to Avoiding an Epic Cottage Closing Fail
We hate to say it, but it’s closing time. Time to say goodbye to the cozy cottage and start thinking about how to close it up for the winter. Many people dislike closing the cottage, not only because it symbolizes the end of summer but because it can be a hassle at times. We found some great tips to make closing up your cottage as painless as possible so you can avoid an epic cottage closing fail.
Wrap Pipes: Wrapping your pipes is a good precaution to take when closing up your cottage. This is a must-do for both winterized and non-winterized cottages. Even though a winterized cottage will have a heat source and insulation that will help keep your pipes from freezing, a cold zone could still pass through areas such as crawl spaces, garage or a wall that is not insulated, which is why wrapping your pipes is a great way to be confident that your pipes will not freeze. Reflectix Pipe Wrap is a great tool to help wrap your pipes and keep them warm in the winter.
Shut off the Water: Shutting off the water should be on the top of the to-do list when getting ready to close your cottage. Most people just shut the water off and away they go, when in fact it’s important to drain all the pipes before you go. You can simply do this by turning off the water and then turning on all the faucets in the cottage on to make sure there is no water left in the pipes. If water is left in the pipes, it is very likely that the pipes could freeze or even burst.
Turn the Heating Down or Off: There are many different heating systems you can use. Depending on the type of heating source used make sure to always turn it off properly. If you are using a gas heating source always remember to turn the gas off before you leave. If your cottage has a furnace, you can turn the heat off completely or turn it down really low. Though turning the heat off completely might save you a couple of bucks, keeping it on even 10 degrees Celsius can help prevent frost build-up. If you have a water heater, make sure to shut that off as well.
Unplug: Surprisingly, a lot of people skip this step when closing their cottage, but it is an easy step that will help give you keep peace of mind while you are away. Some people will turn off the power to the cottage completely. This is not recommended. Why? Because turning the power off completely will eventually shut off your sump pump, which can lead to flooding, and that is definitely not something you want to come back to. Pump Spy is a great addition to your cottage, it’s a handy tool that will monitor your sump pump and keep you updated on it’s activity. Most importantly it will notify you when there is something wrong with it or it isn’t working.
Turning off the power will also turn off exterior lights and security systems if you have them. This is why we recommend just simply unplugging major appliances and turning off the power supply to these appliances on the electrical panel.
Check the Exterior: A quick walk around your home can go a long way when closing up your cottage. When checking the exterior, make sure to keep an eye out for any openings that animals or bugs may be able to get to. If you have a chimney on your cottage, we recommend getting a chimney cap or cover to prevent any creatures from getting in. If you get a lot of snow in the winter, then you might also want to check the condition of your roof. Too much snow can cause serious damage to a roof. Make sure your roof is in good shape to prevent any major damage.
Clean the Gutters: Cleaning the gutters is not the most fun thing to do, but it’s definitely necessary, especially when you are closing your cottage. Clogged gutters can cause a lot of damage to your roof, leading to backed-up water underneath your shingles, damage to your roof structure, or ice damming. The best time to clean the gutters is right at the end of fall when all the leaves have fallen. This will ensure that they will be clear for the winter season.
Putting Away Summer Toys: This is the saddest part of cottage closing time – putting all the summer toys away. Stack your deck chairs and store them away or cover them well to avoid them getting damaged over winter. Also, store your boat, canoe, kayak, paddle boat or any other water craft properly.
If you follow these great tips, you can be rest assured that your cottage will be just as good as when you left it.