4 Tips For Winterizing Your Lake Cabin

A cabin on the lake is a great place to spend the summer, but when you close up your vacation home for the season, it is important to spend the time to do several tasks to protect your cabin from the harsh winter elements. Winterizing your cabin before you leave will protect the plumbing and other fixtures in your home, so you can rest assured that your second home stays in good condition during the coldest months of the year when you are not using it. Use the following tips to make sure that your cabin is properly winterized:

Protect your Pipes

If you don't use your cabin at all in the winter, it is in your best interest to turn off the water main. After turning off the water, also turn off the water heater and then bleed both the water heater lines and the pipes to ensure that neither freeze. Another easy way to prevent frozen pipes or plumbing fixtures is to add a small amount of plumbing antifreeze down the drains of sinks, showers, and toilets. Make sure that you use plumbing antifreeze, not automotive antifreeze.

Disconnect Power

While unplugging electric appliances is one option, simply turning of the electric main will ensure that you don't have to worry about any electric issues at your cabin when you don't visit for an extended period of time. You may also want to consider calling your utility company to see if they allow you to discontinue service for several months a year so you don't get stuck paying service fees for a home that is not using any electricity.

Cover the Windows

If your cabin is in a location that gets several feet of snow each winter, it is worth your time and effort to cover each window with a thick tarp or plywood. If snow is not attended to, it can become compressed and turn to ice around the window ledges which can result in water leaking in through the windows when the snow melts. If your cabin windows are properly covered you can prevent water damage.

Make Sure the Gutters are Clean

Clean gutters are essential to divert melting snow in the spring, so make sure that your gutters are clear of leaves and debris before you leave the cabin for the summer. If your cabin is surrounded by trees that lose their leaves in the fall, you may want to consider hiring a local service to visit your cabin before the first snowfall to remove any leaves that may cause a clog in your gutters. Contact a business, such as Blackburn Bennett Plumbing & Heating Inc, for more information.   

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