Most Canadians close up the cottage on Thanksgiving weekend. But maybe the fall was too nice to leave, or the weekends just got away from you, and now it's November and the cottage is still sitting there open. If that sounds familiar, you're not alone, but it's time to get moving. The overnight lows are already dipping below zero in a lot of cottage country, and once a real cold snap settles in, anything with water in it is at risk.
So if you're not staying for the winter, here's our last-minute checklist for closing up an off-grid cottage or cabin before the freeze. We've put it in order of what can't wait, so if you only get one trip up, start at the top.
First: Water Heater and Water Lines
Water is the number one thing that causes trouble over the winter, because it expands when it freezes and cracks whatever it's sitting in. A single cold night is all it takes to split a line or crack a heat exchanger, so this is the job that really can't wait. If you have a tankless propane water heater like an Onsen or Eccotemp, shut off the gas and the water and drain the unit according to the instructions in your owner's manual. Then drain your water lines, open the taps and empty the pump if you have one. If you're not sure you got it all, it's worth having someone blow the lines out with air.
Toilets
For a composting or waterless toilet, empty the solids container and the urine container and leave everything clean and dry. Liquid left sitting in a urine container can freeze and crack it, so don't skip this one. If you have an incinerating toilet, empty and clean the ash pan before you leave so there's nothing sitting in it all winter. Your spring self will thank you.
Propane Fridge
Turn your propane fridge off, empty it out completely and give it a good wipe down. Then prop the doors open a little before you leave. A closed fridge sitting all winter is the fastest way to come back to a science experiment in the spring. Turn off the propane supply to the fridge at the tank or the shutoff valve too.
Batteries
Lithium batteries are a lot more forgiving than the old lead acid ones, but they still need a bit of attention before you walk away for the winter:
- Leave them well charged rather than empty, at 60-80%.
- Turn off the inverter and anything else that would slowly drain them while you're gone.
- Remember that lithium batteries can't be charged below freezing unless they're designed for it. Heated models like the EG4 WallMount Indoor 14.3 kWh and our self-heating batteries warm themselves before charging, which makes a big difference in a cold cabin.
Generator
Either run the generator dry or add fuel stabilizer to the tank, change the oil if it's due, and store it somewhere dry. If it's a propane or dual-fuel model, close the valve on the tank.
Before You Lock the Door
- Walk through one more time and make sure every tap is open and every drain is empty.
- Shut off the propane at the tank.
- Take home anything that can freeze, like canned drinks, cleaning products and paint.
Staying for the Winter Instead?
If you've decided to stick it out, staying warm is the main event, and it's better to sort it out before the cold arrives than during it. A propane wall heater is one of the simplest ways to do it. We recommend the Martin direct vent propane wall heaters, which come in three sizes: 8,000, 11,000 and 20,000 BTU. They don't need electricity to run, they have a built-in thermostat, and the 11,000 and 20,000 BTU models are available with a glass-ceramic window so you can see the flame. Keep your propane topped up, make sure the delivery truck can get to your tank once the snow comes, and test your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors.
If you're heading up this weekend to finally close up and realize you need a part, or you have a question about draining a particular appliance, give us a call or drop by our Beamsville showroom. We'd much rather help you now than hear about a cracked water heater in the spring!