Winterizing & Seasonal Maintenance

Winterizing & Seasonal Maintenance Getting Your Driveway and Walkways Ready for Snow and Ice A bit of fall preparation on your driveway and walkways makes a real difference once the snow starts, both for safety and for how much work winter ends up being. Prepping Your Driveway If you have an asphalt driveway, fall is a good time to check for cracks and consider sealing, since water that gets […]
Winterizing & Seasonal Maintenance Winter Power Outages: What to Have on Hand for a Rural or Waterfront Property A power outage in the city is usually an inconvenience measured in hours. In a rural or waterfront area, a storm can mean a longer wait for restoration, especially if a private road makes access harder for utility crews. It’s worth being ready for both. Staying Warm When the Power Goes Out Heat is the […]
Winterizing & Seasonal Maintenance Preventing Ice Dams: Why Gutters and Attic Insulation Matter An ice dam forms when heat escaping from the attic warms the roof enough to melt snow, which then refreezes at the colder eaves and backs up under the shingles. It’s one of the more common sources of winter water damage, and it’s largely preventable. Clean Gutters, Fewer Problems Clean gutters are the first line […]
Winterizing & Seasonal Maintenance Sealing Drafts: Windows, Doors, and Weatherstripping Before the Cold Hits A draft you can feel is a draft that’s costing you on heating, whether that’s a property you live in full-time or a cottage you’re keeping warm through the winter. Finding the Drafts The simplest test is also the most reliable: on a windy day, run your hand slowly around the frame of each window […]
Winterizing & Seasonal Maintenance Preparing Your Furnace or Heat Pump for Winter Whether you live in your home year-round or you’re closing up a four-season cottage for occasional winter use, a heating system that hasn’t been checked since last spring is not something to find out about on the coldest night of the year. Start With the Basics A basic filter change is the easiest place to […]
Winterizing & Seasonal Maintenance How to Keep Animals from Getting Into Your Cottage Over the Winter An empty, quiet cottage looks a lot like shelter to a mouse, squirrel, or raccoon once the weather turns. A bit of prevention in the fall is far easier than dealing with an infestation come spring. Seal Up the Outside Start on the outside with a slow walk around the whole building, looking for gaps. […]
Winterizing & Seasonal Maintenance What to Do With the Leaves Around Your Cottage A thick layer of wet leaves left over winter does more damage than most owners expect, and clearing them before you close up is one of the simpler jobs on the fall list. Lawn and Gutters Start with the lawn and any grassed areas. Leaves matted down under snow block sunlight and trap moisture, which […]
Winterizing & Seasonal Maintenance Protecting Your Dock and Boathouse Over the Winter Ice is patient, and it doesn’t take a dramatic storm to damage a dock. It’s usually the slow pressure of ice forming, expanding, and shifting through the winter that does the real harm, which is why fall prep matters as much for your waterfront as it does for the cottage itself. Protecting Your Dock Floating […]
Don't Miss Our Next Post
Subscribe Now