For property owners · Property care
How do I close my cottage for winter and open it in spring?
Closing a cottage means protecting it from freezing, water, animals and break-ins while nobody is there, then checking on it through the winter. Opening it means walking through slowly before turning everything back on. Write both routines as checklists, read your insurance wording for seasonal properties, and arrange someone to visit while it is closed.
In 60 seconds
- A cottage closing checklist protects the property from frozen pipes, water damage, animals and break-ins over the months it sits empty.
- Seasonal and secondary properties can have their own insurance conditions, so read your policy wording and ask your insurer or broker what it expects over winter.
- Checks during the closed season catch storm damage, roof snow load, break-ins and heat failures before spring.
- A spring opening should be slow and in order: look first, then turn on water and power, then test alarms and appliances.
- A neighbour, a local independent care professional or a licensed trade can each handle part of the work, depending on your property.
What should be on a cottage closing checklist?
A cottage closing checklist should cover water, heat, food, openings and paperwork. The main goals are to stop water freezing in pipes and fixtures, keep animals out, remove anything that attracts them, secure the building against break-ins and storms, and record the condition of the property so you can spot changes later.
- Decide with a plumber whether the water system is drained and blown out or kept heated, then follow that plan fully
- Shut off the main water valve and, if the system is drained, the water heater
- Empty the fridge and cupboards of food; prop the fridge door open once it is off
- Close and lock windows, doors and shutters; secure or store outdoor furniture and barbecues
- Clean eavestroughs and trim branches near the roof and power lines
- Check that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms work if the heat stays on
- Take dated photos of every room, the roof and the exterior
- Leave a written note of what was shut off, drained or left running
Should I drain the plumbing or leave the heat on at the cottage?
It depends on your building, your heating and your insurance. Some cottages are fully drained and left unheated; others stay heated with the water on and need regular checks. Mixing the two is where trouble starts. Ask a plumber which approach suits your system, then read your policy wording and confirm the choice with your insurer or broker.
For homes left heated in winter, the Insurance Bureau of Canada advises keeping the heat on and having someone you trust check the building, and warns that failing to do so can affect your coverage. If you leave the heat on, the heating system needs to be inspected and serviced beforehand, and someone needs to confirm it is still running.
How often should someone check a closed cottage in winter?
As often as your insurance conditions require, and after major storms or cold snaps. There is no single national rule: policies differ, and a heated cottage with the water on needs closer watching than a fully drained one. Ask your insurer or broker what applies, then set a written visit schedule with a named backup.
Winter visits usually cover the roof and snow load, doors and windows, signs of animals, the heat if it is on, and access for emergency vehicles if the laneway matters. The checker should send a dated note with photos after each visit.
What should I check when opening the cottage in spring?
Walk around and through the cottage before turning anything on. Look for roof, eavestrough and tree damage, signs of animals, water stains and break-ins. Then restore water slowly, checking each fixture for leaks, turn on power and appliances, test the alarms and inspect the dock and septic area. Photograph anything that has changed.
- Outside: roof, chimney, eavestroughs, fallen trees and branches, drainage away from the building
- Inside: water stains, mould, droppings or nests, broken glass, missing items
- Water: open the main valve slowly, then check under every sink, toilet and the water heater
- Power and fuel: turn systems back on as your trades have advised, and watch for smells or sparks
- Alarms: test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and replace batteries
- Well water: arrange testing if you rely on a well, following your provincial guidance
- Insurance: update your home inventory and tell your insurer about any renovations
What about spring thaw and flooding at the cottage?
Spring thaw can bring water toward buildings, especially near lakes and rivers. The Insurance Bureau of Canada suggests clearing snow away from the building, keeping eavestroughs and downspouts clear, checking drainage, and not storing valuables in the basement. It also notes that sewer backup and overland flood coverage are not automatically included in every policy.
Ask your insurer or broker which water-related coverages your seasonal property has before thaw season, not after. If your cottage sits in an area prone to spring flooding, follow local emergency updates and your municipality’s guidance.
Who can help open, close and check a cottage?
Many owners split the work. A licensed plumber or heating technician handles draining, blowing out lines or servicing the heat. A neighbour, relative or local independent care professional handles regular checks, snow and spring clean-up. Choose based on distance: a checker who lives hours away cannot respond to a storm the same day.
A checker is not a replacement for a licensed trade. If your system needs a specific shut-down or start-up procedure, have a qualified person do it and leave written instructions at the cottage for everyone else.
How does Maple Care help cottage owners find local help?
On Maple Care you post a free property care request for your cottage area; it shows only the nearest city or town, not your name or address. Independent care professionals nearby who want your contact details pay to get them, up to a limit you set of at least five. You check them and agree terms directly.
Our team reviews every account, and verified badges are a screening signal, not a background check. Maple Care does not supervise visits, set rates or handle payment, and it does not replace a licensed plumber or electrician. Ask our team for our care agreement template to put the seasonal schedule in writing.
Free to post. Your contact details stay private.
Frequently asked questions
When should I close my cottage for winter?
Before the first hard freeze where your cottage is, which varies widely across Canada. Book your plumber or heating technician early, since autumn is busy. If you use the cottage into late fall, plan at least a partial closing and a checker for surprise cold snaps.
Does my home insurance cover my cottage?
Not necessarily. A seasonal or secondary property may be insured separately or under different conditions from your main home, including conditions about checks when it sits empty. Read your policy wording and ask your insurer or broker what applies before you close for the season.
Is a remote temperature sensor enough for a winter cottage?
A sensor that alerts you to a temperature drop is useful, but someone still has to get there, turn off the water and call for repairs. Keep a local person on your list who can respond quickly, and ask your insurer whether remote monitoring changes anything in your policy.
Should I leave a key with a neighbour?
Often it helps, especially if they can check after storms. Label the key without the address, give them your written shut-off instructions and trade contacts, and agree what they may do without calling you first. Tell your insurer or checker who else has access.
Can I rent out my cottage between seasons?
Possibly, but short-term rentals are regulated by municipalities and, in some provinces, by provincial law, and your insurance may treat paying guests differently. Check local rules and speak to your insurer or broker before listing it.
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