Essential Guide to Closing Your Georgian Bay Cottage

2025-Sep-29

Essential Guide to Closing Your Georgian Bay Cottage

As the seasons change and winter approaches, it’s essential to properly close up your seasonal property. The freeze, wind, and ice that come with fall and winter love breaking stuff, so by closing the cottage the right way and you’ll avoid heartache, big repair bills, and insurance headaches.

The list below provides a system-by-system guide to help you prepare your Georgian Bay cottage for the cold months ahead.

Quick timeline (what to do when)

2–4 weeks before departure: schedule pros — HVAC/furnace tune, plumber for the winterization (if you’ll be draining), propane technician, and a solar/battery check if you have storage
Last weekend/final day: complete the inside-and-out checklist below (drain lines or set heat, secure boats, lock up)
After you leave: arrange a local check person (neighbor, property manager) and tell your insurer if the place will be vacant. Many policies require checks or have vacancy endorsements—don’t assume coverage if you leave it unmonitored

Exterior & structure (roof, windows, decks, docks)

Clear gutters and downspouts of leaves & debris so fall rains and melting snow don’t back up into walls
Inspect roof and flashings; make minor repairs now (replace any broken or missing shingles and repair damaged seals)
Trim back branches that overhang the cottage or dock and may be brought down by ice
Store or secure loose items (furniture, kayaks, cushions)
Lock or remove outdoor propane grills (make sure to clean them to keep pests away)
Raise/tie up dock floats or remove sections if your shoreline is subject to ice heave; check local dock-storage best practices
Winterize wood surfaces: clean, apply a protective finish where needed, and cover deck furniture where practical

Plumbing & septic

Avoid freezing damage. If pipes freeze in a cottage, repair costs can be huge. Two common approaches:

If you’ll leave heat on/someone will check in
- Leave the main water supply ON, set thermostat to a safe baseline, and arrange regular checks (many insurers require this or will exclude freeze claims)
If you will completely winterize (water OFF):

1. Close the main water valve and drain hot and cold lines (open all faucets, flush toilets)
2. Use the lowest drain point or a sillcock to remove all water
3. Use an air compressor to blow out lines (especially for long/cottage plumbing runs) — do this before adding antifreeze
4. Add RV-grade (propylene glycol) antifreeze into traps, toilets and fixtures per manufacturer guidance — do not use automotive antifreeze
5. Drain and winterize the hot-water tank per manufacturer instructions (some tanks can be drained; others may require a tech)

For boilers/furnaces – have a pro service and set freeze protection or an appropriate low temperature

Septic systems – don’t leave a septic tank completely empty right before winter; follow septic-specific guidance about pumping and insulating exposed pipes or tanks and avoid piling snow over the drainfield

If you’re unsure, book a local plumber experienced with Georgian Bay cottages — the coastline, shallow slabs and exposed tanks have quirks.

Electrical (safety, energy & theft prevention)

Unplug nonessential appliances (TVs, small electronics)
- Leave only the fridge/freezer (if you keep them running) and security devices powered
Label and switch off circuits you don’t need – leave main breaker accessible for a local check person
- If you keep heat on, set thermostats to a safe minimum
If you have a generator, confirm it’s fueled, serviced, and that CO vents are clear; never run a portable generator indoors!
- For complex electrical work (service panels, solar integration), hire a licensed electrician
Install tamper-resistant covers on exterior outlets, and consider motion lighting and smart cameras (with good mobile alerts) if you want real-time monitoring

Gas & propane (safety & fuel)

Propane tanks – leave tanks outdoors, upright, and clear of snow and heavy debris; do not blanket them — suppliers and regulators advise keeping access clear for deliveries and emergency access
- For any connections, leaks or shut-offs, use a licensed propane technician (TSSA regulates safe fuel handling in Ontario)
Appliances – have furnaces, wall heaters and gas ranges serviced before you leave
- If you plan to shut off gas for winter, have a qualified tech close and secure the supply and purge lines as required
Grills & portable cylinders – disconnect and store small cylinders outdoors in an upright, secured place or have supplier pick them up per local rules

Solar PV & battery storage (island cottages and grid-tied systems)

Document your system – inverter model, battery type, remote monitoring credentials and emergency shutdown procedure
- NRCan recommends planning for battery storage and ensuring charged states and safe shutdown procedures are followed
If you keep the system live – confirm remote monitoring is working and that the battery management system has appropriate cold-weather settings; batteries behave differently in extreme cold and may require enclosure heating or derating
If you shut the system down for winter – follow manufacturer steps for powering down inverters and isolating batteries; battery storage requires special handling — hire a solar installer or an electrician experienced with battery systems

Fireplaces and Woodstoves

Clean out all debris and ashes from the bottom of woodburning stoves and fireplaces
Clean and check glass windows for cracks
Check the damper to ensure soot and debris is removed and close the damper vent
Pack up and remove loose paper products, old rags, chemicals, and other items that could easily catch or spread fire
Ensure there’s a supply of wood and kindling on hand ready to go in the spring!

Pest Mitigation

Stop up any openings small animals may be able to squeeze through and use a chimney cap or cover to stop unwanted visitors from getting in
Pack up all food (even dry and canned goods) and take it home with you
Make sure BBQs are cleaned and stored
Seal up mattresses, bedding and other soft furniture to discourage nesting (including a few sheets of fabric softener inside will help discourage mice as well)

Boats & motors — winterize like a pro

A correctly winterized boat means a much happier spring launch.

Key steps for outboards & inboards:

Flush cooling systems with fresh water and drain completely; add antifreeze where needed
Stabilize and top up the fuel tank; add fuel stabilizer and run the engine briefly to circulate
Change engine oil and filter (inboard) and fog the engine to coat internal parts with preservative.
- Remove spark plugs for fogging as recommended
Remove batteries or put them on a smart maintainer; store batteries in a dry, warm place if possible
Clean and dry the interior, remove valuables and electronics, and drain/anti-freeze onboard water systems and head
Shrinkwrap or properly cover the hull; for boats left in water, follow marina guidelines — some waters/locations advise hauling to avoid ice damage
- Insurance and marina rules vary; confirm storage method in advance

Security, insurance & the human plan

Tell your insurance broker if the cottage will be vacant for an extended period — policies commonly exclude freeze/water damage for unmonitored properties and many require checks
- Arrange an agreed check frequency with your insurer
Leave keys with a trusted local person and give them a checklist and contact numbers for contractors and the insurer
Install or test monitored alarms, smart cameras, and remote sensors (temperature/water leak) so you can get alerts if heat is lost or a freeze is imminent

Final quick safety reminders

Hire pros for gas/propane, electrical panels, solar battery work and complex boiler/drain tasks — mistakes are dangerous
Carbon monoxide – never run a generator or leave portable heaters in enclosed spaces without proper ventilation and CO alarms
Document everything – photo the state of critical systems and keep serial numbers & manuals in a folder (digital + physical)

By following this comprehensive list, you’ll ensure your seasonal property is properly winterized, secure, and protected from damage. Take the time to complete these tasks, and you’ll enjoy a worry-free winter, knowing your property is safe and ready for the spring.

Cottage Life has a short video of tips here:

2025-Sep-29