Opening up the cottage in springtime

What to check first

No doubt your first reflex upon entering your cottage for the first time in months will be to make sure that the humidity and cold of the winter have not affected the building exterior or interior. Make sure no water infiltration has occurred during the colder months, either via the windows, doorways or the floor. Go up on the roof to check its covering. If you installed a cap or other protective covering on the chimney in the fall, don’t forget to remove it! Complete your inspection of the outside of the cottage by making sure no erosion of the land has taken place and in turn threatened the integrity of your cottage’s foundation or sill.

Now for the interior: check all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, making sure to replace the batteries, and verify that the fire extinguisher is properly charged. Check and repair, if necessary, your window and door screens, otherwise you’ll be sharing your summer home with a few unwanted insect visitors! Speaking of uninvited guests, now is the time to eliminate all traces they may have left during the winter: clean up rodent or bird droppings and remains, replace traps and bait, and so on.

Electrically powered cottage

Before you turn the power back on, visually inspect the wiring outside the building to make sure it has not been damaged by ice buildup, rodents or tree branches. If you see something wrong, do not attempt repairs yourself – call a professional. If everything is in order, replace the fuses in the electrical panel and switch the main breaker back on. Then, make sure power is reaching every room by reconnecting electrical devices one by one. As for the water heater, wait until you have reconnected the water supply and for the tank to fill up before connecting it to power.

Propane-powered cottage

The first step is to inspect the condition of the tank, hoses and connections. Before turning the system back on, open all the windows to make sure the cottage is well ventilated. Open the valves on each appliance first, then open the main line. A full inspection of the network is an important step that must not be neglected. Test all fittings and hoses with soapy water: if you see bubbles forming, that means there’s a leak. You will need to call in a certified professional to solve the problem. By the way, spring is the ideal time to perform the annual cleaning of the burners. Once you are sure the system is safe, you can reconnect all the appliances one by one – except the water heater. Make sure it is filled with water first.

Water supply

If the cottage uses a shallow well, you should clean it out every year and have the water analyzed at least twice a year. Once you are sure of the water quality, you can restart the water intake pump and open the tap. And with the water heater tank finally filled up, you can now turn it on.

All that’s left is to clean up, empty your boxes and get settled in… Have a great summer!