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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

How Prepared Is Your Cottage for Winter?

1/22/2020 (Permalink)

Owning a cottage as a secondary residence could come with responsibilities you may not have with your primary home. If you only frequent your place during certain times of the year, there are several things you can do as the owner to ensure a successful winterization of your property. 

Although we are past the first month of winter in the Brown County area, here are a few valued tips recommended by insurance agents to cross-reference with your checklist; in case you may have overlooked an important detail.

  • Shut off the water supply, drain the pipes and hot water tank, and leave taps open to allow them to breathe. Toilets should be turned off and flushed, and then any remaining water bailed out. Alternatively, pour antifreeze into the bowl to protect the lines; be sure to use RV (pink) antifreeze or another environmentally friendly product.
  • Unplug all electrical appliances and electronic devices. Many modern electric and electronic devices continue to draw a small amount of power even when turned off; over a winter, it can add up to an expense you don't need.
  • Thoroughly clean the kitchen and remove any food. During the winter, rodents and even bears can sniff it out. This could create a considerable amount of structural and financial damages causing you to dig deep into your wallet.
  • If you can, remove valuables, such as TVs and stereos, and take them down to the city. If any valuable items left at the cottage, make sure windows are covered so that thieves can't see in and become tempted to break in, leaving your cottage exposed to those cold weather extremities. 
  • Install a cover over the chimney opening to prevent raccoons or other furry tenants from moving in. Inspect the exterior of the cottage, looking for other small openings that could be co-opted for an animal home – including under the deck, at the foundation, or under eaves.
  • Arrange to have a local snow removal company come at least once over the winter to remove snow and ice build-up from the roof. Even a relatively small load, such as a foot or so, can become dangerously heavy if there's a period of rain followed by a freeze-up. Put boxes over vents or skylights to protect them from snow loads or accidental damage by an over-eager person with a shovel.
  • Consider hiring the same company or someone to maintain the road and walkways around the cottage over winter. This allows access in case of an emergency such as a fire. Keeping the paths and driveway shoveled also makes the cottage look more lived-in, which is a security advantage.
  • Hire someone or ask a friend who lives up there year-round to check on the cottage periodically to make sure everything is okay if, for some reason, you are not able to get up there yourself. If something unfortunate has happened, from a break-in to a fire, to a roof cave-in, the sooner you are made aware and can deal with it, the better.

At SERVPRO of Brown County, our business is helping people recover after any natural or human made disaster. Water recovery is one of our specialties. We know that every water damage situation is a little different and requires a unique solution, but the general process stays the same. Our trained professionals are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays to help take care of your emergency circumstances.

If you unexpectedly find yourself in need of our water restoration services for your cottage, feel free to call us, day or night, at 920-434-8224.

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