How to Prepare Your Seasonal Cabin or Cottage for Summer

If you own a seasonal summer cabin, cottage, camp or chalet in the northern climates and close it up for the winter months, there are a number of steps to take in order to prepare for using it in the warmer months of the year. These steps apply whether it's a mountain chalet, a classic lakefront New England cabin or camp, or a cozy cottage on the seashore. The procedures you followed last fall to winterize it should have paid off in avoiding the necessity of repairs when summer weather returns. The following steps taken in the spring or summer will help insure a full season of enjoyment of your cabin or cottage. As you go through these steps to open your cabin each year it is suggested you maintain an up to date checklist. Revisions should be noted as you encounter them so they are not forgotten.

Restoring the heat in your cottage

Assuming you drained the water and left your summer cabin unheated restoring the ability to heat is often one of the first steps to take. Even though you expect warm summer weather to prevail it is a good idea to be prepared for cooler rainy spells. If you have a wood burning stove or fireplace in your cabin you might will to take the chill of with a fire thus a supply of dry firewood ought to be renewed.

For a wood burning stove in your cabin or cottage, this may be as simple as opening the flue and checking the integrity of the cabin chimney or chimney pipe for leaks, nests, or other obstructions, and bringing in a supply of dry wood. If your wood stove is blackened putting on a fresh coat of stove polish is suggested to inhibit rust during the higher humidity months.

For those cabins or cottages with an oil or propane heater or furnace the fuel supply tank should be turned on and the pilot light ignited if there is one. The furnace filter should be checked for dirt and cleaned or changed as required. If the fuel is low consider having the tank topped off especially if you plan on using your cabin or cottage in the cooler months come fall. Give the furnace a test run to insure it is working properly.

Turning on the cabin water system