How to Winterize Your Cottage in Collingwood: The Complete Checklist

Plumbing is the single most important part of winterization. A burst pipe can dump hundreds of litres of water into your cottage before anyone notices. In our experience, plumbing failures account for the majority of winter damage claims in the Georgian Bay area.

Shut Off and Drain the Water Supply

• Turn off the main water supply at the source. For well systems, shut off the pump and drain the pressure tank. For municipal water (common in Collingwood and Wasaga Beach), close the main shutoff valve.
• Open every faucet in the cottage — hot and cold — starting from the highest floor and working down. This lets gravity drain the lines.
• Flush all toilets and hold the handle down to drain the tank completely. Sponge out any remaining water in the bowl and tank.
• Drain the hot water heater. Connect a garden hose to the drain valve and route it outside or to a floor drain. This can take 30 to 60 minutes for a full tank.

Blow Out the Lines

Draining by gravity alone is not enough. Trapped water in low spots, elbows, and horizontal runs will freeze and crack pipes. Use an air compressor rated for at least 50 PSI to blow compressed air through every line. Start from the water heater end and work toward each fixture.

Add Antifreeze to Traps

Pour non-toxic RV antifreeze (propylene glycol, not automotive ethylene glycol) into every drain trap: sinks, tubs, showers, floor drains, and the washing machine standpipe. This prevents the water in the P-trap from freezing, cracking the trap, and allowing sewer gas into the cottage. Use about 500 mL per trap. Also pour antifreeze into the toilet bowl after draining.

You have two options for winter: leave the heat on at a minimal setting, or shut it off entirely. The right choice depends on your property, your insurance policy, and whether you have monitoring in place.

Option A: Leave Heat On (Recommended)

• Set the thermostat to 10°C (50°F). This keeps the interior above freezing while minimizing energy costs. Most furnaces in the area run on natural gas or propane, so verify your tank level or gas connection before closing.
• Replace the furnace filter. A dirty filter reduces airflow and makes the furnace work harder, increasing the chance of a mid-winter shutdown.
• Ensure the thermostat has fresh batteries (if battery-operated). A dead thermostat in January is a frozen cottage by February.

Option B: Shut Off Heat Entirely

If you have fully drained the plumbing and are confident no water remains anywhere in the system, you can turn off the heat. This saves on utility costs but means the interior temperature will match the exterior. Everything you leave inside must tolerate freezing temperatures: canned goods, electronics, cleaning products, and paint all need to be removed or protected.

Roof and Gutters

• Clean all gutters and downspouts. Clogged gutters cause ice dams, which can lift shingles and let meltwater into the attic. In the Blue Mountain area, heavy snowfall combined with freeze-thaw cycles makes ice dams one of the most common winter damage issues.
• Inspect the roof for missing or damaged shingles. A small repair in October prevents a large leak in February.
• Ensure downspout extensions direct water at least 2 metres away from the foundation.

Deck, Dock, and Outdoor Furniture

• Remove docks and store them on shore above the high-water mark. Ice heave can destroy a dock left in the water over winter. If your dock is permanent, install ice deflectors and remove the dock ladder and accessories.
• Store outdoor furniture inside the cottage or in a shed. Covering furniture with tarps alone is not sufficient — Georgian Bay winds will shred lightweight covers by January.
• Drain and disconnect garden hoses. Shut off exterior hose bibs from inside and open the outdoor tap to let any remaining water drain.

Septic System

If your cottage is on a septic system (most rural properties in Clearview, Meaford, and Thornbury are), have the tank pumped if it is due. Mark the tank and bed location with stakes so snow removal equipment avoids driving over the bed. Do not add antifreeze to the septic system — it kills the bacteria needed for decomposition.

Mice, squirrels, and raccoons actively seek shelter as temperatures drop. An unoccupied cottage is an open invitation if you do not seal it properly.

• Inspect the foundation, soffits, and around utility penetrations for gaps. Mice can fit through a hole the size of a dime. Seal openings with steel wool and caulk.
• Remove all food from the cottage — including canned goods (which can freeze and burst), pet food, and birdseed stored inside. Clean the oven and stovetop to remove food residue.
• Place mousetraps or deterrents (peppermint oil cotton balls) in kitchen cabinets, under sinks, and near entry points.
• Close the fireplace damper and cover the chimney cap. Raccoons and squirrels will nest in open chimneys.

An empty cottage in a rural area needs more than a locked door. Break-ins at seasonal properties are a known issue across the Georgian Bay region, and most happen between November and March when homes are clearly unoccupied.

• Leave interior lights on timers that mimic occupancy. A lamp in the living room cycling from 5 PM to 11 PM is a simple deterrent.
• Ask a trusted neighbour to park in your driveway occasionally, or arrange for regular property checks. Our Watch + Care plan includes bi-weekly inspections with photo reports.
• Remove valuables or store them out of sight. Do not leave expensive electronics, tools, or recreational equipment visible from windows.
• Install remote monitoring. A ChaletGuard sensor suite monitors temperature, humidity, water leaks, and power outages in real time and sends push notifications to your phone. If your furnace fails at 2 AM on a Tuesday in January, you will know within minutes — not weeks later when you visit.

• Unplug all appliances except the fridge (if you are leaving heat on) and any sump pumps. Phantom power draw adds up over five months and surge damage from winter storms is common.
• Clean and defrost the fridge and freezer if shutting off heat. Leave doors propped open with a towel to prevent mould growth inside.
• Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Replace batteries even if they test fine — cold temperatures drain battery life faster than normal.
• If your area is prone to power outages (Clearview and rural Meaford especially), consider a battery backup for the furnace thermostat. A UPS unit rated for 72 hours costs about $150 and can save your pipes.