Make the most of your cottage time by investing a little upfront maintenance before you sit back with your favourite beverage. Here are a few helpful tips—some of which are old hat and others you may never have considered.
Inside Your Cottage
- Fill the hot-water tank (before turning on the heating element).
- Check appliances for critter damage or habitation before turning on.
- Check for and replace chewed electrical wires.
- Dump any food if you see any signs of mice, bugs or any other critters that have been feasting away.
- Pitch out food tins bulging or swollen from freezing.
- Clean up after visiting mice with damp mop and disinfectant.
- Find mouse holes and block the suckers with steel wool.
- Block off squirrel holes.
- Restock medicine cabinet and first aid kits.
- Test batteries in flashlights, and smoke and CO detectors (if you don’t have any, get them).
- Stock up on candles and matches.
- Clean the woodstove and fireplace chimneys.
Outside Your Cottage
- Check for and replace chewed electrical wires.
- Take care of foot valve. Reconnect water pipes.
- Prime and start the pump.
- Inspect the roof and eaves for loose or missing shingles, faulty flashing, or gaping holes.
- Clean eavestroughs.
- Check to see if kids' lifejackets still fit.
- Inspect life preservers for damage; make sure there are enough for everybody.
- Inspect and tighten loose deck stairs and railings.
- Tighten or reinstall loose dock cleats and rings.
- Hammer in raised nails on dock and repair loose boards.
- Inspect floatation in floating docks.
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