License #12173
The end of summer is quickly approaching, and many people are starting to get ready for winter.
In Villas, NJ, we are fortunate enough to experience all four seasons.
Vacationers flock to our beaches and look for summer rentals for fishing trips.
Vacation homeowners in the Cape May County area know how important it is to keep a summer home or cottage in tip-top shape, especially since they typically sit vacant for a few months of the year.
You don’t want to head into the winter without adequately preparing your vacation home. We know that winterizing your cottage can be a tedious process, so we’ve created this blog post to ensure you don’t miss anything important!
Read on to see why it is essential to winterize your cottage at the end of summer:
While some vacation property owners will shut down the power in their cottage for the winter, most do not.
This means that you will still be paying for utilities, even if you are not using as many services as you do while renting your property to guests or spending time there yourself.
Turning off appliances is a common practice in winterizing your vacation home.
However, many cottage property owners will not turn their heating systems off entirely. So you may want to selectively turn fuses off in your fuse box before you leave for the season.
You may want to consider extra security precautions like a security system or lights with timers.
Ensuring that you take measures to save money and energy in your vacation home will keep your utility bills low when you are not staying at the property.
You should also disconnect, store, and turn off any propane appliances before the long fall and winter break.
This includes barbecues, patio heaters, fireplaces, and propane tanks.
To avoid leaks while away from the property for a considerable length of time, be sure to close the valve on your smaller propane tanks before disconnecting and storing them upright.
It is important to regularly clean the rain gutters on your vacation home. Not only do clogged and dirty gutters cause possible water damage inside your vacation home, but they can also cause structural damage and personal property loss.
Gutters offer protection for structures by channeling rain flow via downspouts away from building foundations and properties.
Winter can be particularly hard on homes; heavy snow, freezing rain, and high winds can damage your home, regardless of the age of your home and roof.
Cleaning out rain gutters each year will reduce the risk of water damage from clogged gutters when it’s cold outside.
Taking action around your gutters also protects vacation homes from dampness that can cause unhealthy mold growth.
To ease the burden during a hectic time of year, take some proactive measures now. Start by checking the exterior and noting potential problems like cracks in your foundation or broken siding.
After thoroughly examining every part inside and out, you may want to call a contractor to complete minor repairs on the damage that could lead to rodent or pest infestation or other foundation or structural issues.
Fall and winter weather can do a number on roofs.
One way of ensuring that you avoid roof damage while you are away from your vacation property is by inspecting the roof for visible signs of wear, such as raised or curled shingles.
It is good to either spot repair or prepare for roof repairs or replacement if you identify any issues.
If your roof is damaged in the winter, this could deteriorate the integrity of your home’s structure and damage the contents inside.
One of the most stressful parts of owning a vacation property is being away from it when the season ends. And not just because it would be great to have summer all year round! Many things can go wrong when your vacation home is left vacant for the fall and winter.
However, with the introduction of smart home devices, it is possible to remotely control or monitor many features found in your house. If your vacation home is equipped with smart devices, you will be able to check in from afar!
At Majewski Plumbing, we offer expertise in smart home devices that can manage your plumbing, water usage, lights, thermostat, and more.
With the installation of smart features such as smart water devices or using a smart assistant, you can monitor your vacation home from wherever you are and save yourself money at the same time.
Get alerted to water leaks, and rest assured that your plumbing system will shut down before significant damage occurs with the Flo by Moen, or turn the lights on and off for safety and security, and more—all managed from your smartphone, computer, or tablet.
Winterizing plumbing in a cottage is recommended when it will be uninhabited for an extended period of time or if the pipes are uninsulated.
The winterization process involves draining all water from the pipes, emptying the water heater, and other methods which prevent water from freezing in the pipes and breaking the system.
It is important to winterize plumbing pipes before it starts getting colder. When water freezes, the pressure from expansion can cause leaks and breaks in your household plumbing.
Even if you plan to spend some time at your vacation property in the winter, ensuring that your plumbing system and other utilities are all up-to-date is crucial.
Here at Majewski Plumbing, we can help you prepare your vacation home for colder temperatures, regardless of vacancy. One of our skilled plumbers can visit your vacation property to prepare it for winter and ensure it is in proper order when spring rolls back around and you are ready to spend time there once again.
We also offer smart home installations. The Flo by Moen smart device is one that can detect leaks. We also can install new water heaters for residential and commercial properties.
Call us to schedule an appointment today with one of our skilled plumbers who can take care of any last-minute fixes before the cold weather sets in!
You don’t want to head into the winter without adequately preparing your vacation home. We know that winterizing your cottage can be a tedious process but it's extremely important.
Winterizing your cottage can:
Even if you plan to spend some time at your vacation property in the winter, ensuring that your plumbing system and other utilities are all up-to-date is crucial.
Call us to schedule an appointment today with one of our skilled plumbers who can take care of any last-minute fixes before the cold weather sets in!
1275 Bayshore Rd
Villas, NJ
08251
(609) 374-6001
1275 Bayshore Rd, Villas, NJ 08251Email: [email protected]Phone: (609) 374-6001License #12173