Prepare for winter - enjoy your cabin year round

There are things you need to do to prepare for winter if you keep your country place open year round in a harsh winter climate.

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home. Edith Sitwell

There's no doubt that keeping your home and property safe is a priority any time, but winter weather brings specific hazards, conditions, and challenges. Here are some things to help you prepare for a wonderful winter.

Make sure your water pipes are protected

One of the biggest concerns is damage from frozen pipes. If your home is heated throughout the winter, that removes the biggest risk of frozen pipes. Here are some other suggestions.

Insulate any pipes that may be exposed to freezing temperatures. You can buy foam insulation in tubes that are easy to install and that can be used on most pipes. You can also get fiberglass insulation, which comes in a roll. Wrap insulation around the pipe along its entire length.

If your water heater is exposed to cold temperatures, wrap it with a water-heater blanket, which saves electricity and reduces the chance of damage from freezing.

Avoid or do NOT use outdoor faucets in winter (depending on where you are and how harsh the climate is), and disconnect garden hoses to protect both the faucets and the hoses. Use spigot protectors, or hose bibs, to protect outside faucets from freezing. Made of polystyrene insulation, spigot protectors help retain heat from the house. Also, most external faucets have an internal shut-off valve that should be closed prior to freeze-up.

Use foam insulation material to fill in any gaps around your foundation. The insulation expands and will keep out the cold as well as insects, rodents, and other pests.

If you go away, leave the heat on, set to at least 55 F (12 C) degrees to protect your pipes from freezing.

Staying warm inside when it's cold outside

When the bold branches bid farewell to rainbow leaves - welcome wool sweaters. B. Cybrill

When our kids were growing up they used to complain that the house was too cold in the winter. Our answer was always, "put on a sweater!" Warm clothes are an economical way to deal with the cold. Other things to consider when you prepare for winter.

Keep your furnace and flue in good condition. Call a professional to inspect your furnace and clean your ducts. Have furnace filters on hand so you can change them regularly.(how often?:??)If there is a blower on your furnace, have it cleaned and oiled.

Get the fireplace or wood stove ready. Inspect the fireplace damper for proper opening and closing. Be sure a screen covers the fireplace opening in your home.

Buy or chop wood so you have a good supply. Store it in a dry place away from the exterior of your home.

Check out your chimney(s). Cap or screen the top of the chimney to keep out rodents and birds. If it's not screened or capped, make sure there are no nests in the chimney. I recall one year when my parents lit a fire for the first time in the fall at their country home and to their surprise a bird flew into the room. It had built a nest of willow branches in the chimney over the summer. What a shock for the bird AND my parents! They managed to get the bird out of the house safely.

If the chimney hasn't been cleaned for a while, call a chimney sweep to remove soot and creosote. Check the mortar.

Make sure combustible items such as spray cans or paint are not near a fireplace, wood stove, or any source of heat.

Check your doors and windows. Use weatherstripping around doors to prevent cold air from entering the home. My father built a simple winter porch that he'd put up each fall to provide protection from wind, cold, and snow around their entry door. It also cut down on drafts inside.

If necessary, caulk your windows. If you have storm windows, install them. Replace any cracked or broken panes.

Inspect your roof, gutters, and downspouts. Check flashing to ensure moisture will not get in. Replace worn roof shingles or tiles. Clean out the gutters and use a hose to spray water down the downspouts to clear away debris.

If you have lots of trees close to your house, consider installing leaf guards on the gutters or extensions on the downspouts. Trim trees if branches hang too close to the house or electrical wires.

Prepare for winter outdoors too

Store all lawn furniture. Move potted plants indoors. Clean out any pots that you will be leaving outside.

Drain hoses and sprinklers and bring them inside before freezing temperatures arrive. Clean, dry, and store summer gardening equipment. Drain gas from lawnmowers.

Check your foundation. Rake away all debris and edible vegetation from the foundation and seal up entry points and cracks to keep small animals out. Mice can slip through space as thin as a dime. Inspect sill plates for dry rot or pest infestation. Secure crawlspace or basement entrances.

Don't forget our feathered friends. As you prepare for winter, make sure you have seed on hand to fill your bird feeders through the winter.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

If you have a lot of snow in your area, you need to prepare for winter accordingly. Make sure you have a good snow shovel on hand. If you have a snow blower, have it tuned up so it's ready for service.

Keep your walk ways free of ice and snow. Have bags of salt or sand ready. Provide ample light outdoors from the driveway to the entrance to illuminate snow and ice patches.

If you have a long lane, make arrangements to have it cleared such as through your county or by hired help. Our county will plow on request for $25 and our lane is a third of a kilometre (328 yards). Remove dead tree branches. Heavy snow or ice can cause them to break and potentially injure someone or damage your property.

Be prepared for the unexpected

If you're out in the country it's a good idea to prepare for winter with an emergency kit in case you have a power failure and are snowed in for a few days.

• Have candles/lanterns and matches (or a lighter) handy for use during a power shortage. Be extremely cautious using candles.
• Buy a battery back-up to protect your computer and sensitive electronic equipment.
• Ensure you have a battery or crank-powered radio, working flashlights, and a supply of new batteries
• Keep a store of bottled water and non-perishable and canned foods (including pet food, if you have a pet), You can melt snow for non-drinking water needs.
• Adequate firewood for your wood stove or fireplace.
• Warm blankets and a first-aid kit.
• Anti-freeze to protect plumbing if you can't maintain adequate heat throughout the house.

If the power goes off:

• Notify your electricity supplier
• Turn off all electrical appliances
• Turn on battery powered radio for information
• Don't panic. When doors and windows are kept closed, houses remain bearably warm for several hours
• Conserve fuel by warming only one room and keeping temperatures low but bearable
• If you use a propane stove or barbecue for cooking, do not use it indoors
• Wear heavy clothing
• Switch to alternate heating equipment (wood stove or fireplace) before house gets too cold.
• Check plumbing to ensure that water pipes are not freezing up. If there is a risk they will freeze, follow procedures in the closing the cabin section.

When the power returns:

• Extinguish any candles or lanterns
• If you drained pipes and added antifreeze you will need to bring your water system back on. Flush toilets, drain sinks and tubs to dispose of anti-freeze. Let water heater fill up before turning it on.
• Check food supplies for spoilage - food kept in the freezer will remain frozen for 24 to 48 hours after power failure if the freezer door remains closed.