Opening your cottage after a Parry Sound winter isn't just about unlocking the door and turning on the lights. A proper spring opening catches problems early — before they become expensive emergencies mid-summer.
Exterior
- Inspect the roof and eavestroughs. Ice can lift shingles and clog gutters. Look for missing shingles, lifted flashing, and debris buildup.
- Check the foundation and walls. Frost heave can crack concrete. Walk the perimeter looking for new cracks or shifted ground.
- Look at the deck and dock. Boards can warp, screws back out, and post footings can shift. Test every board before you put weight on it.
- Clear the driveway and path. Fallen branches and frost-heaved flagstones are trip hazards.
Plumbing
- Re-open the water supply slowly. If you winterized the lines, open valves gradually and watch for leaks at every joint.
- Run all taps and flush all toilets. Check under sinks, behind toilets, and around the water heater for drips.
- Inspect the pump and pressure tank. Listen for unusual cycling. A waterlogged tank will short-cycle constantly.
Electrical
- Reset all breakers. Trip them off, then back on. Look for any that won't reset or feel warm.
- Test GFCI outlets. Every bathroom, kitchen, and outdoor outlet should have a working GFCI. Press test, then reset.
- Check exterior outlets and fixtures. Moisture and insects can get into outdoor boxes over winter.
Septic & Safety
- Locate and inspect the septic lid. Look for odours, wet ground above the tank, or visible damage to the lid. If it's been 3+ years, book a pump-out.
- Test smoke and CO detectors. Replace batteries. If the unit is more than 10 years old, replace it entirely.
If anything on this list is beyond your comfort level, call us before you head up — it's faster and cheaper to fix problems before the season starts than during it.