Keeping Your Cabin Warm for Fall and Winter

                                                                                         

As the days grow shorter, you may be thinking about the future evenings spend curled up in front of your cabin's fire, with a cup or two of coffee, hot chocolate, or cider. Now is the time to be ensuring that your winter will be a cozy one, free of problems for your cabin as it faces the cold and inclement weather of the coming seasons.

Make sure your heating system is up-to-date and working properly. If you have a fireplace and/or a wood stove, ensure that the chimney is drawing well and there are no obstacles to the proper release of smoke and heat. If you have another source of heat, ensure that it is working well by checking it regularly. Many maintenance tasks you can do yourself without the need of a professional - changing air filters, etc.

If you have a septic tank, you might give some thought to its ability to withstand the coming cold. If there is danger of it freezing, straw bales placed over the system can provide some valuable insulation. Regular pumping will also ensure that the system will not get overfull.

Winterize your plumbing by insulating your pipes. You can wrap your pipes with special heat tape and also open doors and cabinets to allow your heating system to access them and keep them warm. Consult a professional for other methods to prevent freezing.

Now is the time to make sure your windows and doors are properly sealed. You can do this yourself or hire a professional, but the end result will be money saved on heating this winter! This is also the time to check for holes that might allow unwanted pests in.

Your yard will look its best if kept regularly raked and mowed. Winter is a time when many plants go dormant, so keeping things trimmed isn't going to be as hard as in summer, but it's still a good idea to keep an eye on any ambitious plants that may be thinking of taking over the garden.

The U.S. Green Building Council (greenhomeguide.org) has some great information about how you can renovate using "green" materials and sometimes getting financial help or compensation! That, alone, is worth seeing if you can 'go green' with your cabin winterizing.

Winterizing your cabin will pay off with months of cozy living, without a disaster or, at the very least, a big inconvenience occurring. Getting started now will mean that you can settle in front of your fire knowing that you won't have to leave it any time soon!

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