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Advice for Winterizing Indian Lake Ohio Vacation Rentals
Advice for Winterizing Indian Lake Ohio Vacation Rentals
It's been a great summer for the guests in your Indian Lake Ohio vacation rental. Now, the guests are gone and time to shut the place down for winter. It's important that the property is protected for winter, so that it's able to be used and enjoyed in summer. We have some advice for you to winterize your Indian Lake Ohio vacation rentals.
Turn Off Water
Shut off the water and thoroughly drain the water out of pipes. To do this, find the lowest faucet on the property, usually one on the exterior and open it up. Then go back through the cabin and open every sink, shower or bath faucet and flush every toilet to remove remaining water. You also have to turn off electricity or the pilot light on the water heater and drain the water heater into a floor drain. Disconnect garden hoses and empty pipes leading to outside faucets. Finally, you could use a compressor to blow out the last of the water.
Leave The Heat On
It's best to keep the heat on at a low level for the winter. Of course, power outages are possible and so if the power goes out for a couple days, there could still have problems with pipes cracking. Another argument for leaving the heat on at about 55 to 60 degrees if possible is to prevent the buckling of grouted tiles in bathrooms and kitchen due to the cold weather.
Remove All Food
This includes removing boxes of cereals or cracker and cookies that could attract insects and rodents. Wipe down kitchen counters, all appliances and the kitchen table. Clean out the fridge completely, and don't forget about the freezer. You don't want to come back in Spring or Summer to rotten food.
Unplug All Appliances
Unplug all the appliances including toasters and microwaves. The refrigerator can be left plugged in, but if you are unplugging that too, make sure you clean it out completely, as advised above. Check the pilot lights on the stove and fireplace and shut off the gas. It's a good practice to check for possible gas leaks at this time. If you have a working chimney, put a chimney cap on it or cover it in some way to prevent animals from getting in. finally, unplug the TV, stereo and any computers you may keep at the premises.
Bring In The Dock
Maintaining the dock is critical if you want to use or rent out your property in the next year. If you don't have a dock that can withstand ice, you'll need to bring it in during the winter. Rolling docks and floating piers need some manpower to handle but a standing dock will require even more reinforcements.
Winterize The Boat
You can hire your local marina to winterize your boat, or you can do it yourself. One thing to make sure of is to cover the boat securely to protect it from the elements. Store all the cushions, rafts and life vests in a dry, well ventilated area to protect mildew.
Check For Entry Points
Floorboards, corners, eaves and other nooks and crannies make great entry points for unwanted winter critters. Make sure you check them and seal any holes that are big enough. A good sealant to use is steel wool, which mice and squirrels cannot bite through.
While you will do all you can to make sure your Indian Lake Ohio vacation rental is thoroughly winterized, not everything is predictable. It is a good idea to look into hiring a winter caretaker, who will check on your property periodically, and take care of little things, and be able to alert you for any big issues. Taking care of your property for the winter will ensure that you don't miss even one day of summer on the lake.
Are you interested in starting the hunt for your lake house? Our expert agents are here waiting to assist you! Give us a call today.