| As the days grow shorter, you may be thinking | | | | warm. Consult a professional for other methods |
| about the future evenings spend curled up in front | | | | to prevent freezing. |
| of your cabin's fire, with a cup or two of coffee, | | | | Now is the time to make sure your windows and |
| hot chocolate, or cider. Now is the time to be | | | | doors are properly sealed. You can do this |
| ensuring that your winter will be a cozy one, free | | | | yourself or hire a professional, but the end result |
| of problems for your cabin as it faces the cold | | | | will be money saved on heating this winter! This is |
| and inclement weather of the coming seasons. | | | | also the time to check for holes that might allow |
| Make sure your heating system is up-to-date and | | | | unwanted pests in. |
| working properly. If you have a fireplace and/or a | | | | Your yard will look its best if kept regularly raked |
| wood stove, ensure that the chimney is drawing | | | | and mowed. Winter is a time when many plants |
| well and there are no obstacles to the proper | | | | go dormant, so keeping things trimmed isn't going |
| release of smoke and heat. If you have another | | | | to be as hard as in summer, but it's still a good |
| source of heat, ensure that it is working well by | | | | idea to keep an eye on any ambitious plants that |
| checking it regularly. Many maintenance tasks you | | | | may be thinking of taking over the garden. |
| can do yourself without the need of a | | | | The U.S. Green Building Council |
| professional - changing air filters, etc. | | | | (greenhomeguide.org) has some great information |
| If you have a septic tank, you might give some | | | | about how you can renovate using "green" |
| thought to its ability to withstand the coming cold. | | | | materials and sometimes getting financial help or |
| If there is danger of it freezing, straw bales | | | | compensation! That, alone, is worth seeing if you |
| placed over the system can provide some | | | | can 'go green' with your cabin winterizing. |
| valuable insulation. Regular pumping will also ensure | | | | Winterizing your cabin will pay off with months of |
| that the system will not get overfull. | | | | cozy living, without a disaster or, at the very |
| Winterize your plumbing by insulating your pipes. | | | | least, a big inconvenience occurring. Getting |
| You can wrap your pipes with special heat tape | | | | started now will mean that you can settle in front |
| and also open doors and cabinets to allow your | | | | of your fire knowing that you won't have to |
| heating system to access them and keep them | | | | leave it any time soon! |
