1. Start with a careful walk-around
Before turning anything on, look at what the winter did. Walk the full perimeter of the building and the property edge while everything is still shut down. Snow load, ice, and freeze-thaw cycles tend to leave evidence that is easy to miss once you are busy with systems.
- Check the roof and eaves for displaced shingles, ice-dam staining, or sagging.
- Look for rodent or animal entry points around the foundation, soffits, and vents.
- Note any standing water or grading changes from spring melt near the foundation.
- Inspect windows and doors for seal failure and moisture between panes.
2. Restart the water system
The water system is where a winterized cottage either rewards or punishes the fall closing. If the plumbing was drained and protected correctly, recommissioning is routine. If a line held water through the freeze, this is where a crack reveals itself.
Pressurize slowly
Reconnect and pressurize the system gradually, then watch each fixture and joint before walking away. A slow leak under pressure is far easier to find on day one than after the cottage is in full use.
- Reinstall any drain plugs and the water heater drain that were opened in the fall.
- Prime the pump if the intake was pulled from the lake or well.
- Open one fixture at a time, working from lowest to highest, to clear air.
- Replace or flush cartridge and sediment filters before drinking-water use.
- If you use lake or well water, follow local public-health guidance on testing.
3. Power, propane, and appliances
Bring services back online deliberately rather than all at once. Restoring power and fuel in sequence makes it easier to isolate a problem if something does not behave as expected.
- Inspect the electrical panel and visible wiring for rodent damage before energizing.
- Have propane appliances and connections checked for leaks; this is work for a licensed gas technician where required.
- Restart the refrigerator and let it reach temperature before loading it.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and replace batteries.
4. Returning the dock and waterfront
Timing the dock return depends on ice-out, which varies widely by latitude and year. Removable and floating docks should go back only once the lake is clear of ice that could shift them.
Inspect dock hardware, decking, and flotation before reinstalling, and check the shoreline for erosion or debris pushed up by ice over the winter. The companion shoreline upkeep guide covers waterfront care in more detail, and the winterizing guide explains the fall steps that make spring opening easier.
References
For region-specific rules and water-safety guidance, consult authoritative public sources such as Health Canada and your provincial or municipal government. Requirements differ by location; confirm details locally before work.