How to close your cabin for winter: a checklist
Updated October 2026
Frost damage and mice are the most expensive surprises in a cabin that stands empty all winter. Both are largely avoidable with one extra hour on the last weekend.
The water
- Turn off the main stopcock first.
- Open every tap and drain the pipes completely. Remember outdoor taps and garden hoses.
- Empty the toilet cistern, and the water heater if it is being switched off.
- Pour antifreeze into drains and traps, so they don't freeze and crack.
The heat
- If the water stays on, rooms with water pipes must be kept at 10°C or more.
- Check that thermostats and heaters actually work before you leave.
Mice
- A mouse can get in through a gap of one to one and a half centimetres. Seal cracks and holes in the foundations, the walls and around pipes.
- Remove all food and food scraps, inside and out.
Damp
- Air out bedding and textiles, and leave the inside doors open, so air circulates and mould doesn't set in.
Snow
- Keep an eye on how much snow falls over the winter, and clear the roof after heavy snowfall, so the structure isn't damaged.
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