We were fortunate enough to buy a year round cabin in the Leech Lake area towards the end of the summer.
This is the first winter we will have owned a cabin, and I’m looking to shorten the learning curve of what to do or not to do.
What are some things you wish you would have known about owning a year round cabin with hindsight being 20/20?
Any things we need to be aware of?
We plan on spending at least one long weekend per month up there this winter.
Looking forward to your responses! Thanks
Programmable thermostat is nice to have. Not sure if you have internet to allow this. We turn our heat down to 50 during the week. It is nice to turn it up a few hours before getting up there.
Kill the power to your water pump any time you are not there during the winter. (Assuming you have a well.)
-J.
Jealous of the year-round part! Love our cabin and wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world but winterizing is a pain. And even though we got it down to almost a science, you still cross your fingers – at least one year a little “glug” of water somehow backfilled one little bend and burst-open.
BUT – you don’t have that issue! I would say that if you’re going to be away for long periods during the winter, dont be 100% reliant on constant electricity or a functioning furnace. Still shut off your water pump and fill you toilets/traps with RV anti-freeze when gone. If you have WiFi, than anything you can monitor conditions with remotely helps (Nest Thermostat, etc) – that way if there is a failure, you can know about it and get there quickly if need be… better than to show up for a weekend of ice fishing and have a skating rink in the living room!
Congrats! We purchased a bit over a year ago.
Snow removal. Is your road plowed in the winter? Driveway to clear? You’ll want a snow blower or plow vehicle if you plan to visit in winter.
Another thing I focused on before it got too cold was to make sure to seal up whatever I could see with spray foam and make sure if you have storm windows that they are in good shape. Plastic on the windows may help too if they are older and needing replacement like some of ours. Keep heat in and critters out.
Make sure any gutters are cleaned out before the snow flies too. It may help with ice dams not to have gutters full of ice if you’re heating the place over winter.
Furnace – get it cleaned and inspected unless you know it’s been done recently.
Programmable thermostat, no internet needed for 7 day programmable. I would have ours ramp up on friday afternoon about 2pm, so when we got there at 7, it was warm ! You can also program to ramp down at 8pm, in case something comes up and you don’t make it up. Also, assume you may lose power… water off. Enjoy !
We were first time owners right before the winter a few years ago. I’ve got a doctorate in cabin mistakes to help you.
Don’t let the propane tank go empty. We have to fill ours at least twice during the winter keeping it at 50 degrees.
x2 on the water pump.
Do you have someone plowing the driveway for you? Sucks to show up to the cabin and spend the first several hours clearing the path…if you can even get a vehicle down it.
Get the docks out before the snow starts to fall. We bought our cabin in September, was taking the docks out in snow, 3-4 foot waves in October. Total $h1t show.
Do you have a septic tank? Have it emptied well before the winter. They don’t want them empty when it freezes.
We hang blankets over our windows in the winter. Sounds stupid, but cuts our heating bill down by an amazing amount. Of course this depends on how well your cabin is insulated, quality of windows, etc.
This is just what I can think of off the top of my head. I’m sure I can add more later.
Unless you have modern windows, 3M window insulator kits are nice during the winter. Mind your water. (pump off when not there, ALL YEAR). When in doubt, drain. Secondary heating device. One that doesn’t require electricity is a plus.
In addition to our gas furnace we have a gas fire place on a thermostat. Requires no electricity to run except for fan. The list goes on and on. 
But its all worth it.
interesting thread……..our cabin is used year round. pretty well insulated but we dont have winter time running water. we have a pump from the lake during the summer and always bring our drinking water. heat and power always gets shut off when we leave.
no that i’m retired i leave for there in the morning and its plenty warm when i hit the sack!!!!!1 works for us.
we fill the propane tank once a year in the summer…dont think he’d get in with snow on the ground!!!1
I have a year around cabin near Aitkin. I have been shutting the water valve off but the power seems like a better idea, thanks. Do you have internet? If so:
1. Get a Wi-Fi thermostat that you can access via your phone, great tool.
2. I installed a LaCrosse Technologies Wi-Fi weather station with additional sensors outside, in critical inside areas that I can instantly assess the information on my app.
3. I have installed 3 hard wired Ring spotlight/camera’s to see what’s going on. They will also notify you on your phone app of any movement that you can see and deal with it. All I see are deer. bears, crows, and squirrels, but nice piece of mind.
As well, Propane pre-buy contracts are coming to an end. Check with your local propane supplier to see what deals they have. They probably have a guaranteed pricing till April 15 but it will be higher. I keep the cabin at 55 and it takes about 1000 gallons for the winter. If you have shades on any south windows make sure you have them slightly open on the bottom to prevent condensation freezing and melting which causes water to accumulate on the bottom of the windows.
Last winter the power went out during the ice storm. They did a good job restoring however I was concerned about back up for the furnace. Luckily using my LaCrosse weather station, it records the history and the lowest it got in the house was 48 after like 36 hours of being out. Still I have a plan if it happens again but would like to have a propane heater like an Empire, which does not need electricity to run, installed for emergencies. This thread reminded me to call the snow guy and set it up for this year.
Most of what’s already been said is spot on.
1. Unplug your well pump every time you leave. If something bursts, only the water in the lines to deal with.
2. 3M window kits for the win. We heat with a wood furnace when we are there, and electric baseboards when we are not there, keeping the cabin at 50+. Our electric bill has gone down $20 – $30 a month or more since doing that religiously.
3. Our baseboards are manual and not on a thermostat, but we have a Wifi thermometer than I can check occasionally for piece of mind.
4. If there is a days-long power outage your wifi will be out and you won’t be able to check temp. Always a good idea to be-friend a year-round resident near by, and keep a spare key hanging somewhere. You never know when you’ll need them to go in and help out in your absence.
Snowmobiles…
Winters are long and snowy. When we bought, we didn’t initially realize that snowmobiles are the winter equivalent to a boat in the summer. You’ll need them to utilize the lake during the four months of safe ice, otherwise you’ll be significantly restricted for a good portion of the year.
To monitor cabin temps while I’m away I use “Temp Sticks”by Ideal Science. They connect via the internet to an app on your phone, computer, etc. The app allows alarms. No fees!
I have electric baseboard heat. Each unit has its own control. Love to be able to have the ability to zone control these and connect a remote thermostat. Anyone that has such a setup please reply to me.
Power outages do happen in winter, we had one after the big heavy and wet snowstorm last January. An automatic back up AC generator would add peace of mind.
Make friends with your neighbors, it pays dividends in endless ways. What part of Leech are you by? My folks are in Nevis, and we love the area and our neighbors.
We upgraded to a 1000 gallon propane tank and that will last us all year so we can fill in the summer when prices are low. We used to have issues with pretty, they would wait and not fill when they should and other issues, bigger tank fixed that. We also have a standby generator in case we lose power so that we still have heat. And like mentioned someone to plow is important, hard to move old crusty snow.
We are just east of Longville.
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