How to Winterize a Vacation Cabin in Cuchara, La Veta & Rye, CO

The worst water damage calls are often the quietest ones: a cabin nobody has visited in three weeks, a pipe that split in a January cold snap, and a thaw that ran water through the walls the whole time. If you own a second home around Cuchara, La Veta or Rye, October is the time to get ahead of it.

We are veteran-owned and based in Colorado City, right at the edge of this country. This is the checklist we would follow for our own place.

Option 1: Drain the system completely

For a cabin you will not visit until spring, draining is the safest option.

1. Shut off the main water supply, and the well pump breaker if you are on a well.
2. Open every faucet, hot and cold, upstairs and down, and flush toilets to clear the tanks and bowls.
3. Drain the water heater using the drain valve, and turn off its power or gas first.
4. Blow out the lines with an air compressor if you can, or hire a plumber who does this.
5. Pour RV-type (non-toxic) antifreeze into every P-trap, toilet bowl and floor drain so the traps do not freeze and crack.
6. Do not forget the washing machine hoses, dishwasher, ice maker and outdoor spigots.

Option 2: Keep it heated

If you visit through winter, you can keep the water on, but only with a plan.

• Set the thermostat no lower than 55 degrees. Higher is safer when nights hit single digits.
• Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls.
• Insulate exposed pipes in crawl spaces, and seal air leaks near them.
• Install a smart thermostat or a temperature and leak sensor that texts you. A cabin without cell service needs a different plan, such as asking a neighbor to check in.
• Consider an automatic shutoff valve that closes when it detects a leak.

Don't forget the roof and the fireplace

Heavy snow and ice dams cause leaks in unoccupied homes just as often as pipes do. Clear gutters, check flashing, and read our piece on ice dams and roof leaks. If you use a wood stove, get the chimney inspected first, see our chimney and wood stove fire prevention guide.

If you come back to a frozen or burst pipe

• Shut off the main immediately, before anything thaws if you can.
• Do not turn on power in areas with standing water.
• Photograph everything for your insurance claim.
• Call a restoration company promptly. Water behind walls and under floors does not dry on its own, and mold follows quickly in a closed-up house.

We have more on the local picture in our Cuchara cabin water damage guide.

Local help

We serve Cuchara, Rye and the Huerfano and Pueblo County mountain communities, and our emergency response is available around the clock. Our IICRC-certified crew can extract water, dry the structure and keep mold from taking hold.

Questions about your cabin, or already dealing with a burst pipe? Call (719) 676-2456 and talk to a person who knows these roads.