If your Blue Mountain or Collingwood chalet will sit empty for weeks at a time, a full drain-down gives the most protection against frozen pipes. If you are up most weekends, keeping the heat on at a safe minimum, with a low-temperature alarm and an automatic leak shut-off valve, is usually more practical. A shut-off valve does not stop pipes freezing. It limits the damage when one splits, which is why many owners combine approaches.
Why empty chalets freeze
The Blue Mountain area and Collingwood sit in Georgian Bay's snowbelt, with long cold snaps and heavy lake-effect snow. Many chalets, condos and townhomes are busy on winter weekends and empty for days or weeks in between. That combination is how pipes freeze and how a leak can run for a long time before anyone notices.
- Weak spots: pipes in exterior walls, crawl spaces, garages and unheated mechanical rooms, and outdoor taps with a hose still attached.
- Power cuts: a winter storm can knock out the heat while nobody is there.
- Slow discovery: in Collingwood, the first sign of a leak is often a neighbour's call or an unusual water bill.
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Option one: a full drain-down
A drain-down removes the water from the system, so there is nothing left to freeze. A plumber typically:
- Closes the main water shut-off, or switches off the well pump on properties outside the serviced area.
- Turns off the water heater, setting a gas unit to off or pilot or switching off an electric one at its breaker, and drains it.
- Opens taps and drains the system from its lowest points, often blowing the lines out with compressed air.
- Adds non-toxic plumbing antifreeze to sink and tub traps, toilets and floor drains so the traps do not freeze or dry out.
- Shuts off and drains outdoor taps from inside.
The upside: the most protection, even if the power fails for days. The downside: the place cannot be used on short notice. It has to be recommissioned before you turn the water back on, and that step is where many spring leaks are found. Ask the plumber what else in the building depends on heat, since some owners keep a little heat on even after a drain-down.
Option two: heat on, plus a shut-off valve and alarms
For a chalet you use often, keeping the heat on at a safe minimum is simpler. These additions make it safer:
- An automatic leak shut-off valve: a motorized valve on the main water line, linked to sensors near the water heater, under sinks, by the washer and near the sump. When a sensor gets wet, the valve closes, and many models send a phone alert. Some also watch for unusual flow.
- A low-temperature alarm or a connected thermostat that tells you if the heat fails.
- Closing the main shut-off every time you leave, which costs nothing and limits any leak to the water already in the pipes.
- Opening cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls so warm air reaches the pipes.
Know the limits. A shut-off valve cannot stop a pipe freezing, and a split pipe may not leak until it thaws. Many systems rely on power and internet, so check how your model behaves in a power cut and whether it has a battery backup.
Two other things to check. In a condo or townhome, talk to the condominium corporation before changing shared lines or shut-offs. And read your home insurance policy, or ask your broker. Many policies set conditions for homes left unoccupied, such as keeping the heat on with someone checking at set intervals, or having the water shut off and drained. If you do not meet them, freeze damage may not be covered.
Checklist: before you leave the chalet
- Close the main shut-off, or confirm the drain-down is done.
- Set the heat to a safe minimum, and check that the temperature alarm and shut-off valve are online.
- Disconnect hoses and make sure outdoor taps are shut off from inside.
- Open cabinet doors on exterior walls.
- Make sure the sump pump, if you have one, has a backup or a high-water alarm.
- Leave a key or lockbox code with a neighbour or property manager who can check on the place.
- Know where the main shut-off is, and make sure whoever checks on the place does too.
When to call a plumber
Book ahead for a fall drain-down, the spring recommissioning, or installing a shut-off valve and sensors. Those are much easier to arrange before the first hard freeze than after it.
If a pipe has already frozen or burst, close the main shut-off if you or someone you trust can get there. Thaw pipes slowly with warm air and never an open flame, and make sure the water is off before a split pipe thaws. Our emergency plumbing page covers the first steps. If you are not on site, say so on the form and arrange access directly with the plumber. When they can attend is their decision, so if water is spreading, call your insurer too.
Costs depend on the size of the building and number of fixtures, whether there is a well or a sump to deal with, how easy the main shut-off is to reach, and, for a shut-off valve, how many sensors you want and where the valve can go. Ask the plumber to explain what drives their price.
Frequently asked questions
Is Blue Mountain part of Collingwood?
No. Blue Mountain Resort and the Village are in the Town of The Blue Mountains, in Grey County, just west of Collingwood. Permits there go through the Town of The Blue Mountains. See our Blue Mountain page for more on the area.
Can a plumber winterize my place while I am away?
Many owners arrange access with a lockbox, a neighbour or a property manager. Say on the form that you will not be on site, and sort out the details directly with the plumber when they get in touch.
What about the water heater in a chalet used only on weekends?
A heater that sits unused still needs attention, and heavy weekend use with long empty stretches suits some setups better than others. Our water heater page covers tank and tankless options. Tell the plumber how often the place is occupied.
If you want your chalet set up for winter, the short form is free to use and sends your request to one local plumber who covers Collingwood and the Blue Mountain area.