Winterizing Your Cape Cod Home: The Complete Checklist

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Cape Cod winters are genuine. Salt air, nor'easters, hard freezes, and months of unoccupied homes — the combination creates real risk for unprepared properties. Whether you're shutting down a seasonal cottage or buttoning up a year-round home before a winter trip, this checklist will protect your investment.

Plumbing: Your Highest Priority

A burst pipe on an unoccupied Cape home is one of the most expensive repairs a homeowner faces — and one of the most preventable.

If closing the home for the season:

• Shut off the main water supply at the meter or main shutoff valve
• Open all faucets (hot and cold) throughout the house to drain standing water
• Flush all toilets and hold the handle to drain as much water as possible from the tank
• Blow out supply lines — a licensed plumber with a compressor can do this for $200–$400; it's money well spent
• Add RV/marine antifreeze (propylene glycol, not automotive ethylene glycol) to all P-traps under sinks, tubs, and showers, and to toilet bowls and tanks
• Disconnect and drain the water heater if the home will be unheated

If keeping the home heated year-round:

• Maintain a minimum temperature of 55°F at all times — enough to prevent pipe freeze in insulated interiors
• Know where your main shutoff is; make sure a neighbor or caretaker does too

Heating System

• Check your heating oil level before the shoulder season; schedule a fill. Prices fluctuate, and pre-buy/budget plans from local dealers can protect against spikes.
• Replace the furnace or boiler filter
• Schedule annual service for your heating system — Cape HVAC technicians book up fast in fall
• If your home uses a heat pump, have it serviced; ensure the outdoor unit is clear of debris
• Test the thermostat to confirm it's reading accurately

Exterior and Roof

Cape Cod weather is hard on structures. Before winter:

• Remove and store patio furniture, grills, planters, and outdoor decor — Cape wind speeds regularly exceed 50+ mph in nor'easters; nothing is safe unsecured
• Inspect the roof for loose shingles, damaged flashing, or open seams — call a roofer in September before their fall schedule fills
• Clear gutters and downspouts of leaves and debris; ensure water flows away from the foundation
• Check siding and trim for gaps, cracks, or failing paint — salt air accelerates wood decay at joints and corners
• Cover or remove window AC units if they're the through-wall or window-mounted type
• Inspect deck boards and railings for rot — freeze/thaw cycles make existing rot much worse

Sealing and Insulation

Older Cape-style homes — especially the classic cape cod half-cape and full-cape designs — are known for air leakage around doors, windows, attic hatches, and where framing meets foundation.

• Apply weatherstripping to exterior doors if you feel drafts
• Add rope caulk or foam tape around window frames (removable in spring)
• Seal the attic hatch — often the largest single air leak in a Cape home
• Consider a professional blower door test and air sealing if your heating bills are high

Security and Monitoring

• Notify your local police department — most Cape towns offer a vacation watch program where officers will check your property periodically
• Install smart water leak detectors at the water heater, under sinks, and near the washing machine; pair with a monitored smart home system if the home will be empty for months
• Set light timers inside the home (not just outside) to simulate occupancy
• Arrange for a trusted neighbor, caretaker, or property manager to check the home after any significant storm

Moisture and Pests

Moisture: Cape Cod's marine climate means humidity lingers even in winter. Run a dehumidifier in the basement to prevent mold — aim for 50% or below. Check that the crawl space or basement has adequate vapor barrier.

Pests: Mice are the primary concern. A mouse can squeeze through a gap the size of a dime. Before closing up:

• Walk the exterior and stuff steel wool into any gaps at the foundation, pipe penetrations, and where utilities enter
• Set snap traps inside along walls — better to catch them before leaving than return to an infestation
• Consider a local pest control service for an annual exclusion treatment