Opening the cottage this weekend? Tips for getting back to living at the lake

If you're heading out to the cottage this weekend, seasoned cottagers have some advice for you.

CBC News asked Dave Crabb, president of the Manitoba Association of Cottage Owners, and Morris Karp, editor of The Cottager, for their top tips on opening things up for the season.

1.Let it breathe

It may seem obvious, butKarp said the first thing you should do once you arrive is open the door and let the cottage air out.

"If there's been any accumulation of mold, insect ... or rodent remains, there's going to be trapped moisture and bacteria in the air that you just don't want to breathe," Karp said.

Then it's time to check for any damage that might have occurred while you were away for the winter.

"There were some areas that had very heavy snow," Crabbwarned. "What sheds and roofs survived because of snow load?"

Karp's damage-check list: possible water leaks in the cupboards, power lines, phone lines, the chimney, the deck and the dock. The thaw-freeze cycle in particular can cause damage at a three-season residence.

2. Safety first

What's that beeping sound?

Karpsaid it's probably your smoke alarms, which have been left without power all winter. He suggests bringing a few extra batteries in addition to your well-stocked toolbox.

Now's also a good chance to check your fire extinguishers.

3.Turn on the tap

"Water lines, of course, are always an issue, both priming them and making sure they're in good working order," Karp said.

If you have a heat-trace line that was disconnected over the winter, it should be an easy reconnection.

"But there's always a chance that's there's a leak,"Karpsaid, possibly caused by someone walking or driving over it.

Don't turn on the power to your cottage before you have water in the line for the water heater,Karpsaid.

"Inasmuch as I never remember that rule, I keep a spare heater element on hand, in case I burn out the hot water element ... which I always do."

If you left your septic tank partially full (whichKarprecommends), you may want to consider making this the year you pump it out. That should be done at least every four or five years, he said.

4. Dude, where's my dock?

Last weekend, Karp found his dock had floated 15 feet away from where he'd left it.

If you too have a wandering dock, haul up the anchor so the platform can be moved back to its original position.

5. Get ready to clean

"Even if you leave the cottage spotless in thefall, there's going to be some cleanup on the weekend," Karp said.

But be careful if you find any feces from rodents.Mice can carry the potentially deadly hantavirus.

• How to avoid rare, but potentially deadly, rodent hantavirus

Crabb said you should wear a mask and wet down any droppings before trying to sweepthem up.

He also recommended using bleach on any concerning deposits. The CDC suggests one part bleach to 10 parts water and using paper towels that you dispose of immediately after use.

"The sickness from any mice stuff is going to come during the cleanup if it's dry and dusty," he said.

6. Bug out

Both cottagers say it's important to remember to check for ticks after being outside. Wood and black-legged ticks can carry Lyme disease.If you find any on you, remove them as carefully as possible and don't twist them off.

Karp suggests checking in with your vet for the latest tick-repelling tools; some now offer prescriptions for dogs to help keep the critters away.

It's a bad year for forest tent caterpillars once again.Pesticides are available, but older trees should be just fine without it.

Karp warns that after two or three years of infestations, the caterpillars can kill deciduous trees on your property.

• Tick season in Manitoba: What you should look out for

7.Does it hold water?

Karp said he's made videos for his kids depicting best practices for opening the cottage. One of them is a reminder to put the plug in his boat ... but his son still forgot to do that last weekend.

They managed to stop the boat from sinking, but lost two cellphones in the process.

"So that was a recent lesson," he said.

Crabbreminded cottagersto take the time to properly wash and drain their watercraft when moving from one body of water to another to avoid spreading invasive species such as zebra mussels.

Karp also recommends checking the impellers to ensure they're free of leaves, and having a spare one for replacement since they can deteriorate quickly.

• Lake Winnipeg a lost cause thanks to zebra mussels: expert

8. Have a drink

Congratulations, your cottage is open! Sit on that rescued dock, pop open a lemonade or a beer and start enjoying the summer.