Winterizing Your San Juan Island Home
A few hours in October is the difference between a fine spring and an expensive one.
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Island winters aren’t severe, but they are long, wet, and windy — and power goes out. The houses that come through fine are the ones where somebody spent a few hours in October.
For second homes it’s more urgent. A house sitting empty from October to May with a gutter full of needles and an uninsulated hose bib is how you find a real problem in the spring.
One boundary worth stating up front: I do freeze protection, not plumbing. Insulating exposed pipe runs, jacketing hose bibs, and adding heat tape are exterior protective measures. Draining a system, shutting down irrigation, repiping, or repairing plumbing all require a Washington plumbing certification, and that work goes to a licensed plumber.
What’s included
- Insulated covers and jackets on exterior hose bibs
- Insulating exposed pipe runs in crawlspaces and outbuildings
- Heat tape installed on vulnerable exterior runs (cord-and-plug only)
- Gutter clearing and downspout check before the rain
- Weatherstripping, door sweeps, and draft sealing
- Securing outdoor furniture, gates, and anything the wind will find
- Crawlspace vent checks
- Full walkthrough with a written list of anything else I spot
What it costs
Most winterizations are a half day. The standard $250 minimum plus $85/hour applies, or it’s included in the seasonal property care plans. Full pricing here.
Full rate cardCommon questions
When should this happen?
October. Before the first hard blow, after the leaves and needles have dropped.
I’m off-island by then. Can you do it without me?
That’s most of my winterizing work. Key or code, and you get a photo report when it’s done.
Can you drain the plumbing for the season?
No — that’s plumbing work and it needs a Washington plumbing certification. I’ll book a licensed plumber for it and meet them at the house, then handle the exterior freeze protection myself.
Photo: Your vehicle with signage, ideally with water or island landscape behind it. Doubles as the service-area image.
Shot list item 2.
Next step
Want this off your list?
Call (360) 317-0203 or send the details and I’ll tell you what it takes.
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