Closing Down Fern Lodge

  1. All chair cushions, window bench cushions, throw blankets, and Navajo rug in master bedroom. Put tissue boxes in bathroom cabinet.
  2. Unplug all nightlights and electric blankets. Unplug kitchen appliances and radio on piano. Seal all soaps in plastic container.
  3. Bench swings, benches, and picnic tables on end porch—should all be up against wall and tidy. Low wooden benches up under eaves. Steel porch furniture inside great room. Aluminum table and chairs from end porch into last bedroom. Hammock and round swings in great room.
  4. Disassemble trampoline and store in barn. All boats should be drained of water and stored upside down in barn.
  5. Take garbage to dumpster in Shunk. Take remaining recyclables. Burn trash from all trashcans. TURN TRASHCANS UPSIDE-DOWN (mice get in them). Empty compost bucket under sink and wash out.
  6. Remove all canned food and anything that won’t survive a freeze. Check cabinet between stoves for any potatoes and onions!
  7. Shut off breakers for Hot Water Heater and Well Pump.
  8. Open all 8 faucets in the house (leave open!):
    • 1. Kitchen sink. Pull sprayer hose out of faucet as far as it will go, flip water dispenser up to open.
    • 2. Outside faucet.
    • 3 – 7. Bathroom sinks, hot and cold water knobs.
    • 8. Tub. Open both hot and cold water knobs. Set center knob to halfway open. Make sure shower head is tipped down so that it will drain.
  9. Attach garden hose to outlet at bottom of hot water tank (B) and feed outside. Open both top valve (A) and bottom valve (B) to drain tank.
  10. Open both valves (turn so that knob is parallel to pipe) at far end of house, by porch steps. Leave open!
  11. Disconnect hoses to washing machine (9) and drain.
  12. Open water tank drain valve (C).
  13. Flush all toilets (4 total) and use plunger to force out as much water as possible. UNSCREW FILL LINE TO EACH TOILET!
  14. Add 1 cup antifreeze to:
    • Toilets (4 total)
    • Sink traps (6 total)
    • Bathtub trap
    • Washing machine
    • Washing machine drain hose (in wall)
    • Dishwasher
  15. Electric box breakers that should be OFF:
    • Water Pump
    • Hot Water Heater
    • All Heat breakers
    • Stove/Range
    • Oven
    • Washer/Dryer
  16. Electric box breakers that should be ON:
    • Main breakers
    • Barn
    • All lights & outlets
  17. Check that doors and windows are locked. Shades down. Barn windows closed. Barn locked. ALL BATTERIES for tools should be taken and stored in a warm house over winter.