Kawartha Waterfront Cottage Blog & Resources

Cottage Resources

Follow These Electrical Safety Tips for Stress-Free Cottage Living

The following article was written by Fernando Walston of ACE Sydney Electricians. While electrical appliances and fixtures these days are very…

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The City of Kawartha Lakes is Reviewing Maintenance Standards on Unassumed and Private Roadways

The City of Kawartha Lakes is undertaking a comprehensive review of maintenance standards for unassumed and private roads. As part of the study,…

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Top Tips for a Safer Autumn at the Cottage

As the weather turns colder and you spend more time indoors, use the safety tips from the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) to stay…

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Cottage Fire Safety Checklist

Although your cottage is a place where you relax and unwind, don’t overlook fire safety at your weekend retreat. Ensure that you can answer…

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Marine Hazard Marking on Balsam Lake

(The following information is from an article by Jeff Taylor, which appeared in the Balsam Lake Association’s 2016 newsletter.)

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Dredging at Your Cottage in the Kawarthas

If you own a waterfront cottage in the Kawarthas, perhaps you’ve dreamed about deeper water close to your shoreline that’s more idyllic for…

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Do You Have a Cottage on Balsam Lake? Recycle Your Old Electronics Here

The idea of spring cleaning – and purging – can be daunting. If you’re gearing up to clean and cull at your Balsam Lake cottage, getting rid…

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How to Safeguard the Water Lines at Your Kawartha Cottage

Your cottage water line can freeze in the winter. If you visit your Kawartha cottage on winter weekends, and the temperature plunges, leave an…

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Kawartha Lakes Enhances Service Centre Phone System

The city has taken a step in making telephone communications with municipal service centres more streamlined and efficient.

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Reminder to Kawartha Cottagers – Septic Disposal Rate Increase

In 2015, the city increased the septic disposal rates to reflect the increased cost of operating wastewater treatment facilities.

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How to Guard Against Frozen Water Pipes at Your Kawartha Cottage

The pipes in your cottage can freeze in cold weather. If your pipes freeze, you may have no water or your pipes could burst, which leads to…

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How to Keep Animals Out of Your Garbage at the Cottage 101

Here are a few simple tips to help keep animals out of your garbage at the cottage:

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2016 Recycling and Waste Calendar Now Available

The 2016 Recycling and Waste Calendar is now available at municipal service centres, libraries, city hall, and participating retailers in the City…

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Cottage Smoke Alarms 101

The basics The toxic smoke unleashed in a house fire kills. Flames are an obvious danger however in most cases, flames cause structural damage, but…

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A Visit to Your Closest Municipal Service Centre in the Kawarthas Could Pay Dividends

Although you may only visit your Kawartha cottage on weekends, if you take a day off during the week and head to the Kawarthas, it’s worth…

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Is it Time for a Dump Run? Here are the Autumn and Winter Landfill Hours in the Kawarthas

In the autumn, activity at the City of Kawartha Lakes landfill sites slows down. With the departure of seasonal residents and a decline in…

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Get Out the Rake, Commune with Nature, and Remember these Collection Dates at Your Cottage

Perhaps you’re feeling rakish about autumn’s imminent work on your cottage property. Indeed, there are plenty of trees in Kawartha Lakes. Once…

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Maintaining Your Dryer at the Cottage Can Help Prevent Fires

Lots of people save their laundry for weekends. If you own a cottage and your weekdays are chaotic, you may take your laundry with you to cottage…

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Electrical Safety and Your Cottage in the Kawarthas

The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) offers the following advice to ensure your electrical system at the cottage operates safely as well as…

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Thinking of Upgrading the Wiring at Your Cottage in the Kawarthas?

Perhaps you’re planning to upgrade the electrical wiring in your cottage over the next couple of months. For your safety, you should hire a…

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Tackle a Paint Project at Your Cottage this Summer and Help Save the Environment, Too

Perhaps you have plans to paint your porch at the cottage this summer or to spruce up a bedroom with a fresh coat of paint.

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Why is a Shoreline Road Allowance 66 Feet?

If you’re a waterfront property owner, you probably know shoreline road allowances are critical in cottage purchases. But perhaps you’ve…

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Cottagers and Residents Urged to be Cautious While Burning Despite End of Ban

The City of Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Service lifted its annual burn ban for April on Friday, May 1, but residents and cottagers – are still…

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Wise Sellers Should Prepare an Informal Cottage Manual

Ours is almost nine years old. We’ve jotted notes on the margins, updated contacts, and made photocopies of the original document.

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How to Protect Your Cottage Water Pipes Against the Frigid Cold

We hope you don’t have to worry about the pipes freezing at your cottage again this season. Nonetheless, it was minus 26 yesterday morning, which…

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Do You Always Forget the Waste Collection Dates in the Kawarthas?

If you’re in Toronto during the week and in the Kawarthas on weekends, you may find it difficult to keep all of the collection days straight. As…

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Getting Your Cottage Ready for the Market: Staging 101

Once you’ve made the decision to sell, it’s time to turn your cottage into an appealing and marketable property. The way you live at your…

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Now that Summer is Over & Your Friends Visit Your Cottage Less Often, Unwanted Guests Come Calling

It’s the wee hours of the morning and you are knocked from your sleep by the sound of scurrying within the walls of your cottage bedroom. It’s…

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Thinking About Selling Your Kawartha Cottage? These Renovation Projects Pay Dividends

We checked in with brokers and real estate agents within our brokerage to find out where they advise would-be sellers to concentrate their…

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City’s Facebook Page Helps You Keep on Top of Recycling at Your Kawartha Cottage

If you live in Toronto, you probably find that recycling at your Kawartha cottage is less straightforward. After all, you need to know what you…

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A New Loan Program Will Help you Fix the Ailing Septic System at Your Cottage in the Kawarthas

If you have a cottage in the City of Kawartha Lakes and you’re worried about your deteriorating septic system, you have a solution, thanks to a…

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Algae, the Kawarthas, and You

(The following information is from the Kawartha Lake Stewards Association) Who needs algae?

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If You’re a Boater, You Can Help Stop the Spread of Harmful Aquatic Exotic Species

The Balsam Lake Association has the following advice for boaters to help stem the spread of harmful aquatic species such as the Eurasian water…

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How You Can Help Lower Phosphorus Levels in Your Lake and Stem the Growth of Aquatic Plants

The Balsam Lake Association has the following advice for cottagers and waterfront residents: keep phosphorus levels low with a green, chemical-free…

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Waterfront Property Owners and Riparian Rights

If you own land that borders the shore of a navigable lake you may have certain rights known as riparian rights.

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Want to Build a Dock or Boathouse at Your Cottage? Use this First Call Sheet

The Lakeland Alliance has created an excellent fact sheet to help you identify who you should call if you’re planning work around your…

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Keeping your Cottage in the family

The vacation home your family loves has grown in value over the years. Now, as you consider transferring its ownership, you wonder about the…

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Aquatic Weed Harvesting / Herbicide Permit Application Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site

In the attached PDF download, learn about the specific project application guidelines set by The Ontario Ministry of Environment. The ministry is…

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Types of Lakes and Docks in Ontario

In the attached PDF downloads, learn about the different types of lakes in Ontario which includes swimming quality, aquatic plant growth, species…

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Private Wells, Run Off / Erosion Protection and Septic Systems

It is important to protect our municipal and local drinking water supplies, as well as our groundwater. Through education and collaboration,…

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