Winterization

Winterization refers to the process of preparing something for an upcoming winter.

The term is most commonly used in respect to aquatic play features, fountains, and the like, which must be drained and sealed up so that water inside does not freeze, causing breakage of the pipes in the fountain, or the like.

Winterization strategies

Some fountains, such as the Ontario Science Centre FUNtain Hydraulophone, the flame fountain in Nathan Philips Square, and a fountain at a hotel across the street, are designed to run year-round by virtue of heated water, whereas others require that the water be drained and that all apertures be covered to keep rainwater from entering the fountain and freezing inside.

Winterizing a summer home

Some summer homes, also known as cabins or cottages, were built for summer use only and need to be winterized each Fall. This entails locking them up, turning off water, electricity, and phone lines, and protecting various features from heavy snowfall.

In the New England area, many wealthy families living in cities during the 19th century had summer homes in the mountains. This was to flee the onset of yellow fever and other epidemics which often struck in the summer months, when city plumbing problems and stagnant horse manure in the streets caused a health hazard. Winterization would take place each Fall when the families returned to the cities (often when school started). In those days, winterization just referred to a lock-down of all movable parts as protection from winter storms. An example of such a summer home that needs to be winterized each fall is the scene of the movie "On Golden Pond", which was filmed on Squam Lake.

In the 20th century, these summer mountain homes in turn, were winterized to enable winter holidays, as the popularity of skiing in the mountains increased over the popularity of summer camping. In this sense, winterization refers to the addition of modern amenties such as heating and insulation, often entailing a complete rebuild of the cottage. An example of a former New England summer colony that has been transformed into winter cabins is Killington, Vermont.

Known sites that are winterized

*Dundas Square in downtown Toronto, Canada is winterized by shutting off water to each of the three eight-inch diameter pipes (East, West, and Middle supplies), draining all 20 fountains, and covering all six hundred nozzles with sixty nozzle covers, each covering 10 holes. There are three covers for the 30 nozzles in each fountain.
*The fountains in the middle of University Avenue in Toronto, Canada are winterized by opening all drains, and covering up the pools with plywood sheets.

External links

* [http://www.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/ASF4/443.html hydraulic pressure in that part of the water last to freeze]
* [http://www.naturalenviro.com/Article.php?ArticleSKU=Pond-Winterizing Pond Winterizing]