Design & DIY When should a heated waterline be turned off? By Cottage Life Published: April 30, 2011 Updated: October 24, 2023 share Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Copy Link Cancel Photo by tawanroong/Shutterstock When should a heated waterline be turned on in the fall and off in the spring? There’s no hard-and-fast rule in cottage country, where we occasionally get bikini-hot days in late September and flurries on Victoria Day. Generally, turn your line on by Thanksgiving weekend and off on May 24—the same rough dates for when to drain an unheated line and when to start using it again. Just keep an eye on the weather. Related Story 7 tips to keep your plumbing from freezing Related Story 4 winter catastrophes and how to prevent and fix them Related Story Prepare your power equipment for winter storage