Checklist · HOA / community manager
HOA winterization checklist
One walk in the fall saves the burst pipe in January. The first hard freeze finds the same few things every year: an irrigation line nobody blew out, a hose bib left on, a gutter full of leaves that turns into an ice dam, a dark walkway that ices over. This is the built-in HOA winterization template — water, roofs and drainage, buildings, light and footing, and snow readiness — walked once in the fall, with a photo of each, and a work order for anything not done.
18 items in 5 areas · the built-in “HOA winterization” template, as it ships
How to run it
Three passes, in walking order
Water first
Irrigation blown out and the backflow drained, hose bibs off, pool closed, fountains drained, exposed pipes protected. These are the expensive ones.
Roofs, drains and buildings
Gutters, downspouts, roof drains and catch basins clear of leaves; clubhouse heat on; boiler and mechanical rooms checked.
Light, footing and snow
Timers set for short days, trip hazards fixed before ice, handrails solid, the snow contract confirmed, salt stocked, hydrants and curbs staked.
The checklist
HOA winterization
The common-area walk before the first hard freeze: water shut down, roofs and drains clear, light and footing ready for short days.
Built-in template, as it ships · reviewed against the app on 2026-09-18
| Water | Good | Fair | Poor | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Irrigation blown out, backflow drained | ||||
| Hose bibs shut off or covered | ||||
| Pool closed and covered | ||||
| Fountains & water features drained | ||||
| Exposed pipes insulated or heat-taped |
| Roofs & drainage | Good | Fair | Poor | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gutters & downspouts cleared | ||||
| Roof drains & scuppers clear | ||||
| Catch basins & storm drains clear of leaves |
| Buildings | Good | Fair | Poor | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clubhouse heat on, thermostat set | ||||
| Boiler & mechanical rooms: heat, access, leaks | ||||
| Doors & windows close tight |
| Light & footing | Good | Fair | Poor | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior lighting & timers set for short days | ||||
| Walkways & steps: trip hazards before ice | ||||
| Handrails solid |
| Snow | Good | Fair | Poor | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snow contract confirmed for the season | ||||
| Salt & ice melt stocked | ||||
| Snow stakes marking curbs & hydrants | ||||
| Generator tested, if the community has one |
In the app an item can also answer as pass/fail, done/not done or a number, and any Fair or Poor item becomes a work order in one tap. The PDF prints the checklist as shown, with a notes line per item and a signature block.
When not to use it
- — The snow events themselves — use the snow removal verification template after each storm.
- — Pool closing chemistry — the pool operator's job.
What goes wrong
- — Checking the clubhouse thermostat but not the mechanical room.
- — Leaving catch basins for the spring.
What this is not
A manager's visual walk. It is not a plumbing, boiler, roof or pool-operator inspection and does not replace the contractors who do the work.
The finished report
Complete the walk and the PDF exists
Every item with its rating, notes and photos; an action-items table by priority; signatures captured on the phone or through a link. No export step. See a finished one before you sign up.
Built for community managers
HOA / community manager
Common-area walks, amenity checks, violation drives, and reports the board actually reads.
Pick “HOA / community manager” at signup — or start from this page and it's already picked — and the app leads with this template and speaks the trade's words.
Questions
HOA winterization: what people ask
When should we do it?
Before the first hard freeze where you are, after the leaves are mostly down. In much of the country that is late October or November.
Who blows out the irrigation?
Usually the landscaper or an irrigation contractor. The walk records that it was done and when, with a photo, so it is not a guess in January.
Does this cover the homes?
No. Homes are the owners' responsibility unless the governing documents say otherwise. This walk is the association's common areas.
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