Big Bear Homeowner Winter Checklist

Winter is Coming! It’s time to get your home ready for the cold, snow-filled, rental season. Here are a few items that can help you save money and protect rents! Some homeowners are more involved with their property than others. If you need our help with any of these items please Contact Us at: Operations Department (909) 752-0234 Extension 3. Email to destinationbigbearops@gmail.com. For all snow removal items please email dbbsnowremoval@gmail.com.

Heaters and Furnaces:

Be sure to change your heater filters and let Destination Big Bear know when you do. Dirty heater filters are the #1 cause of furnace failures. This simple task could save you thousands and it might only cost you $15 – $20 to do on your own. It is a good idea to change the batteries to the thermostat as well. We recommend changing filters at least twice a year. Please let our Operations staff know if you have taken care of changing your heater filter so we can update our annual log. If this has not been taken care of by early-November Destination Big Bear will go ahead and do this for a $80 fee. This includes the cost of one heater filter, furnace test, and thermostat inspection. Additional charges may apply for multiple filter replacements, batteries, etc.

Heaters (Portable Electric):

If you have a cold room in your house, make sure you leave a portable electric heater in the closet of that room. BUY NOW

Snow Removal:

Every homeowner is responsible to sign up with a snow removal vendor. Then Destination Big Bear coordinates and schedules their services. Please ask your snow removal vendor if they can include a path to the front door and a path to amenities such as spa and BBQ for guest arrivals. If you have not selected your snow removal company for the season or you need assistance with this please contact: dbbsnowremoval@gmail.com. See list of approved snow removal companies at the bottom.

Ice Melt:

If you have a steep driveway we recommend that you get a large 5 – 30 gallon metal can with a lid and fill it with ice melt and provide a large scoop to distribute the ice melt. Some use a gallon milk jug cut-out for your tenants to use. Or a large scoop with a handle as pictured. We will fill up ice melt as needed too.
You May Purchase Ice Melt From a Local Provider at Butcher’s Block.
Click here to BUY ICE MELT & CANS

Chimney Cleaning:

We recommend having your chimney, fireplace, or stoves inspected and cleaned. Here are a few companies who can help you. Please let us know if you would like us to help schedule and coordinate this. Cost of these service will vary.

Chimney Cricket – 909-866-5692
Mountain Top Chimney Sweep – 909-585-3724
Sweeps Luck – 909-337-0256
Absolute Chimney Service – 909-866-9101

Outdoor Furniture:

Most outdoor furniture come with coverings but some may be more challenging to cover. We recommend covering whatever you possibly can with good secured outdoor furniture covers. Glass tables will break very easy from 30 degrees and night and 50 during the day. We have witnessed glass tables breaking from just setting a cup of coffee on it. Plastic furniture can easily crack or breakdown completely in cold cold weather. It’s best to bring it into the garage or store it away for the winter months. For awnings and umbrellas, make sure they are down and locked away. Snow loads and winter storm winds can cause both to break and umbrellas. Umbrellas left in the hole on glass tables in windstorms and it caused the glass to shatter. Take precautions.

Shovels:

Avoid metal shovels at your home, they will nick up your decks. Plastic (without sharp edges) or deck-safe shovels are okay. Here is a link to one we suggest from Amazon. Make accessible to front door for guests if snowfall occurs overnight, they will be able to use them to leave property if snow removal has not been provided at the hour they choose to exit the cabin. Large Push Shovels like the one pictured to the left are ideal and will decrease damage to your decks surfaces.

Snow Poles:

Make sure your snow poles are up marking the entrances of your driveway. You may also need snow poles along the driveways so plows do not take out landscaping. These can be found at Butcher’s Block as well and help to keep your driveways and yards from getting damaged by plow trucks. If your home is located in The City of Big Bear Lake you can pick up poles from the City’s office 39707 Big Bear Blvd. These are large, orange, plastic poles that need to be installed at the edge of your driveway so the city will clear the berms.

Irrigation Systems and Sprinklers:

Make sure your irrigation systems are turned off and drained. Make sure sprinkler systems are closed down, turned off and drained. Please make sure your stop and waste valve is turned off as well.

Weather Stripping:

Make sure your doors and windows have good weather stripping to keep hot air in and the cold out!

Outdoor appliances:

Unplug fridges, drain sinks, turn water off to outdoor elements. Ensure decorative fountains, water landscape elements and pools, etc are winterized properly to avoid damage to motors, burst pipes, etc.

Screens:

Make sure all screen doors are taken down and put it away. Heavy winters will cause snow and ice to get in the slider tracks and these doors always bend slightly and come off. Screen doors are not needed in the winter. Supply closets and locked garages are good places to store your summertime outdoor items and we highly recommend it.

Approved Snow Removal Vendors:

* Vendors Serving Various Areas (Excluding Fawnskin)

– Angel Licona
Email: liconaservices@gmail.com
Phone: #951-505-2945

– Brian Gilligan
Email: gilliganconstructioninc@gmail.com
Phone: #909-913-0401

– B&B Snow Plowing / Sean Bock
Email: seanbock88@gmail.com
Phone: #951-312-1504
Services all areas except Fawnskin, may service Fawnskin if they can get at least 6 accounts minimum there.

– Vini Haro
Email: viniharo@gmail.com
Phone: #909-553-8757

– Cody Westbrook
Email: westbrookroofingandrepair@gmail.com
Phone: #909-915-5341

– Enrique Snowplow
Email: bearconstructionandpainting@gmail.com
Phone: #909-534-4597

– Faustino Fuentes
Email: faustno747@gmail.com
Phone: #909-708-5717

– Shawn McDonald
Email: mcdc65@yahoo.com
Phone: #909-292-7937

– Guillermo (Memo) Castillo
Email: memiucs@gmail.com
Phone: #909-744-0390

– Jose Morales
Email: moralesjose0530@gmail.com
Phone: #909-744-4284

– Nicks Home Care
Email: wardlaw.n1ck@gmail.com
Phone: #909-733-7435

– Antonio Morales
Email: antonio.272morales@gmail.com
Phone: #909-273-9298

– Juan Morales
Phone: #909-744-2046

– Moises Lopez
Email: moelcbuilding@gmail.com
Phone: #909-744-2131

– Jose Luis Diaz Leal Solis
Email: DJoseL1234@gmail.com
Phone: #909-648-9029

– Raul Bernal
Phone: #909-890-6346

– Miguel Monroy
Email: advancedautodetail2007@gmail.com
Phone: #909-801-4984

– Pablo Fuentes
Phone: #909-659-2098

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* Fawnskin-Only Vendors

– Jim Dooley
Email: twodooleys@mac.com
Phone: #909-866-3414
Services Fawnskin ONLY from Shore Lane to the Dam.

– Bob Varga
Email: T210@msn.com
Phone: #951-741-2934
Services Fawnskin ONLY.

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* Vendors for Specific Areas

– Warren Henry
Email: warren7henry@yahoo.com
Phone: #909-553-3857
Services Fox Farm, Castle Glen, Big Bear City.

– Arturo Talamantes
Email: grenassecas@yahoo.com
Phone: #909-241-8884
Services Big Bear City and Lower areas of the South Side of Big Bear Lake.

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*Snowblower/Shoveling Only

– Mike Kelly
Email: papawyatt2020@gmail.com
Phone: #210-243-9979

– Eduardo Gonzalez
Email: eg957036@gmail.com
Phone: #909-205-7264

Please let us know if you would prefer to manage these tasks or if you would like us to handle them on your behalf. By tending to these matters proactively, we can prevent the need for service calls and disruptions to booking schedules, ultimately leading to significant savings on your end.

We deeply appreciate your continued partnership with the Destination Big Bear family as we transition into the colder months. Should you have any questions or require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us: