Is there a better feeling out there than coming in from a cold blustery day to return to a warm snug home? Every winter we Canadians must endure challenging conditions before basking in those warmer summer climes. Until then, we must ensure that our homes are safe, warm and welcoming when we need to escape the perilous weather. We’ve decided to make a list for you on some essentials for maintaining warmth and comfort in your home to make it through the final stretch of winter.
Servicing Your Furnace/Boiler
Nightmare scenario: you didn’t have your furnace looked at before the cold snap began. During a particularly bad evening of snowfall, something happens to your furnace. Suddenly you’re at home, the cold permeating through the walls, you’re wrapped in every layer you can find and frantically calling whoever you can to come fix the problem immediately. It’s not a rosy picture, and one to avoid at all costs. If you haven’t already, hire a professional service to come in and service your boiler or furnace. This will all but guarantee that no issues will be experienced in the time when you need it most. You’ll be thankful for the peace of mind it will bring.
Clean/Replace Your Furnace Filter
If you have a furnace, make sure you look after the filter to stop ducts from getting dirty and coils from clogging up. To start, switch off your furnace power (so no accidents happen). Remove the filter, wash it in a sink or with a garden hose until the water goes through the filter clear. After that, simply leave it to dry. If your filter has a cardboard frame, then it needs to be replaced, not cleaned. Once dried and put back in, the air quality of your home will be much better!
Our last word on this; if you have to buy a new filter, the measurement for filter quality is from a MERV scale of 1 to 20. The higher the number, the better the filter, the longer it’ll last.
Have Your Chimney Cleaned
If you’re an avid user of your fireplace during the winter months, you’ll want to make sure that your chimney is cleaned. This is because frequent use will build up a substance called creosote, which is not only damaging to your health but is also highly flammable. We strongly advise you hire a professional service to do this for you, and that – depending on how much you use it – you have it looked at once a year. Do this is before the burning season get underway, so during spring, the summer months or early fall are ideal times. If it’s already winter, most cleaning services can accommodate you any time of the year. It’s never too late!
Weatherproof Your Home
This one may seem a no-brainer, but you’ll be surprised at how many spots are subject to a stiff breeze entering your home. Heating is a big expense and you don’t want to lose any of it as a result of those pesky small openings. Go around putting your hand over places where a draft might sneak in; through your doors, windows, your fireplace, electrical outlets or even lighting fixtures. Attics and basements are big culprits to losing heat in your home too, so see how these spaces are insulated and decide if it needs new or more lining. Weather strips will keep windows airtight, putting in door sweeps underneath will prevent gusts of wind entering in, a cover can be put over your fireplace when not in use while your local hardware store will sell draft-proofing gaskets designed for smaller areas such as outlets or lighting devices. Keep your family nice and toasty by retaining the heat in your home.
De-ice Your Paths
Slipping on ice is no one’s idea of a good time, so ensure that your walkways around your home are properly de-iced. Salt, the most common solution, lowers the freezing temperature of water and stops ice forming on surfaces when dropping below zero degrees. Pre-salting pathways before snowfall will create a separating layer and will make removing snow or ice with a shovel much easier.
However, if you can, please try and find alternatives to using salts. They can not only harmful to the environment but are also hazardous to the animals in our habitats and even our pets when they come in contact with de-icing salts. Solutions like beet juice, cheese/pickle brine or garlic salts often have a lower freezing point than salt, making them more effective if you live in a place easily affected by snowy conditions. Let’s try and make winter easier for all our friends out there, from our fellow humans to our adorable furrier ones.
Keep warm, stay safe and before you know it, warmer days will be here!