Do you feel that? The cool chill in the morning when you’re off to work, or dropping the kids to school? Yes, that all-too-familiar Canadian winter is upon us once again. Time to take out the winter coats, check those fairy lights and ultimately brace ourselves for the impending ice and snow. Sadly, getting your home ready for the colder conditions is unavoidable. No one wants to be caught out by the season and left vulnerable to its unforgiving nature, so we’ve put together a list for you – and we hope you check it twice!
Weatherproof Everything!
Seriously, no one likes a draft! Windows, doors, attic, basement – an unwelcome breeze can come from anywhere. Apply weatherproofing and caulking to potential problem areas to seal them up. Any aging door or window frames, battered from previous winters, should be considered for replacing before a real problem arises!
Prevent Pipes Freezing
Damaged water pipes aren’t fun any time of year it is. The cold can reap havoc on them, so two tips we’ve learnt over the years is to keep the heating on as much as possible. If this is too costly, allow the faucet to continuously drip to make it tougher for water to freeze. Be sure that your hot water tank is also running properly and that there are no cracks. Cold showers will be no one’s idea of a good time.
Protect Your Outdoor Belongings
In case you kept them out for fall, cover up or move all of your outdoor furniture and equipment somewhere. Think patio furniture, lawnmowers, barbeque grills – anything that normally resides outside. Want that back yard hammock to make it to next summer? Wrap it up and store it away.
Keep That Heat On!
Not that this point needs much convincing, there are several benefits to keeping your home heated at all times – even when you’re not in. As well as preventing pipes from freezing, you heating won’t have to work as hard when bringing your house back to an agreeable room temperature. There are also a number of neat new smart heating systems you can get that will help you track your home’s heating from the comforts of your phone.
Besides from all this, have fun taking down the decorations and enjoying your festive winter season in the knowledge that you’ve locked down your winter maintenance for another year!