Prepping Your Home for the Winter 101
It’s never a good idea to wait until the last minute to get your home ready for winter. Even if you’re not quite in cold-weather mode yet, taking steps now to winterize before the cold air hits can save you from some chilly surprises later on. If you’ve already tackled some of these tasks from our fall preparation blog, you’re ahead of the game. But if not, no worries! Here’s what you need to do to get your home ready for winter.
Winter home maintenance checklist
By prepping your home for winter in advance, you can stay cozy no matter how cold it gets—and save on your heating bill, too. Here’s our list of things to tackle before the winter weather arrives.
Inspect Your Roof and Gutters
As we mentioned in our fall home maintenance checklist, falling leaves can quickly block your gutters, and if you don’t clear them out, it can lead to water damage. Take some time to remove any debris, and while you’re at it, check your roof for loose shingles or potential leaks.
With the winter weather approaching, skipping this step could result in water getting trapped on your roof during heavy rain or snow, which can cause flooding. This might lead to serious roof damage or even allow water to seep into your home or garage, creating bigger issues. Taking care of your roof now can help you avoid costly water damage down the road.
If you decide to have your roof inspected by a professional, see if they can inspect your chimney as well (if you have one) for any compromised masonry.
Drain and shut off water sources
You’ll want to check all your outdoor water sources as well. Winterize your irrigation systems, drain and shut off any outdoor faucets, and be sure to disconnect and store your garden hose(s) to prevent freezing and damage. By properly draining and shutting off these outdoor water sources, you’ll lower the risk of pipes bursting when the temperature drops. Plus, storing your hoses properly will help them last longer and stay in good working condition.
Inspect Your Home and Property for Damages
Now’s a good time to inspect your home and property for any signs of damage. As we mentioned, while you’re cleaning the gutters, keep an eye out for roof issues. You’ll also want to check your foundation, siding, bricks, or interlock.
Broken patio stones can become hazardous in winter, and uneven surfaces increase the risk of slips and falls on ice. Even small dips in your driveway can turn into black ice. Take a walk around your property, spot any potential problems, and schedule repairs before winter weather hits.
Trim Trees and Clear Your Yard
Tree trimming isn’t just for looks—it’s an important safety step. If branches fall during a snowstorm, thunderstorm, or high winds, they could damage your home, or worse, injure someone or damage a vehicle. Don’t wait for an accident to happen before taking care of this task.
Remember, even if a tree looks healthy, it could still be in bad shape, increasing the risk of it breaking and causing harm to your home, property, cars, or family. If you’re unsure, it’s a good idea to hire an arborist to assess your trees and remove any limbs that might be dangerous during winter storms. This can help you avoid insurance claims from storm damage.
Also, clear away broken branches, dead plants, and any leftover foliage now so you don’t have a yard full of debris to deal with in the spring.
Inspect your Attic
Homeowners often focus on the outside when getting ready for winter, but it’s just as important to prep your house from the inside out. Before the temperatures drop, make sure your attic is properly insulated. This helps improve airflow throughout your home and keeps all that hot air from escaping.
Here’s a tip: When picking insulation, check the ‘R-value’—the higher the R-value, the better your insulation will be at saving energy. The Ontario Building Code recommends a minimum R-value of R-60 for attic insulation in new homes, which equals about 22 inches of loose-fill insulation or 16 inches of fibreglass batts. But for better energy efficiency and comfort, many experts suggest going up to R-70 or even R-80, especially if you have an older home.
Inspect Your Heating System
As the fall weather cools down and cold air starts creeping back, your heating system is going to be your go-to. It’s smart to have your furnace, wood stove, or boiler checked and serviced now before you really start relying on it. This not only helps prevent fire hazards but also keeps your system running efficiently, which can help you save money on heating costs and reduce risks.
Don’t forget to clean or replace your furnace filter too, since it’s probably collected dust over the summer. Aim to change or clean the filter every couple of months to keep things running smoothly.
And speaking of saving on heating costs, check if your ceiling fans can run in reverse. Doing so helps circulate warm air around your home and can help reduce your heating costs.
Inspect and Clean Out Your Fireplace
If you have a fireplace, make sure it’s clean and the flue is clear to prevent chimney fires. Check up the chimney for any bird nests or debris left by animals, as a clogged chimney can quickly become a hazard, causing smoke to fill your home or even leading to a fire.
For gas or electric fireplaces, inspect the heating units to ensure no small animals have chewed on any wires. It’s also a good idea to have a professional take a look at wood-burning stoves and fireplaces to make sure there’s no buildup in the chimney that could block smoke or cause a fire.
Inspect and Clean Your Venting Systems
Make sure all your vents are working properly. If someone is already up on your roof, have them check the attic vents, too. You’ll want to keep these vents open all year long. Besides helping to ventilate moisture, roof vents also regulate the temperature inside your home and prevent ice dams from forming on your roof, which can damage shingles and gutters.
Bathroom vents can trap moisture and cause rot, and the same goes for your dryer vent and kitchen hood fan. Also, double-check that the flashing around these vents is in good condition and securely in place. You’ll also want to make sure your external vents are all secured to prevent critters and other animals from trying to sneak into your home to get out of the cold.
Check your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Since you’re focusing on fire safety, now’s a great time to test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Swap out the batteries if they’re low and make sure they’re working. It’s a good idea to check them at least twice a year, and one of those times should definitely be before winter.
During the colder months, you’re cranking up the heat, using space heaters, putting up extra lights and decorations for the holidays, and often cooking big family meals. Since cooking and heating equipment are the leading causes of house fires, it’s crucial to stay on top of this safety step.
Also, check that your fire extinguishers are up to date and ready to use—just in case.
Inspect Your Windows and Doors
Check the caulking and weather stripping around your windows and doors to ensure the sealant is still intact. Keep an eye out for any small cracks or gaps where you can see sunlight coming through or feel a small breeze. Warm air doesn’t just escape through the attic—if your home isn’t properly sealed, it can leak from other areas too. A tight seal around windows and doors not only helps you save on energy costs by preventing heat loss but also keeps moisture out and stops critters from sneaking in when the cold weather arrives.
You might also want to consider having a professional do a building pressurization test. This test lowers the pressure inside your home, helping to pinpoint exactly where air leaks are happening.
Also, did you know that adding curtains or drapes will help to preserve heat? If you love bare windows, you might want to rethink that as winter approaches. Keeping the curtains/drapes open during the day lets sunlight warm up your rooms, but closing them at night helps keep the heat in. Curtains act as a barrier against the cold, and the thicker they are, the better the insulation they provide.
Insulate Your Pipes
No one wants to wake up to a burst pipe. It can flood your home and leave you with a hefty repair bill. The thing is, not all pipes are insulated or built to handle freezing temperatures, making burst pipes a big worry during the winter months. The good news is that you can easily add foam insulation around your pipes, especially the ones on exterior walls, to keep the water inside from freezing and prevent pressure from building up, leading to freezing pipes that burst.
Prepare a Winter Emergency Kit
With winter weather on the way, bringing freezing temperatures and potentially dangerous conditions, it’s important to be ready for severe storms and possible power outages. While many people have an emergency kit stashed away in their car, not everyone has one in their home.
Having a home emergency kit can make a big difference. Canadian winters can be intense, and having an emergency kit ready can save you from scrambling if the power goes out. Here’s a list of essentials you’ll want to include:
- Warm/thermal blankets, a USB heated blanket, or a sleeping bag
- Emergency food and bottled water
- Rechargeable battery packs and cables
- LED flashlight and spare batteries
- Battery-powered or crank radio
- First aid kit
- Candles and matches/lighter
- Some basic hand tools, like a screwdriver, scissors, and pocket knife
Purchase any necessary tools and products
When winter hits, it’s important to have the right tools and gear to handle the challenges it brings. A sturdy snow shovel is a must for clearing driveways and walkways. If you have larger areas to clear, a snow blower can be a great investment. To improve traction on slippery paths, keep some sand or cat litter handy, and have a bag or two of salt to help prevent slips and falls on your driveway and walkways. Don’t wait until the first snowstorm to try and gather these items.
Review Your Insurance Coverage
If you live in Canada, you know how important it is to prepare for severe weather in the winter season. Winters in many parts of Canada are known for their frigid temperatures and heavy snowfall. That’s why, while preparing your home for winter, it’s also a smart time to review your home insurance policy. You’ll want to make sure it covers common winter issues like ice damage, burst pipes, or flooding.
Reviewing your insurance is just as crucial for winter storm protection as any other home maintenance. The cost of repairing your damaged home from a disaster like water damage due to melting snow or ice dams can be overwhelming, so it’s worth considering extra coverage if your current policy falls short.
If you have any questions about your home insurance or need to update your coverage, contact an Oracle RMS insurance broker. We’ll help you find the right policy by working with top local providers to get you the best home insurance quotes for your needs.
