15 Tips To Get Your Home Ready For Winter

When we’re down south I’m always amazed at the number of older model cars on the road and looking in great shape. But I guess it should be no surprise. Without the winter and heavily salted roadways, the cars there age more slowly than they do in Canada. 

Winter in Canada means wear and tear on our houses too. Here are some steps you should take to get your home ready for winter and prolong the life of your largest asset. 

1. Before it gets too cold, check your roof for areas that need repair and fix them. Nothing worse than springing a leak in winter and the weather not cooperating with the repair.
2. Trim dead branches off trees, especially those near or over your house so they don’t come down in a storm and damage the roof/gutter.
3. After the leaves are down, clear gutters of debris to prevent ice damming and damage. 
4. Screen any holes that a small critter could use to get into the house (dryer and furnace vents). When it starts to get cold outside, mice will look for ways to get into a warm house. 
5. Before it starts to get dark really early, check outside lighting and replace dead bulbs. 
6. Close the pool. Cover to prevent fallen leaves from building up and drain the system before the ground freezes. 
7. Cover the BBQ, the A/C unit and the patio furniture to protect them from the elements. 
8. Drain the underground sprinkler system and shut off water to outside taps. 
9. Wrap burlap around tender shrubs and saplings. 
10. Inspect the chimney. Have it swept regularly if using your wood-burning fireplace. 
11. Seal air leaks around windows and doors with weather stripping. 
12. Insulate, insulate, insulate. Top up attic insulation if you can see the joists. Remove screens and hang storm windows. Insulate exposed pipes to minimize heat loss. 
13. Check the furnace to make sure its works before you need it! When everyone turns on their furnace on the first cold day, the furnace repairmen won’t be able to keep up with the number of calls they get. 
14. Reverse ceiling fans so that they blow the warm air back down into the house. 
15. Last, but definitely not least, move the snowblower and shovels to the front of the garage. You will definitely be sorry if you wait until the first big snowfall to do this. It will be cold and wet outside and you’ll be hauling stuff around trying to get to the snowblower.