5 Winter Maintenance Essentials

The winter shift catches many Torontonians off guard. If you live in a home, here are some key considerations you have to go over to ensure no mishaps in even the worst of the weather.

It may be obvious, but people often forget that things freeze in cold temperatures, causing contents — i.e. water — within to expand and burst from pressure buildup. One of the simplest ways to save you winter headaches is to prevent pipes from bursting in the winter. Insulate any exposed pipes. Drain your garden sprinklers and hoses. You may also want to call in a technician to check your faucet for high water pressure in your water pipes to prevent water hammer and water wastage. Remember that clay and porcelain pots can crack in freezing temperatures, so overwinter them in a warm spot.

Leaks often happen in the dead of winter. A lot of these leaks can be prevented by ensuring ice damming does not form on the ridge of your roofing. If your roof is prone to ice damming due to fluctuating winter temperatures, you will need to call a professional to shovel and remove the ice dam. You should also get someone to clear your gutters of debris so that melted snow can drain properly and direct downspouts away from your home’s foundation to prevent basement flooding.

Before you crank up the heat, call someone in to service your heating source whether it be a furnace or electric heater. Do this earlier than later in the season, before things get too hectic. To save costs on your heating bill, an easy first step is to check your weather stripping around windows and doors of your home. Look for cracks in the caulking. A surefire way to conserve energy is to insulate your hot water tank to conserve energy. You can also get it drained of sediment. If you have ceiling fans, a seemingly magical trick you can do is to run the blades clockwise to push hot air down.

Most fires happen in the winter. Ensure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working. As well as getting your heating source serviced, double-check to see any other winter appliances are in working order. You should also periodically ensure all air intakes, exhausts, and meters are clear of snow. Another thing to consider is the moisture level inside your home. Today’s energy efficient homes are good at trapping heat, but because they’re no longer airy, excess moisture is also trapped, which can lead to unhealthy indoor conditions — i.e. mold and mildew growth.

A tip for easing you back into the summer heat is to take the time to protect the condensation unit of your air conditioner from falling icicles and debris with a makeshift cover or just a plywood board. While you’re at it, protect your outdoor furniture with covers or store them somewhere unexposed. You can also protect your home and car from falling branches by trimming dead tree limbs. To make sure mud, snow, and ice doesn’t get too out of hand around your entryways, place mats in front of the doors.

Calling in professionals to service and check on your home before the thick of winter will save a lot of hassles and potential dangers down the road. But the most obvious things you should do to be ready for winter is to purchase enough salt or ice melt, and sand, as well as make sure your snowblower and shovels are ready to take on another year’s worth of snow clearing.

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