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Anyone who’s experienced a Canadian winter is no stranger to extreme cold and snow. You can protect yourself by dressing appropriately, not driving in hazardous conditions and keeping your skin moisturized, but your home also needs to be prepared for the harsh weather.
Here are six tips for defending your house against freezing temperatures this winter. Doing these things now will ensure you weather the season safely and comfortably.
1. Protect Your Pipes
Freezing temperatures can cause your water pipes to burst, leading to a disaster that impacts the rest of your home.
People who use hoses throughout the spring and summer should ensure they are empty before coiling them up and putting them away during the fall and winter. Then, open the faucets to drain any excess water so it doesn’t freeze later.
During extreme temperatures, you may choose to let faucets in less insulated parts of your home drip so any water within them doesn’t freeze and lead to breaking.
2. Clear Your Roof
Your roof is responsible for keeping your home safe and secure, so it’s important to support it in times of heavy snow or ice.
Inspect your roof for signs of water damage or any missing shingles. Replace any that are damaged to prevent things from getting worse.
Branches and other debris can collect on your roof. Remove it, along with snowfall from winter storms, to prevent a dangerous buildup. You risk a roof collapse without proper care, which could be tragic.
3. Check Your Garage Doors
Your garage door can be a friend or enemy this winter, depending on how you treat it. It keeps your car safe from the elements, saving you time, money and hassle. You must ensure it’s in top shape to avoid damage to your home.
Open and close your door regularly, even if you aren’t parking there, to help the metal stay loose during freezing temperatures, preventing the structure from breaking or warping.
Also, see if you need to replace your springs, which last for around 10,000 cycles before they need replacement. However, keeping a tally of how often you use your door is challenging. Instead, lift your door halfway by hand and see if it stays put. If it does, your springs are strong. If not, it’s time to replace them.
Damaged springs can be extremely dangerous with the structural faults caused by winter. Safety cables can help prevent tragedy, but replacing weak or broken springs is still a good idea.
4. Maintain The Internal Temperature
Keeping your home consistently warm keeps you cozy and is also good for your house. An up-to-date thermostat helps keep your residence at your desired temperature, but you can do other things to keep temps consistent throughout the season.
Uncover any vents so air can properly flow throughout your home. You can open or close them if one room gets too warm or cool.
Cracks surrounding doors and windows can let in outside air, causing drafts and making your heating system work harder. You can seal these gaps with weatherstripping so you don’t lose heated air and money.
5. Prep Heating Devices
Your heater and vents are responsible for keeping your home nice and warm during freezing outdoor temperatures. They must be in top shape to work properly.
Replace your air filters regularly so your heated air flows properly and doesn’t carry the dirt and debris it went into your system with.
It’s also important to clear your vents, which can become inefficient due to dust buildup. Cleaning them regularly ensures the right amount of warm air gets in.
6. Keep Your Gutters Clear
You know the importance of maintaining your roof before and during winter, but the same rules apply to your gutters.
Your gutters should smoothly remove melted snow and ice, preventing clogs and breaks that can lead to water seeping into your home and causing damage. Clean your gutters twice a year to help ensure they stay clear.
Protecting Your Home This Winter
Your home is your sanctuary from long, harsh Canadian winters, so you must treat it right. Filling in cracks and doing necessary maintenance will keep it in good shape through the worst of storms, keeping you safe and comfortable until spring finally arrives.
About The Author:
Oscar Collins is the managing editor at Modded, where he writes about cars, fitness, the outdoors and more. Check out @TModded for regular updates!
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These are great tips! Thank you for sharing! If you use a smart thermostat, don’t mess with it too extremely or too often. Try not to crank it up or down too frequently, as doing so can cause stress on the heating system’s internal coils and pipe work. This can make your system wear out very quickly.