Baby, It’s Cold Outside! Eight Tips to Winterize Your Home

By: Thomas Sigsworth on December 16, 2013

With much of the country in an early deep-freeze, it’s time to get to work on winterizing your home if you haven’t already done so. The Farmer’s Almanac says this winter will be extra-frigid, so you shouldn’t delay any longer! Winter-proofing prevents damage to your home, lowers your heating bill, and above all, keeps family and visitors warm and safe.

Here are eight key winter-proofing tips you need to know as we head into the chilly winter months.

Exterior Tips

Clean the Eaves Troughs. Some people call them eaves troughs, some people call them gutters – it depends on what part of the country you live in. Whatever name you have for those catchers on the edge of your roof, it’s important to remove all leaves and debris from them so melting snow and ice flows away from the home, preventing water damage.

Seal the Foundation. Water has an unbelievable knack for finding its way inside a home – that’s why you should check your foundation every fall for cracks and holes. Use silicone caulking to seal areas that could permit water to enter the house.

Check Railings and Handrails. Winter brings snow and ice, which means slippery conditions outside your home. Test all railings and handrails to make sure they are solid and securely fastened, so they’ll be there if someone needs to rely on them.

Drain Stuff. When water freezes, it expands, potentially bursting pipes, hoses and containers that are exposed to the cold. Close the valves in your home’s water system and drain all pipes and outdoor items that may have water in them.

Interior Tips

Have Your Furnace or Boiler Serviced. Keeping your heating system well maintained is essential, not just for your family’s comfort, but also for their safety. Have a qualified inspector perform a service inspection at least once a year – preferably just before winter.

Double Check Your Fire Alarms and Smoke Detectors. This makes sense whatever time of year it is, but it’s especially important in winter, when you’re heating your house.

Install a Carbon Monoxide Detector. Simply put, these devices save lives – especially in winter when the windows are closed and an ignition source(your furnace!) is running night and day to heat your home.

Add/Check Insulation. Not only does adding insulation to your attic reduce your heating bill, it also prevents snow and ice from melting on the roof. Excess heat loss from the top of your home can lead to an ice build up, potentially damaging your shingles and possibly even collapsing your roof if it builds up too long.

Bonus Tip

Check Your House Insurance. Winter is the time when walkways get slippery, pipes burst, and snow, sleet and wind dish out some serious punishment on Canadians' homes. Before Old Man Winter settles in for the season, read through your house insurance policy so you're sure it's up to date and has all the coverage you need.

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