Preparing for the frigid winter months is key in ensuring your home maintains its value. The key to overcoming the cold months, with little to no hiccups, is preparation. Fall is a great time to ensure both the interior and exterior of your home is ready for the cold months ahead. Being proactive when it comes to your home’ pre-winter to-do list will save you money and time.

Here are 5 items that should be on your winter checklist to ensure your home makes it through to the spring months with no trouble.

1. Professionally Servicing your: Furnace, Ducts and/or Fireplace.

This may seem like a no brainer but far too many people neglect to have their heating system professionally serviced. This should be a yearly maintenance check, to ensure everything is running smoothly. No one wants the first snow fall to arrive, only to realize the furnace doesn’t work. It’s important to note that just because the heating system is working, doesn’t mean it’s working properly or efficiently. Seek professional help to ensure it’s done properly.

2. Clean Gutters of Debris

Cleaning your eavestroughs in the fall will help lower your risk of household leaks. Eavestroughs that aren’t cleaned yearly, or even semi-yearly, become clogged and inevitably cause all sorts of problems. It’s also important that the water drains at least five feet from your house. If necessary eavestrough extensions can be purchased at your local hardware store.

3. Inspect Windows and Doors

The average person neglects this step. Ensuring your doors and windows are properly sealed, keeps your hydro bill down. A home with leaky windows and doors, essentially means you’re paying to heat the outdoors. If you come across any poorly sealed and leaky windows or doors, don’t fret for most of the time they’re easy to fix. Variants of foam tape and other DIY products can be purchased at your local hardware store.

4. Turn Off Outdoor Faucets

Outdoor faucets are great during the summer months when having access to water outdoors can make household duties far less challenging. However, when the weather takes a turn for the worse, faucets must already be shut off to ensure they don’t freeze and burst. Take the time to shut them off and drain them; your wallet will thank you later.

5. Check Your Carbon Monoxide Detector 

The winter months mean more time indoors. With that being said, heat sources, such as your furnace, generate carbon monoxide while heating your home. A home with even slight variations of carbon monoxide can have severe repercussions on your family’s health. Be sure to check, replace and monitor your detector to ensure you and your family are safe. 

Taking all the proper precautionary steps will ensure your home is ready for the winter.  After all, your home is usually one of the biggest investments you’ll make, so why not get more out of your investment by insuring it’s well kept and winter ready. 

https://www.thinkinsure.ca/insurance-help-centre/winter-home-maintenance-tips-and-guide.html
https://www.insurancehotline.com/resources/8-ways-to-get-your-home-winter-ready/

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