Get your home winter-ready

October 25, 2020
12:27 pm

If this year has taught us anything, it’s that anything can happen, and we need to be diligent and prepared! Get your home winter ready. As October comes to a close, we all know that winter is coming and will be here before we know it. While we won’t experience the coldest weather until mid-January through to early February, there are important things you can do around your home now to prepare for the season.

Burst Pipes

Beyond saving money, in this COVID-19 world, dealing with burst pipes is low on the list of things you want to deal with. Pipes burst because water inside expands, increasing the pressure and then fractures the pipe.

If your pipes freeze they can burst when they thaw causing water damage and flooding. — Burst pipe spraying water after freezing in winter

To avoid this, here are just a few simple steps you can do:

When the weather is extremely cold, keep one or two faucets running slowly which will prevent your pipelines from freezing
If you can direct warm air to any colder areas of your home (like your basement for example) this can help keep your pipes warm enough they won’t freeze
Disconnect your hose from the outside faucet to ensure water is able to be completely drained.
Before winter hits, seal all the leaks around electrical wiring, dryer vents, and pipes

Ice Dams

Another common sight that we see every winter are ice dams. Ice dams usually occur from the fall through to the spring on the edge of your roof after a snowfall. While they might look pretty, they can cause significant structural damage such as mould which happens when water enters the home. The attic is usually the first location damage occurs but is usually missed until other areas of the home also become affected.

So, what can YOU do to prevent this from happening in your home?

Since the main cause of ice dams is a warm attic, insulate your attic, this will lower the temperature
Another way to prevent your attic from becoming too warm is to ensure there is proper ventilation. The ideal number is one square foot vent for every 150 feet of attic floor area.
This one might seem obvious; remove snow from your roof (safely!). It is best if you can remove 3 – 4 inches of snow from your roofline

Basement Flooding

Another common occurrence we see during the winter months is water damage, especially in basements. This is caused from ice storms, freezing rain and melting snow over time can damage the structural integrity of your home.

If your basement floods it can cause structural damage to your home as well as damage your furniture. — When

Here are some simple tips to stop your basement from flooding this winter:

Remove any debris from your storm drains
If you are able, redirect water away from your foundation
Install window well covers
Repair any cracks that might be present in your foundation or windows