Are you feeling the temperature drop as well? The ever-famous Canadian winter is on its way again, but don’t be dreading it! There are many ways you can prepare your home for a comfortable, safe season with as little stress as possible. We’ve consulted with the Valecraft team to come up with a list of homeowning tips to get you ready for winter. With these in mind, you can relax fireside, worry-free with a hot drink and enjoy the falling snow!
Limit Humidity and Increase Air Circulation
If you allow humidity to build up in your home this winter, it can cause condensation and health issues. There are many ways to reduce this risk, including using a hood fan when cooking and running the fan in the bathroom for twenty minutes or so after use. You can also try closing heat vents in rooms without windows to distribute even more air throughout the house. The fastest way to reduce humidity, however, is to turn down your humidifier as the temperature drops. Proper ventilation and humidity control are essential to having a comfortable, safe home this winter!
Get Your Furnace Looked at by a Professional
You need to be able to depend on your home’s heating system for the next few months, so why not get it inspected by an expert? It’s a good idea to make sure there aren’t any hidden problems that could otherwise resurface over the colder months. An annual inspection is highly recommended to get the most life out of your furnace and keep your home appropriately heated. This will protect your household from having to scramble and address furnace-related issues in the middle of freezing temperatures outside, should anything be wrong – just be sure to replace the filter every month! Doing so gives you additional energy savings and a boost in furnace performance.
Clean Out the Gutters
Clearing out leaves and debris from your gutters ensures that they drain water properly, protecting your roof — the very last thing you want to be damaged over the winter! A bit of time spent on the ladder or calling a professional can give you peace of mind, knowing that any melt-off will be directed away from your home’s roof so it doesn’t pool.
Shut Off Outside Water
If you don’t want your pipes to freeze or burst and cause all sorts of headaches, be sure that you close and drain all exterior hose bibs! Watch this tutorial video for step-by-step instructions.
Take the following precautions to ensure your outside water is shut off properly:
1) Remove and empty garden hoses. Store them for the winter.
2) Shut off the hose bib of the pipe that goes to the exterior of the home.
3) Drain the hose bib by removing the little drain cap.
4) Go outside and drain the exterior faucet, then close it. This will ensure that the exterior faucet has no water sitting inside it.
5) Go back inside and close the little drain cap on the hose bib.
Check the Condition of Your Roof
Do you have the odd loose shingle or damage from a summer storm? Get your roof looked at if you’re unsure – doing so can protect your home from leaks and structural damage over the winter! If you live in a brand-new home such as one in a Valecraft community, then you don’t need to worry, but it never hurts to call in the expert for added peace of mind. You can never be too careful!
Trim Bushes and Trees
The last thing you want is for loose tree limbs and scratchy bush branches to smack into your home over the winter. You can avoid this by giving everything a neat and tidy trimming before it’s too cold and snowy to do so. That way, when a windy winter storm batters the neighbourhood, there’s less of a chance that your home will be damaged by loose debris.
Check Your Outdoor Lighting Setup
Picture yourself struggling to get out of the car during a whiteout, attempting to find your way up the lawn to the front door of your home. Would your current outdoor lighting be able to guide the way? Now’s as good a time as any to invest in tall solar-powered path lighting to guide you with ease and brighten your entry. They’re cheap, energy efficient and can last a long time!
There are many other ways to prepare your home for a cold, snowy winter and end up enjoying it, but with these tips in mind, your property and way of life will be better protected for the months to come. Enjoy winter for the right reasons this year and feel more at home than ever before!