• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Our Home Toronto

  • Home
  • About
  • Home Values
  • Must See Blog
  • Neighborhoods
    • Our Home Downtown Toronto
    • Our Home Rosedale
    • Our Home Cabbagetown
    • Our Home Moore Park
    • Our Home Forrest Hill
    • Our Home The Annex
    • Our Home Yorkville
    • Our Home Riverdale
    • Our Home Leaside
    • Our Home Hogg’s Hollow
    • Our Home North Toronto
    • Our Home Lawrence Park
  • Contact Us

Top 5 Steps To Preparing Your Home For Winter

November 2, 2011 by James Metcalfe Leave a Comment

Canadian winters are cold and damp! Take specific care preparing for these months.

Below are some steps to help you keep your house tip-top condition this winter.

Winterizing Your Home

1) Service your Weather-Specific Equipment

-Drain the gas from your lawnmower
-Clean and store your summer gardening equipment
-Tune up your snowblower
-Make sure you own a working snow shovel and ice chopper
-Have bags of salt or sand to melt the ice.

2) Filling in the Holes

-Walk around your home and pay specific attention to windows, doors and all exterior trim. If you find a draft, caulk around the problem area.
-If your home has a basement, consider protecting its window wells by covering them with plastic shields.
-Install or replace weather stripping on all doors and windows.
-Check for cracks around pipes and electrical outlets entering or exiting the walls. If you find crevice cracks and exposed entry points around pipes; seal them.

3) Inspect Roof, Gutters & Downspouts

-Inspect your attic to make sure you have proper insulation. Proper insulation of your attic prevents warm air from creeping to your roof and causing ice dams.
-Check flashing (find quick definition) to ensure water cannot enter the home.
-Replace broken roof shingles or tiles. Also take a look at these blinds Sydney.
-Clean out your gutters. Consider installing leaf guards on the gutters or extensions on the downspouts to direct water away from the home.

4) HVAC Systems

-Have your heating system checked by a licensed heating/air-conditioning professional. Most furnace manufacturers recommend at least annual inspections.
-Stock up on furnace filters and change them monthly.
-Consider switching out your thermostat for a programmable thermostat.
-If your home is heated by a hot-water radiator, bleed the valves by opening them slightly and when water appears, close them.
-Remove all flammable material from the area surrounding your furnace.

5) Prepare Garden & Outdoor Surfaces for the cold months ahead

-Trim trees if branches hang too close to the house or electrical wires.
-Ask a gardener when your trees should be pruned to prevent winter injury.
-Seal driveways, brick patios and wood decks.
-Move sensitive potted plants indoors or to a sheltered area.

-E.A.M Consulting & James Metcalfe  REALTORĀ® BROKER

Filed Under: Consumer Best Interests, F.A.Q., Greening Toronto, Maintenance & Security Tagged With: Home Maintenance, Maintaining Your Home, Wintering Homes in OurHomeToronto

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 
...another Fully Managed Website by Mike MuellerHi!
  • Home
  • About
  • Home Values
  • Must See Blog
  • Neighborhoods
  • Contact Us