02/01/2024
Winter is well and settled in now, but the coldest times are still ahead of us. Is your home ready to withstand them? Here are DMC's Top 5 Tips for winterizing your home:
- Basements and crawl spaces are areas of concern when talking about cold weather, especially during prolonged sub zero freezing temperatures. Homeowners should try and identify any areas where there are holes or cracks in the building envelope where that cold air can get in. Any water pipes in those areas should be sealed up and any piping that is run there should be insulated. Piping run in unconditioned spaces should have supplemental heat brought in or heat trace wrapped around it.
- Locate and turn off valves leading to outside taps. Remove any hoses from taps and cover taps with insulated covers. If you haven't done this yet, literally stop reading and go do it now! Ideally, this should be done prior to winter conditions arriving (in the lower mainland, this is approximately late October to early November).
- Locate the main water shut off valve and ensure that it is accessible. Make sure everyone living in household knows where it is. If a burst pipe happens, the sooner the water is shut down, the lesser the potential for major damage.
- Automatic/ wifi main water leak detecting valves are great to mitigate any damage as they are a perfect watchguard for these situations, especially if the leak happens when no one is home. Additionally, home insurance companies offer discounts for the cost of policies on certain makes and models that they approve.
- Furnace maintenance by a qualified heating technician annually is the best way to ensure that your heating equipment does not fail during the coldest days of the year. As a homeowner, though, there are a few things that can be done to optimize the system. 1) Change your furnace filter every 2-3 months to ensure proper airflow and air quality. 2) If applicable, change the batteries in your thermostat annually. 3) Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, as our heating equipment is working a lot harder and under much more stress during these prolonged cold snaps.
Taking the steps above will not only protect your home from potential cold weather-related damage, but also ensure everyone’s safety in the home. Hit the button below to share these tips with your friends and family. Stay warm!
