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14 simple tips to prepare your home for winter

preparation-maison-hiver

Long, cold and stubborn, the Quebec winter season always has its share of surprises in store for homeowners. Fortunately, a few simple tricks can help you prepare your home for winter.

In this article, discover 14 tips for avoiding unfortunate situations – which all too often end up at your insurer’s claims office!

What needs to be done inside the house

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How to keep the cold out? How do you insulate your home for winter? These are just a few of the questions that come to mind when preparing your home for the winter season. Here; our top tips for optimizing your maintenance.

Insulating doors and windows

In winter, it’s normal to feel a cool breeze as you approach an exterior door or window. What’s less normal is to feel a draught as your hand passes over it. Without a doubt, this draught is a sign of faulty insulation: a problem that affects a number of factors in a home, such as insulation, heating and air exchange.

But don’t panic! Many cost-effective solutions are available. For example, tubular or felted tape weatherstripping is highly effective. It’s also possible to call in caulking experts, who know a thing or two about cold-blocking options.

Have the heating system inspected and cleaned

Regardless of its nature, a heating system needs to be inspected before winter. Why before? To make sure it’s working optimally when the first “real cold” sets in. And above all, to avoid the risk of heating-related fires (a very frequent cause of residential fires in Quebec).

In Quebec, electric baseboard heaters are the most popular system and they’re easy to maintain: just vacuum and dust before you turn them on for the first time, and you’re ready to go. Of course, it’s also essential to keep out anything that could clutter it : fabric-covered armchairs, curtains, cardboard boxes, and so on.

Protect pipes from the cold

Burst pipes in the dead of winter are more common than you might think. The reason is simple: water expands as it freezes, creating considerable pressure on piping systems. You can quickly imagine the damage this can cause. Better safe than sorry: make sure the ambient temperature near any pipes doesn’t drop below freezing.

Sweep the chimney

While the benefits are numerous, the fireplace is not without its risks of fire and poisoning. A good way to avoid the worst is to have your chimney swept every year, without exception. This removes debris, allowing smoke and gases to escape properly.

Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

Here’s a must-do that only takes a minute to do. A minute that could prevent some unfortunate situations, to say the least! The time change is a reminder that many people use to check the batteries and make sure they’re working properly.

 

How to prepare your home’s exterior for winter

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The outside is just as important as the inside when it comes to preparing your home for fall. Here’s more than one gesture that will take us full circle:

Empty outer pipes

If pipes inside the house can freeze, you can imagine that this is even truer for pipes outside. We’re talking here about all outdoor pipes and drain taps. It’s important to clear them of any harmful elements (climbing plants, piles of earth or sand, etc.), and turn off the power.

Cleaning the gutters

Water damage caused by poorly maintained gutters is a common occurrence. That’s why we recommend that you pay special attention to the gutter system around your home.

Here are a few things you should do:

  • Remove any leaves or branches
  • Solidify a loose section or seal cracks in the eavestrough material.
  • Repair a faulty connection
  • Install wire mesh
  • Extend the gutter away from the foundation

Inspect roof and exterior walls

For the roof: are shingles missing? Are there any dents? Any discrepancies should be raised and shared with your roofing expert.

Walls: are there any cracks? If the exterior is brick, are there any breaks in the brick or mortar? These are clues that should not be ignored.

Even barely perceptible defects can cause considerable damage, such as water infiltration and the collateral damage that follows (mold, premature wear and tear, etc.).

Clean air exchanger filters

An air exchanger accumulates a large number of volatile particles. Over time, these particles block the airflow, harming both the exchanger’s mechanics and your air quality. All you have to do is vacuum the filter and clean it with warm, soapy water. Rinse and you’re done!

 

What needs to be done in the field

Fall is the best time to “close” your yard. While it may seem like a futile effort to protect your home from damage, it can often make a difference. There are some must-do’s that are very easy to accomplish, such as :

Empty hoses and store away

There’s nothing unusual about a pipe bursting and creating a leak in the basement. It can happen to anyone. Emptying your pipes and storing them in a dry, warm place for the winter is always a good idea.

Cleaning and storing garden furniture

This will prevent inconveniences such as:

  • Table glass shattering under the pressure of ice
  • Rust on the metal parts of your outdoor furniture
  • Rust on your barbecue

Remove surrounding wood branches

Wood branches and other bulky debris can cause damage not only to your house, but also to neighboring homes. What’s more, they can be dangerous. For example, a child playing in the snow could be injured by falling on a sharp branch.

Sure you’re well covered?

Even when you do your utmost to avoid the unexpected, things can still happen. Even if preparing your home for winter is a plus in terms of protection, home insurance is what allows you to sleep soundly at all times.

The specialists at Fort Insurance are here to help you get the best coverage at the best price, according to your needs. Get in touch with them!

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