The passing of Halloween and Remembrance Day signals the beginning of winter. In order to make sure your home is ready for the deep freeze of winter I have provided some tips on how to winterize a house in Toronto.
How To Winterize A House In Toronto
Clean The Gutters
Many homes in Toronto are located on beautiful tree-lined streets. If your home happens to have a tree overhanging it, now is the time to remove any build-up of those dead leaves. Leaving fallen leaves in your gutters through the winter is dangerous as it can lead to ice damming. An ice dam will not only prevent melting snow from draining off your roof but will also try to escape in any way possible – including through your insulation, ceilings and walls, causing serious water damage.
Disconnect Your Garden Hose
If your home is a classic, historic Toronto home, chances are your garden hose is attached to your house. One of the best tips on how to winterize a house in Toronto is to disconnect your garden hose. It is such a simple task, but if you do not disconnect your garden hose, any water remaining in the hose will freeze. Water is one of the only liquids to expand as it freezes, which means if the trapped water in the hose remains over the winter it could expand backwards through the valve, causing the water line to freeze and sadly, costing you a lot of money.
Check Inside The Furnace
It always seems to happen that most furnaces break on the coldest day of the year. If you want to prevent that from happening, check for moisture inside your furnace. If you spot any moisture, an HVAC technician can help service your furnace and ensure your heat runs smoothly all winter.
Service Weather Specific Equipment
We all have equipment that we use specifically for each season. Now is the perfect time to drain gas from your lawnmower and put it away along with your rakes and summer gardening equipment. Ensure your snow blowers are tuned up and are easily accessible along with your snow shovels.
Prepare Landscaping and Outdoor Surfaces
Many people this year developed a love for gardening as a hobby to occupy themselves during the pandemic. If this is your first winter as a gardener, here are some important things you will need to do to prepare for winter. If you are hoping for spring flowers, now is the time to plant your bulbs. Lift any bulbs in areas where the ground freezes. Trim your tree branches if they hang close to your house or electrical wires. If you want to be extra sure that what you are doing is right, it never hurts to consult a gardener! Finally, do not forget to wash down your patio furniture and store it away for the winter.
Get Your Fireplace Ready
Does your Toronto home have an original wood burning fireplace? If so, you might want to use it in the winter for a cozy atmosphere. If this is the case, ensure that your chimney is clean and free of soot and creosote. It is also important to make sure that you have a proper cover for your chimney when you are not using it to block out any unwanted birds and rodents. Have a dry place in your home where you can store firewood.
These are just a few tips on how to winterize a house. Do you have others that you think I have missed here? Or would you like more advice? I would love to help you take care of your home as we approach winter. Please feel free to reach out to me:
