Every year as autumn turns to winter, we get our wardrobes ready for the colder months. But what about our homes? What can we do to ensure that our homes are prepared for the winter months? Here are some tips to help you and your family this winter!
Get your heat pump checked. Experts recommend that at minimum, you have your mini-split or heat pump checked and professionally cleaned every two years. If it’s been longer than that for you, now is your time. Reach out to the company that did the installation and book an appointment.
Inspect Your Base or Foundation. Cracked foundations can cause a lot of trouble, and with the winters like we have on the East Coast of Canada, they’re especially hard to fix in the wintertime. Take a walk around your home now so ensure that there are no visible cracks that will wreak havoc on you later.
Check Your Drainage. While you’re checking your foundation, take a look at the soil around your home. If any of it has settled, it can allow rainwater and snow to pool there and can cause basement leaks. Take some time to fill those low spots with soil and keep the drainage pointing away from your home.
Clean Your Gutters. Now we’ll move from the foundation to the roof. Your gutters can become clogged with leaves and other debris, which can then cause water to run over the sides, and land in places on your property that aren’t ready to receive it. By cleaning out the gutters now, you can save yourself a lot of headaches later.
Test Your Smoke and CO2 Detectors. Smoke and CO2 detectors should be tested twice a year. Timing it with spring and fall, or daylight savings time changes make it easier to remember. Make it even easier by setting a six-month reminder in your phone’s calendar!
