Preparing Your Home For Winter

If you are familiar with winter in Muskoka, then you already know that the weather can be unpredictable at times. Forecasts ranging from frigid -35° C temperatures to blizzards bringing several feet of snow are not uncommon. Luckily, the beauty of the season and the recreational paradise we live in makes up for it.

Preparing your home for the elements will ensure a safer and warmer winter while offering increased efficiency to help keep your costs down. Here are a few things to consider as the days get cooler;

Take advantage of the cooler fall temperatures (and no pesky mosquitos) and start by tidying up the exterior of your home. Putting away summer toys, lawnmowers, sprinklers, trampolines, flowerpots, etc. will keep them in great shape to use again next season. Clearing any paths to and from your home will create shovel-ready routes for convenience and, of course, safety.

Homeowners should be diligent in monitoring and testing their smoke/fire detectors as well as carbon monoxide detectors to ensure proper operation. You should also be aware of the age of the devices in your home. The National Fire Prevention Association recommends replacing these units at minimum every 10 years.

Keeping your gutters and downspouts clear can help to prevent ice dams from causing potentially costly damages to your roof/eavestrough. When gutters are full of debris (e.g. pine needles and leaves), water cannot properly drain and has potential to freeze during cooler temperatures. When water freezes, expansion occurs causing ice dams to form which can be damaging. As with any project around the home, if you decide to hire a professional to perform this task, be sure the company you choose is properly insured.

Most homes have at least one outdoor faucet for watering the gardens or washing the car. Be sure that exterior faucets and hoses are drained and disconnected to prevent damage. Since water expands when it freezes, pipes can crack causing potentially costly repairs if not winterized properly

For those who use a furnace to heat their home, it should be serviced and filters cleaned/replaced prior to the heating season. Your ducts should also be inspected for build-up to minimize dust and allergens throughout your home and cleaned if necessary. Your gas supplier will likely be able to provide you with recommended service contractors if you aren’t sure. Be cautious of door-to-door sales.

Take a walk around the exterior of your home and check all windows and doors for any gaps or cracks that may cause heat to escape in the winter. Replacing weather stripping on doors and caulking any cracks will keep the heat inside, which will ultimately be more cost effective as well as keep out any small rodents as the temperatures dip.

With the amount of snow that can accumulate in just a short period of time, it is important to have a method in place to clear the snow from your driveway. If you hire someone to do this for you, be sure to secure this early in the season as service providers fill these spots quickly – Consider speaking to others in the neighbourhood if you are searching for a contractor as some may offer discounts to service multiple homes in the same neighbourhood/street. Keeping your driveway clear is for your own safety creating easy access for First Responders in the event of an emergency. If you have access to a snowblower, this is a good time to fill up the gas cans and inspect your snowblower for any potential issues. Check that shear pins are intact and the oil is within ideal operating levels.

Take a walk around the exterior of your home and check all windows and doors for any gaps or cracks that may cause heat to escape in the winter. Replacing weather stripping on doors and caulking any cracks will keep the heat inside, which will ultimately be more cost effective as well as keep out any small rodents as the temperatures dip.

If you are fortunate enough to afford the luxury of a generator, this is the time to make sure that it is in good working order and full of fuel (if applicable). Winters in Muskoka can be tough and power outages do happen. A generator can give you peace of mind in the event of power loss; no need to worry about your home getting cold or your freezer defrosting.

If you enjoy use of a fireplace/wood stove to heat your home, it is important to inspect and clean your chimney and stove annually; neglecting this can be very dangerous. When chimneys are not cleared, soot that accumulates in the pipes can be extremely flammable and poses the risk of causing a chimney fire. Additionally, clogged pipes can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning as the gases cannot properly escape allowing them to potentially seep back into the home. This can be potentially fatal if proper measures aren’t in place (such as carbon monoxide detectors). Again, when hiring a professional, be sure that the company is insured.

Preparing your home for winter can seem like a daunting task but will protect your investment and should not be overlooked. Once you’ve completed these tasks around your home, take some time to explore the stunning winter scenery in and around Muskoka! With incredible destinations such as Arrowhead Provincial Park and Hidden Valley Ski Resort at our fingertips, it’s easy to make this a season you will not forget!

Photo credits : Anna Hill; Filip Mroz; Daniel Brubaker; Beazy; Harry Grout; Boris Misevic