As you know a Canadian winter can be a very bitter and long one! To be extra prepared this winter season, here are some helpful tips to keep your home at its best!

First - Get The Fireplace Ready

• If you have not cleaned your chimney in a while, have it swept to remove soot and cresote.
• Purchase firewood or logs and store them in a dry place, away from the exterior of your home.
• Place a cap or screen at the top of your chimney in order to keep rodents or birds.
• Check the fireplace damper for proper opening and closing.

Second - Furnace Inspection

• Contact a HVAC professional to clean ducts and inspect your furnace.
• Consider switching your your thermostat to a programmable thermostat.
• Clear away any flammable materials surrounding your furnace.
• If by chance your home is heated by a hot-water radiator, bleed the valves by opening them slightly and when water appears, close them.
• Purchase furnace filters and change them monthly.

Third - Check the Exterior Doors & Windows

• Switch summer screens with glass replacements from storage. If you have storm windows, install them.
• Use weatherstripping around doors to prevent cold air from entering your home.
• Replace cracked windows.

Fourth - Service Weather, Specific Equipment

• Replace worn snow shovels and rakes.
• Stock up on bags of salt to melt ice.
• Drain gas from lawnmowers.
• Tune-up or service snow-blowers.
• Clean, dry and store summer gardening equipment.

Fifth - Check Foundations

• Secure all crawl space entrances.
• Seal entry points to keep small animals from crawling under your home.
• Seal foundation cracks. Mice can easily slip through a space as thin as a dime.
• Inspect sill plates for dry rot or pest infestation. 

Sixth - Prevent Plumbing Freezes

• Drain all garden hoses. 
• Insulate exposed plumbing pipes.
• If you go on vacation, leave your heat on, only set it to 55 degrees.
• Locate you water main in the event you need to shut it off in a emergency.

Seventh - Outdoor Surfaces & Prepare landscaping

• Move delicate potted plants indoors / to a sheltered area.
• Seal brick patios, driveways, and wood decks.
• Trim tree's with branches that are hanging too close to your home or electrical wires.
• Ask a gardener when your trees should be pruned to prevent winter injury.

Eighth - Prepare Emergency Kit

• Purchase candels for your home, in case of a power outage.
• Store extra bottled water and non-perishable food items (including pet food, if you have a pet)
• Include blankets, and a first-aid kit in a dry and easy location.
• Purchase a battery back-up to protect your computer and sensitive electronic equipment.