Complete Winter Checklist Tasks

Get a jump on your New Year’s resolutions for 2018 by getting your home in great shape for the coming winter.

Engaging in these homeowner tasks will ensure that your home becomes more energy efficient, which is good for the environment and your household budget. Additionally, these tasks will help ensure that your family stays warm and safe this season.

Here is what you should check off your list.

Insulation and Ventilation

Most of heat loss happens through walls, (not through windows and doors as is commonly thought). If your walls don’t have enough insulation, you can expect approximately 30-35 percent of that costly warm air to fly right out of the walls.

That alone is a very compelling reason to have thick insulation that is in good shape. How do you know if your home needs more insulation? Are there drafts and breezes running through your home?

Are some rooms colder than others? Do your heating bills keep going up? Are you bothered by attic leaks or pest problems? These are all good signs that you should think about putting in more insulation.

You need proper ventilation because your home needs to be reasonably dry to heat well. We tend to forget about air circulation in the winter as we close the windows. Get in the habit of opening windows here and there for a few minutes at a time to get some fresh air in your home.

De-Icing to Stay Safe

In the event of a winter storm, you’ll want to be prepared with a supply of de-icing salt. Store it somewhere handy, so you don’t have to walk far on your driveway or walkway to get to it (i.e., your garage or front porch).

Once the de-icer contacts the ice, it will dissolve it and provide you with necessary traction. If you have pets, be careful with what grade and brand you choose. De-icer can be toxic for pets to eat and hurt their paws.

Buying an organic product can benefit you overall, as it would not surround you with harmful chemicals. This especially applies when you need to unfreeze a pipe in your plumbing system.

Check Your Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detectors

This is a crucial safety step in your home this fall, especially if you are turning your fireplace on.

Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure that they are working. Put in new batteries. Clean out the insides.

This is a good time of year to ensure that you’ve got a fire extinguisher on each floor. Don’t forget to check the expiry dates.