As heavy snow and freezing rain roll into British Columbia, it’s important to winterize homes to be better equipped for the winter. Preparing your home for extended periods of freezing temperatures is important to avoid higher energy costs and any damage caused by cold weather and snow.
Start with the basics. Keep a shovel for your driveway and walkways to be able to clear snow promptly after a snowfall. This ensures that your outdoor spaces remain functional and safe without undue delay. Severe winter weather like ice, wind and snow can cause power outages. It’s important to be prepared to live without power for several days. According to Emergency Preparedness B.C. you should have emergency supplies ready, lasting at least two to seven days, charge all devices and have flashlights and extra batteries handy.
Weatherproof Your Home
Maintaining proper home insulation during the winter months is crucial as it impacts both your comfort and energy efficiency. Reduced energy consumption not only benefits your wallet but also has a positive impact on the environment.
Weatherstripping gaps around doors and windows reduces the workload on heating and cooling systems, leading to energy savings and lower utility bills.
Installing window treatments will help to trap heat inside, reducing the need for excessive heating and, in turn, lowering energy consumption and heating costs.
Inspect your roof for any damage before winter sets it. Colder months often bring snow and rain, and a damaged roof can allow water to penetrate your home. Inspecting the roof for any leaks or vulnerabilities ensures that it is watertight and can withstand precipitation, preventing water damage to the interior of your home.
Inspect Your Heating System
Schedule a furnace inspection to ensure that your heating system is operating safely. Technicians can identify and address issues such as gas leaks, carbon monoxide leaks, or other potential safety hazards that could pose a risk to you and your family.
Programming your thermostat efficiently offers various benefits related to energy conservation, cost savings, and overall comfort. Efficient thermostat programming helps regulate the temperature in your home based on your daily schedule by adjusting the temperature when you’re away or asleep to avoid unnecessary heating or cooling, resulting in reduced energy consumption.
As you’re likely to use your fireplace more frequently during the winter to provide additional warmth, cleaning and inspecting the chimney ensure that the fireplace operates efficiently, allowing maximum heat output and minimizing energy waste.
Protect Your Garden and Exterior
Cleaning gutters and trimming trees reduces the risk of ice dams and falling branches that could damage your home, vehicles, or other property. Ice dams could form when there is a combination of snow accumulation on the roof, heat escaping from the interior of the home, and a freezing exterior temperature.
Disconnecting and draining outdoor faucets help prevent freezing and the subsequent damage to the plumbing system. Any water left in outdoor faucets can freeze during cold temperatures, causing the pipes to expand and potentially burst.
Check for Energy Efficiency
Consider upgrading to energy-efficient windows and doors as it offers numerous benefits related to energy savings and comfort such as improved regulation of indoor temperatures, better insulation against external noise, and reduced amount of ultraviolet (UV) rays entering your home.
Ducts are a crucial component of a home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, and when they are not properly sealed, various issues can arise. Sealing ducts helps retain the heat produced by your furnace or heat pump, optimizes the efficiency of your heating system, and retains the heat produced by your furnace or heat pump making your home more energy efficient. Sealing ducts also helps maintain better indoor air quality by preventing the infiltration of pollutants.
Lastly, scheduling a home energy audit can provide valuable insights into your home’s energy usage, identify areas of inefficiency, and help you make informed decisions to improve energy consumption. Professional auditors use specialized equipment to detect areas of energy waste, such as drafts, air leaks, and insufficient insulation. Identifying these issues allows you to address them and improve the overall efficiency of your home.
If you’re considering selling, any repairs, renovations, or upgrades enhance the overall functionality of the property and also contribute to its market appeal and potential resale value. Our team is always ready and willing to talk you through what your individual home selling journey will look like. Reach out to one of our market-leading Realtors® today.
