Let it Snow

Is your home ready for winter? Our handy guide will help keep you safe, cozy, and happily Netflixing (without the chill).

Winter in Toronto can be unpredictable, with some years seeing just a dusting of flurries, others bringing blasts of arctic winds and waist-high snowbanks (remember the year the mayor called in the army to shovel the streets?). One thing’s certain: Canadian winters can be tough on our homes, large or small. A little proactive planning in three important areas can keep the season stress-free.

Protect your plumbing One of the most common causes of property damage in the winter months is frozen pipes, which can happen in crawl spaces, attics, garages, cupboards and any uninsulated nooks near exterior walls where temperatures can dip below zero, especially in older homes. As ice expands by 10 percent inside the pipe, pressure can build until the pipe bursts with a cataclysmic gush, causing thousands in water damage. If this happens, your first course of action is to shut off the main water valve and call a plumber.

Prevention—in the form of proper insulation—is key to preventing pipe freezing. Cover pipes with insulating foam sleeves, and seal off air leaks in your home and garage to prevent icy air from getting in, taking care to check around vents, windows, doors and electrical outlets. In the fall, turn off your outdoor water supply, drain faucets, and unscrew any hoses. When leaving town for an extended period of time, be sure to shut off the water main, open the lowest faucet in the house to drain, and keep the thermostat at a minimum of 17 degrees Celsius, according to Natural Resources Canada’s recommendations. Keeping a pencilthin trickle of water flowing can also prevent freezing.

Tune-up your HVAC To prevent mid-winter breakdowns, your furnace should be inspected and serviced annually, keeping it running at maximum efficiency (and saving you money on energy costs). Your air ducts should also be professionally cleaned at least every two to three years—or more often if you have pets or allergy issues, says Robert Cappellina of Capps Duct Cleaning. “If you have dust and dander building up in your ducts, the airflow diminishes, and the whole HVAC system isn’t functioning as it should,” he says. “Your furnace might be working harder and using more gas, and you’re breathing all of that stuff in.”

To optimize indoor air quality, replace your furnace filter at least every four months. If dust flies out when you tap it, it’s time for a duct cleaning, Cappellina says. Avoid super-thick filters with dense pleats— “They can actually make things worse since they make it harder for air to flow through,” Cappellina says. Instead, he recommends in-duct HEPA air purifying units that can add an additional level of whole-house filtration for allergy sufferers. Special UV lights mounted in the air return duct can kill bacteria and mould, which can contribute to asthma and allergies. A furnace-mounted humidifier can also make dry winter air more comfortable, keeping your home at an optimal 30 to 40 percent humidity.

Optimize your outdoor space Keep your driveway and walkways ice-free with radiant heating installed under the asphalt, with smart controls that can sense drops in temperature and switch on automatically. If you plan to leave town, hire a snow clearing service—you could be fined by the city if sidewalks, driveways and stairs on your property are unsafe or impassable. Be sure to stock up on pet-friendly road salt that doesn’t irritate sensitive paw pads, and avoid any ice-melting product containing ethylene glycol—it’s the active ingredient in antifreeze, which can be fatal to dogs and cats.

To prevent water damage to your roof and foundations from melting snow, have your eavestroughs and downspouts cleaned and repaired every year. Mature trees around your house can wreak havoc if a blizzard or ice storm is in store— falling branches can snap power lines, pose a safety hazard for passersby, and even cave in your roof. Have an arborist inspect your property to see if dying or dangling limbs pose a risk.

Winter-mergency preparedness

Three crucial things to do to protect your home for the snowy season.

In case of a frozen pipe— which could unleash a torrent of water damage in your home—make sure you know the location of your main water shutoff valve. In many Toronto homes, it’s in the basement inside the wall of the house that faces the street, where the municipal water supply enters.

More home fires occur in winter than any other season, according to the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs— make sure to test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and replace the batteries every six months, and have your chimney and flues inspected and cleaned annually.

To be ready for when Old Man Winter unleashes an epic snowstorm that knocks out the power grid or leaves you stranded on the highway, make sure your home and car emergency kits are stocked and up to date with everything you need to survive for 72 hours—find out what to put in them at GetPrepared.gc.ca.