Winter Weather Alert For These Three Parts Of Your Home

Winter can be brutal in some parts of Canada. Snow and freezing cold temperatures can wreak havoc on houses. Even if your home has survived winter so far, you'll want to be sure to check these three parts of your home before the next blast of frigid air or blanket of snow.

The Roof

Before the snow flies, you'll want to make sure your roof is prepared. Four things you'll want to do include:

  • Clean the gutters
  • Check for damage
  • Remove debris
  • Ensure attic has proper ventilation and insulation

While it is not very common, roofs have been known to cave in due to heavy snow. It is more common for roofs to develop mold, or the drywall can become damaged if snow sits on the roof for an extended period of time. To safely remove snow from your roof, it's a good idea to call a professional roofer.

The Pipes

Frozen pipes can be a homeowner's worst nightmare. To ensure your pipes are ready for winter or the next polar vortex, you'll want to pay close attention to pipes located near the exterior of the home. This includes pipes located in these three areas:

  • Attic
  • Crawl spaces
  • Outside walls

To keep them from freezing, you'll want to ensure your home is warm enough. This is especially important if there are parts of your home that are not insulated. Some other things you can do to avoid frozen pipes are to wrap water pipes with insulation sleeves and keep a slow trickle of water flowing through faucets that are connected to pipes running through unheated spaces. If you notice any frozen pipes that are cracked, it may be time to call a plumber or HVAC contractor such as Blackburn Bennett Plumbing & Heating Inc.

The Furnace

You'll want to make sure your furnace is up to the task of keeping your house warm for another winter. Due to sediment that can build up and cause it to work less efficiently, your furnace should be cleaned at least once a year. Sediment buildup can also be a fire hazard which is another reason it should get cleaned. It is also important to change your furnace's filter every one to two months during the heating season. If your system won't turn on, your fan is going but not producing heat, or the furnace turns off before the house is warm, these could all indicate a problem. If you notice any of these problems and you want to stay warm during the winter, call an HVAC contractor for help.


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