It’s that time of year again. The cold has finally settled in, and winter is upon us. As a homeowner living in Alberta, you might experience freezing temperatures, heavy snowfall, slick roads, power outages, and icy driveways.
As anyone who has lived in Alberta long enough knows, winters here can be unpredictable. Sometimes we have mild temperatures and no snow at all. Other times we’re buried under feet of snow and freezing temperatures. It’s crucial that you take some time to prepare your home for any winter weather that might be coming your way.
Preparing your home for the winter can be overwhelming because each winter season is unique and requires a different response. However, there are some basic techniques that you can use to minimize negative outcomes.
In this article, we’ll discuss Winter Safety Tips: Preparing Your Home for the Winter.
Get Ready Way Before the Winter
The cold, the rain, the snow… it can be a bit of a challenge for those unprepared for it. But you don’t need to let these things get you down! There are things you can do now to make sure your home is ready for whatever winter throws at it.
Prepare a Safety Checklist
Think in advance and create a list that discusses how you will respond in specific scenarios. This could include some essential responsibilities in an emergency, like who will take care of your pets or whether you have enough food stored up for everyone during this time.
Inspect Your Home for Vulnerable Areas
You can do this yourself or hire a professional to ensure maximum protection for your home and family members through the winter months ahead. Some examples of what should be included on your checklist include your heating and air conditioning system, cleaning out gutters so they won’t overflow when heavy snow comes, investing in equipment like snow blowers and standby generators, etcetera!
Trim the Trees
When the weather gets colder, you may think it’s time to start preparing your home for winter. But what about your trees? Many homeowners need to realize that trimming their trees is essential to preparing for winter.
Here are three reasons why trimming your trees is essential this winter:
Wind Damage
If your tree branches are too close to the ground or weak and thin, they won’t withstand strong winds or snowfall effectively. This can lead to damage or falling branches that could hit someone or something else on your property!
Fire Hazard
If your branches are too close to electrical wires, they could easily catch fire when exposed to heat sources such as lightbulbs or appliances. Not only will this cause damage to your home, but it will also put lives at risk!
Falling Branches
If a branch falls from a tree because it hasn’t been trimmed properly, it could cause serious injuries if someone walks underneath it at the wrong time.
You can trim the trees on your own, but if you don’t have the skills or equipment to do so, it might be better to hire a professional. Yardworx has been working in the Alberta area for over 25 years, so we know what we’re doing when it comes to winter preparation. Our highly skilled team will ensure that your home is ready for winter with minimal damage and disruption.
Roof Maintenance During the Winter
Winter is the time of year when you really want to pay attention to your roof. It’s easy to get caught up in the holidays and forget that a leaky roof can cause all kinds of problems, including mold, mildew, and damage to your home’s interior.
So before you get busy with the hustle and bustle of the festive season, make sure you’ve got everything you need for a healthy roof! Here’s how to keep your roof in tip-top shape this winter.
Make Sure You Check Out Your Gutters
If there’s too much snow on your roof or in the gutters, it could lead to leaks or even structural damage somewhere down the line. It’s best if you have professionals do this for you. They’ll be able to tell if there are any problems that need addressing right away, so they don’t turn into bigger issues down the road.
Check Your Chimney for Any Cracks or Holes
If your chimney has cracks or holes, they should be fixed immediately. It could lead to water damage inside your home if left alone long enough! You may also want to consider installing a chimney cap as an extra layer of protection against snow.
Keep Your Walkways Clear
While winter is a time of year that can be beautiful and fun, it also comes with its own set of challenges. One of the biggest challenges is keeping your walkways clear of snow and ice. If you’re not careful, snow and ice can build up on your driveway, walkways, and steps over time. This can cause dangerous conditions for yourself and your guests as well as damage to the structure of your home.
Clear any snow and ice from your driveway, walkways, and steps. If you have a large hill or incline leading up to your house, consider hiring someone to clear this area for you. Clear all debris from gutters and drains to prevent water buildup which can lead to ice dams or leaks in the future.
If you have deck furniture, consider storing it indoors until next summer. This will reduce the likelihood that it will get damaged by weather conditions such as heavy rain or high winds which could cause damage like warping or rotting wood surfaces over time if left unprotected outdoors during harsh winter conditions.
Be Good to Your Neighbours
Winter is a time of year when we all need to be especially careful, but it’s also when we can come together as a community and help each other out.
This means keeping your neighbours in mind when preparing for the winter is also critical. If you anticipate a storm approaching, it might be beneficial to communicate with your neighbours about possible courses of action. Your neighbours might lack specific equipment when it comes to preparation, which could also endanger your home.
Similarly, ensuring your home is adequately maintained will minimize the chance that your neighbours are negatively affected. This is especially the case if you live close to your neighbour. Trees that aren’t trimmed, neglected ice and snow patches, or a leaky drainage system could wreak havoc on many homes. Winters in Alberta are much more manageable when everyone helps and comes together as a community.
Get Your Home Ready in Winter
We know that the winter months can be hard on your home, and we want to help you prepare it. At Yardworx, we offer a wide range of services designed to ensure that your home is ready for whatever the weather throws.
We want our customers to feel safe and secure in their homes throughout the year, especially during the coldest months. So if you’re looking for a company that can help you with your yard work during the summer, with fall cleanup, or with snow removal and ice melt during the winter, we’re here for you!
If you have any questions about what we do or how we could help you this winter, don’t hesitate to contact us at our Calgary or Edmonton office.