Jo-ann Cudmore

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Getting Your Home Ready For Winter In Niagara

November 13, 2014

We all know the simple tasks of getting ready for winter around the house here in the Niagara Region; clean the gutters, rake the leaves, cover the a/c (which we’ll get back to), but there are a number of other winterizing ideas that are excellent maintenance tips as well.

 1. Check the caulking.

We’re pretty big on this one, it’s the last line of defence from water seeping in to all those little places you don’t want it to.  Check the bottle, they normally have a temperature sensitivity on them, and once you start going you can make some nice lines like the pros with some practice.  And if you have wood windows or siding, make sure they’re sealed with a good coat of paint/stain as well.

 2. Turn off the outside taps

Do you remember where the shut offs are?  I’ve seen a couple burst pipes and it’s not a pretty sight.  They should have a bleed valve on them which allows you to drain the water out of the line once the tap is off.

 3. Turn off the a/c breaker

It saves power.  As far as the covers go they’re ok, but a simple board on top does just fine and lets the sides breathe which is better for it in the long run.

 4. Grading

Again something we’re really big on.  When all that snow starts to melt, especially the ice by Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, make sure it’s flowing away from your basement, not towards it

 5. Check the roof

Use binoculars if you have to, you’re looking for any flipped up or missing shingles, caulking again at flashings and any exposed nail heads.  Get those upper downspouts extended across any lower roof line instead of spilling on top of them.

 6. Service the furnace

The pros call it “light up” season.  When everyone starts turning on the furnace, some come to realize that it’s not working this year.  A qualified HVAC technician should check things you can’t inside the furnace and hopefully prevent anything from happening at midnight on Christmas Eve.

 7. Clean out the ditches or area drains

Its another great tool for drainage and keeping the basement dry.  Also the community around you is using them as well, and counting on them to work.  Make sure they aren’t full of leaves or plastic bags, etc. to ensure good drainage.

 8. Clean the chimney

There are a number of companies that are crazy busy right now cleaning and checking chimneys for customers.  Good maintenance would be having it checked every year.  If you don’t remember the last time you cleaned yours it’s probably time.

– Daryl Vanden Bogert, CHI – Castlerock Professional Home Inspections –  www.crinspections.com

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About Jo-Ann Cudmore

With over 24 years of residency in the Niagara area, Jo-Ann Cudmore has acquired an impressive level of knowledge in the various market niches throughout the Niagara area. She is the perfect choice if you are buying or selling a home in Niagara.


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Royal LePage Niagara Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage | 125 Queen Street, Box 1645, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0

Office: (905) 468-4214 | Cell: (905) 321-8126

Helping people buy and sell their homes in Niagara-on-the-lake, Niagara Falls, Port Colborne, St. Catharines, Stoney Creek, Thorold, Welland, Fonthill, Virgil and Wainfleet.
Specializing in buying or selling properties suitable for Bed and Breakfasts.