Preparing your Home for Winter in Port Moody

With Christmas is only 2 months away, it is time to get your home prepared for winter. I would like to share with you a few common tips.

Preparing your home’s inside for winter

To help prepare for winter, have your furnace professionally serviced. It will also cost you a lot more for emergency repairs than a preventative servicing. We are also experiencing a shortage of trades, so there maybe waiting list to get any professional trade. The last thing you want is for your furnace to have a problem and break down, and you are left without heat in below-freezing weather for days. I work with a few local trades here in Port Moody and Coquitlam, if you need a few names, give me a shout.

Make sure you replace your furnace filter. You should be replacing the air filter every 3-6 months whether you think you need to or not. This will not only help keep your furnace running smoothly but also helps with the air quality in your home.

If you have an older thermostat, consider replacing it with a programmable or smart thermostat to help reduce heating costs.

FortisBC offers several energy saving rebate programs to help you save on your heating bill. Also, BCHydro has energy savings tips and programs for residents of Port Moody, depending on your living and financial situation.

BCHydro recommends setting the thermostat to 21 degrees Celsius when relaxing or watching T.V. When you are away from home or sleeping, try setting the thermostat to 16 degrees Celsius.

Preparing your home’s outside for winter

If you live in a single family home, you will want to clean out your gutters. Clogged gutters can prevent rain and melting snow from draining properly, and that can result in leaks inside the house.

While you are up there cleaning the gutters, have a quick look at the roof to make sure there are no missing or loose shingles that could cause a leaky roof. If there is some damage, call a roofing professional to assist you with the repairs.

Inspect your windows to make sure they are properly insulated, and that there are no leaks or cracks in the weather-stripping.

Make sure you turn off any outside faucets and drain any remaining water. If you don’t, remaining water can freeze and could cause your pipes to burst. Another option would be to replace your outdoor faucets to frost free outdoor faucets, so you don’t have to worry about it.

Don’t forget to look at the trees on your property. Make sure any overgrown tree branches are trimmed away from your home and electrical wires. Do this to help reduce the chance of damage and power outage during a storm.

If you can check these basic tasks off your list when preparing your home for winter, you will reduce the risk of serious issues over the winter season.

As always, I am here to help you answer any questions you may have about selling your home, especially if you plan to sell it in winter.

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