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How to Winterize Your Home This Season

How to Winterize Your Home This Season
November 8, 2023

Whether you live in an apartment, condo, townhouse, or detached house, as the winter season rolls around, you want to make sure that your home is ready for the cold weather ahead. Winter offers a number of challenges for every type of home, and can make managing the mess even trickier. 

How to winterize your home this season

In this article, we will share tips on how to winterize your residence this season, so your home is cozy, clean, and warm.

Apartment Living

If you live in an apartment, it might feel like you have less control over the comfort level in your unit. However, you can use these tips to help winterize your home:

Apply Seal to Your Windows

In older apartments and condos, the window seals inside your home might start to fail. If the seals are old, you can help eliminate small gaps that contribute to drafts by applying adhesive seals on the areas where you feel a draft coming in.

Seal Your Doors

Very old apartments have actual doors instead of sliding glass doors. If this is the case, feel around the edges of the door for drafts. 

If you can feel air movement, apply a door stopper seal and door sweeper along the bottom of the door to help keep cold air from leaking into your apartment in the winter.

Turn On Your Heat

Before it gets chilly, turn on your heat to make sure it works. If not, let your landlord or superintendent know, so they can make repairs before the really cold weather arrives.

Get Out Your Winter Bedding

Exchange your lightweight sheets and duvet for heavier, warmer winter bedding. If you’re on a budget and can’t afford a heavier winter comforter, invest in a warm blanket for each bed, so you have an added layer of warmth.

You can also drape some cozy blankets over your couch and chairs to snuggle up and keep warm while reading, watching TV, or working on your laptop on those extra-cold nights. 

Prepare Your Patio Furniture

If you have furniture or plants out on your balcony or patio, make sure they are secure and covered before the first snowfall arrives. This will protect them from damage, while also ensuring they aren’t easily blown around during winter storms. 

Consider Purchasing a Humidifier

If you find the air in your apartment feels dry, invest in a portable humidifier. Humidifiers help keep the air moist to avoid uncomfortable, dry throats and eyes. They also protect wooden furniture from drying out. 

Prepare an Emergency Winter Kit

With the severity of winter storms posing a threat for long-term power outages, it’s wise to put together an emergency winter kit with the following items:

  • Flashlight
  • Candles
  • Bottled water
  • Matches
  • Portable cell phone charger
  • Manual can opener
  • Non-perishable foods and snacks 

Home Owners

If you own or rent a house, you can use these home-winterizing tips:

Seal Your Windows and Doors

Feel for drafts around windows and doors, and apply caulking on the exterior and interior around window frames. 

Also, replace old seals on the interior of windows where the window connects with the frame when closed. For doors, apply a new door sweep seal, and place a secure seal between the door and door frame.

Schedule a Furnace Maintenance Call

Have your furnace company come in and perform an annual maintenance call. They will ensure that your furnace works properly, so you don’t get caught without heat at the coldest time of the year.

Check Your Attic Insulation

Attic insulation is essential to keep your home warm. It also reduces the risk for condensation that can lead to mould growth. Ensure that you have proper insulation, or ask a roof inspector to inspect your attic for you. 

Clean Your Eavestroughs

This is a messy, precarious job, but it is important to protect your home from winter leaks. If your eavestroughs are filled with debris, then snow and water can be forced up under your shingles, causing damage and leading to roof leaks.

Inspect Your Roof

You might want to leave this up to a local roofing expert, as it’s dangerous walking around on your roof. 

Arranging for roof repairs before the winter weather arrives is a worthwhile investment to protect your home from water damage. While they’re up there, you can also have them clean your gutters, so you don’t have to!

Set Your Thermostat to the Ideal Temperature

Having your thermostat set to about 17°C for winter nights and 20°C during the day helps save energy while keeping your home comfortable. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, consider installing one to help manage home comfort levels.

Shut Off Exterior Water Sources

Make sure the water sources in the garage or backyard are turned off. If not, the pipes can burst and cause a flood in your home or on your property.

Stock up on De-icing Products

Make sure you’re prepared for all types of weather, including the snow and ice that can make your property a risk for slips and falls. Stock up on deckers, sand, or salt so that you, visitors, and people making deliveries won’t slip.

Managing the Winter Mess

You can also prepare your home for winter messes with these tips:

  • Place a boot tray at the door: Boot trays provide a place to keep dirty, wet boots to limit dirt on your floors and avoid tracking debris like salt and sand into your home.
  • Create more storage with hooks: If your home has limited storage space for all those winter coats, scarves, and gloves, consider installing some hooks at your entry.

    Each person can have their own hook to hang their coats, handbags, knapsacks, etc., and you can place a bag on the lower hook to store hats and mitts. Hooks are also great for hanging skates. 
  • Store winter sports equipment outside: If you live in an apartment, consider getting a weatherproof storage trunk where you can store things like skates, snowboards, hockey gear, etc.

    This avoids snow melting all over your floors, and also keeps stinky hockey gear outside. If you’re in a house, do the same in your garage or backyard.
  • Call deep cleaning services in Toronto: A deep cleaning makes for easier maintenance. It also removes all those germs so you stay healthy throughout the winter. 

Ultimately, being prepared for the cold weather will keep your home tidy and warm, so you can snuggle in comfortably for the long winter ahead.  
To help keep on top of your house cleaning, consider kicking off your winter with Maid4Condos’ deep cleaning services in Toronto. Click here for a convenient online quote. You can also call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.

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