Alberta is always a step ahead, and it seems as though we somehow hop, skip and fall (get it) right into winter. The winter season can bring about a mixture of weather, from icy conditions, rain and lots of snow. Taking care of the exterior of your home will help keep your home in better shape to avoid finding surprises when the season thaws out. Even the most routine tasks can be forgotten sometimes, so we’ve compiled a list of the top tip to getting your home winter ready in Edmonton.

Windows & Doors: Heat loss may not degrade the structure of your home, but it can certainly be a side effect of the winter weather. To keep your home warm, and costs low, ensure that no leaks are getting through your windows and doors. You can accomplish this by checking the weather-stripping around the frame, while also checking for drafts and caulks.

Clean Out Eaves-trough: Keeping your eaves-trough free of any debris, such as dirt or leaves, will help with the flow of any rain or melted snow. If your eaves-trough doesn’t provide a pathway to drain the weather, leaks can start to spring up.

Roof Inspection: Checking your roof for damaged or missing shingles will help you ensure that further damages or problems will not appear during or after the winter season. For safety, it is better to call a roofer to examine your roof and look for other maintenance just as the air vents and caulking around your chimney.

Exterior Facets: Ensure that you turn off any exterior faucets throughout the cold season. Any water that is not drained from your taps will freeze, leaving you at the risk of dealing with a pipe bursting.

Protect exterior pipes: Pipes that are exposed in unheated areas run the risk of causing water damage when they freeze, regardless of the pipe size. Examples of pipe exposure in unheated areas include spaces such as attics, basement or crawl spaces.

Taking precautions can surely help to avoid more significant problems, which can also be very costly. Regularly maintaining your home, especially during the winter and spring season, can be one the best investments.