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Winter is here! And with it comes colder temperatures and an increased risk of heavy snow and ice storms in the coming months, which can cause significant damage to your home. Protect your home from potential problems by following our tips:

• Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed. Remove all tree branches that hang over your roof and walkways. Some shrubs and plants may also benefit from being covered with burlap to prevent damage from snow, ice and salt.

• Keep your eaves troughs and downspouts clean of leaves and debris so melting snow and ice can get through.

• If a weather emergency requires you to stay at home for a few days, be prepared by creating
an emergency preparedness plan and have a kit ready with flashlights, batteries, blankets, some non-perishable food, and bottles of water.

• To help prevent pipes from freezing and bursting, keep your home heated to a minimum of 18°C. If temperatures dip very low, open cabinet doors in your kitchen and bathrooms to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.

• If you discover that pipes are frozen, don’t wait for them to burst. Take measures to safely thaw them immediately (such as wrapping pipes in warm towels or using a hot air from a hair dryer), or turn off the main water line and call a plumber for assistance.

• If you’re going to be away at any time during the winter months, drain the pipes by shutting off the main water line and then run your taps until the water runs out. You should also flush all of the toilets to remove water from the tanks.

There’s no denying that water can be messy, costly, and dangerous. In fact, water damage is one of the most common reasons people make a home insurance claim. But with a little preparation, you can ensure that your home and your loved ones stay high and dry.

Here are a few tips to help protect your home from water damage:

Inside your home:
• Have a licenced plumber inspect your pipes for corrosion or leaks and make any necessary repairs.
• Keep floor drains in your basement clear of obstructions.
• Fill any gaps in your basement walls, around windows, doors and all entry points for pipes and cables.
• Store your most valuable possessions on shelves or higher floors in airtight containers, rather than the basement floor (whenever possible).
• Ensure electrical system components, including service panels, meters, switches, and outlets, are at least 30 centemetres above from the basement floor.

Outside your home:
• Grade the property surrounding your house to encourage water to drain away from your home’s foundation.
• Use all-weather sealants around basement windows and ground floor doors and be diligent about sealing cracks in your foundation and exterior walls.
• Install window well and well covers on basement windows.
• Regularly clean and maintain your eavestroughs so that they’re not blocked.
• Keep storm drains near your home clear of leaves and debris.
• In winter months, clear snow away from your home’s foundation following every snowfall.