Tips for preparing the home for winter

REGINA – If the dropping temperatures weren’t an indication, this week’s sprinkling of snow probably did the trick: winter is coming. And there are a few ways to prepare your home and yard for it.

The City of Regina is reminding residents to rake up their leaves and drop them off at a leaf and yard  waste depot, which are open for the next two Saturdays only.

Letting leaves accumulate in catch basins can block off storm sewers.

“Or if they stay on the catch basin, what they’re going to do is freeze over the winter and then they could cause drainage issues during the spring melt,” Lisa Legault, director of solid waste for the city.

Getting the home winter-ready means preparing for potential problems up above too; ice damming is formed when heat escapes the roof, creating a water buildup that can seep inside.

“Pretty much anything in your house that if you hit with a garden hose, that’s basically what will happen if you don’t take care of an ice dam,” said Brendan Owens, who works at Optimum Roofing.

He recommends ensuring proper insulation levels and ventilation in the attic to avoid ice damming.

But if there’s still too much snow up there for comfort: “You can do it yourself with a snow rake. I wouldn’t recommend going on the roof because that can be very dangerous as well.”

It may be out of sight, but at once a year the furnace should be top of mind.

Monthly filter changes during the winter are a good idea, he added.

“Every degree you turn your turn your thermostat down, that saves you two per cent on your energy bills,” said Burdeniuk

It’s also important to check for vents blocked with debris, including snow and ice, that can fill your home with carbon monoxide.

“It’s both your pocketbook to make sure that your energy budget goes are far as possible but also safety,” he said.