Winterizing Your Central Alberta Home
A simple fall checklist for the furnace, outside taps, sump pump and roof, before the real cold sets in.
Central Alberta winters are long, and a bit of prep in the fall saves you from frozen pipes and surprise repair bills.
Furnace
Swap or clean your furnace filter. A clean filter helps warm air actually get through the vents.
Natural Resources Canada recommends servicing natural gas and propane furnaces at least every two years. Plenty of owners just book it every fall, and buyers will ask about it when you sell.
Drafts
Most of the energy in a typical Canadian home goes to heating, so stop it leaking out. Feel around windows and doors for drafts and seal any gaps with weatherstripping or caulking.
Outside Taps And Hoses
Unhook your garden hoses and drain them before the first hard freeze. If your outside taps aren't the frost-free kind, shut off the water to them from inside and drain the line.
Sump Pump And Eavestroughs
Clean out the eavestroughs and point downspouts and the sump discharge line away from the house. Check the end of the sump line through the winter so it doesn't freeze shut and back up.
Ice Dams
Icicles and ice ridges along the edge of the roof usually mean heat is getting into the attic and melting the snow from underneath. Good attic insulation and ventilation are the long-term fix.
Keep Reading
First-Time Buyer Guide For Alberta
The federal programs that help with your first home, and how they fit together in Alberta.
Selling And Buying At The Same Time
Bridge financing, sale conditions and timing your move without paying for two homes.
Moving To Central Alberta: Your Checklist
Health card, licence, utilities and settling in after a move from out of province.