Tip #1: Talk to Your Insurance Broker

Renewal time is a great opportunity to talk to your insurance broker about how to better prepare your home and business for all of life’s perils.

Tip #2: Inspect your Roof and Repair any Loose Shingles

Make sure to inspect your roof and repair any potential loose or missing shingles to ensure that no snow/water gets into your house. Also, make sure that your gutters and downspouts are leaf and debris free to avoid water damage to your home.

Tip #3: Turn off Exterior Faucets

One of the simplest ways to get winter-ready is to turn off all exterior faucets. Draining water from outdoor pipes, valves, hoses and sprinkler heads also helps to prevent damage from eventual freezing and melting cycles.

Tip #4: Seal Gaps and Cracks

Check around your windows and doors for any gaps or cracks, and if you find any, make sure to seal them. This will help keep your house and business warm, prevent unwanted freezing and use less energy in the winter. For any gaps wider than a few millimeters, consider applying caulking to prevent cold air from entering your home or business.

Tip # 5: Clean Gutters and add Gutter Guards

Cleaning your gutters of leaves and debris allows water to flow from the roof and away from the house, preventing foundational damage or ice backup. Also make sure your gutters are attached in spring and that water is draining away from your foundation.  Adding gutter guards is one way to prevent leaf and debris collection in your gutters.

Tip #6: Check your Weather Stripping

Checking the weather stripping on your doors and windows and replacing when needed is another great way to keep heat in your home or business. If there are gaps in your siding, windows and/or doors, you can apply exterior caulking to seal the gaps.

Tip #7: Check your Furnace and Replace Furnace Filters

Regular inspections for furnace leaks and testing for carbon monoxide is a good way to keep your family and employees safe. Also consider installing carbon monoxide detectors to monitor the air in your home or business. Replacing your furnace filter regularly will also help to ensure efficiency and keep dust particles from infecting the clean, heated air.

Tip #8: Check your Insulation

Making sure your home is properly insulated is a great way to keep your home warm and cozy in the winter. Check your attic for proper insulation and consider upgrading your insulation if needed around your home to fireproof or sound proof insulation.

Tip #9: Book an HVAC Maintenance Appointment

Having regular maintenance checks on your HVAC unit can help improve performance, increase unit life and save you money in the long-run.

Tip #10: Check Fire Alarms & Extinguishers

Test your smoke alarms regularly and ensure that they are clean. Replace batteries when advised and keep fire extinguishers on every floor of the house and in the kitchen.