“Winter is coming” and indeed it has come. As the old and clichéd saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. The same should be true with your winter preparation. Bracing yourself and your home for the long and cold winter season will get you smoothly through the coldest season.
1. Fire in the Hole
Roasting marshmallows by the fireplace with a warm blanket and a hot chocolate sounds nice until you feel a sense of dizziness slowly creeping in. Every time you use your fireplace, the fire produces a colorless and odorless gas known as ‘carbon monoxide’. A prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide is harmful to your health and is especially parlous to people with low resistance, chronic heart diseases, anemia, or breathing problems.
According to the National Vital Statistics System, a total of 393 deaths resulting from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning occurred, with 36% of the deaths occurring in December, January, or February of the year 2015. To prevent these harmful gases from accumulating, having a regular chimney cleaning is the best option.
2. Frozen Pops, Not Frozen Pipes
Our pipes and plumbing system are no bystanders to the frigid temperatures that come with the winter season. A common and a major problem when temperatures drop below freezing levels are bursting pipes. According to a Plumber Toronto expert, “the best way to handle frozen pipes is through prevention.”
So before the winter season comes, it is best to have your plumbing system and pipes professionally inspected and repaired. It would save you from a whole load of stress and the thousands of dollars in potential damage to your home.
3. Stocking the Essentials
Slacking off in storing winter essentials will do you no good. It is best to have a sufficient amount of salt or ice melt handy during the winter season. Also, do not forget to restock your emergency groceries and supplies like flashlights and batteries before the winter storms hit the town. (Bonus Beauty Tip: Do also stock up on moisturizers and lip balms as cold weathers tend to dry up your skin)
4. Seal the Deal
Having a good heater and insulator is not and should not be the end of the story. You should also make sure to seal your windows, doors and all other places where an air leak can occur. If air leaks are not properly addressed, your insulating system and heaters will not be enough to beat the bleakness of winter. Moreover, ensuring that your house is leak free will make your house more energy efficient thus saving you from the huge electricity bill. Yay to cost cutting!
5. Winter Sprinters
When it is freezing cold outside and the unforgiving weather prevents you from going outside, the last thing you want to happen is to be left without recourse and with no one to call. During these times, having the contact numbers of trusted and reliable technicians and plumbers is essential. You never know when you might need a help from them.
