It’s no surprise that Canadian winter weather can be unpredictable. That’s why it’s good practice to ensure that you — and your home — are ready for whatever rolls in with the cold temperatures.

With the Farmer’s Almanac calling for above-normal levels of rain and snow this year, make sure your home is ready by following these three tips:

1. Check your furnace.

Make sure your furnace is in good working order by booking a furnace inspection before the coldest part of winter hits. Wait times can be longer as we get deeper into the season, and that’s the worst time to make do without. Regular maintenance and inspections can save you money in the long run.

2. Insulate doors and windows.

Keep the warmth in by installing or replacing weather-stripping or weather-strip film. When you turn your heaters on, ensure your baseboards are clean and test each one to see that they’re working properly. Heat rises, so start with the basement first.

3. Empty exterior pipes.

Water expands in the cold, so when severe cold snaps hit, pipes can be at risk of bursting. To avoid having your water pipes freeze and burst, empty all exterior taps, and shut off the valves until next spring

With these tips, you’re well on your way to protecting your home. But if anything happens, insurance providers like Belairdirect will be there to support you along the way with 24/7 claims service and digital tools that make submitting and tracking a claim as simple as uploading photos. Learn more at belairdirect.com

credit – newscanada.com