The winter is no time to hibernate when you’re a Canadian homeowner. The season’s worst weather can do a number on your home, and sleeping on important chores can leave your property vulnerable to costly damage.
While you might not feel like being industrious as the temperatures drop, the work you put in can save a lot of money and stress. So, come out from your cozy pile of blankets in front of the TV, at least for as long as it takes you to complete these chores.
Replace Your Furnace Filter
You should replace your furnace filter at least once every three months. However, you may want to replace them sooner if you have allergies, respiratory issues, or a lot of pets. Keeping these filters fresh and clean helps your furnace run efficiently.
While you’re replacing your filters, check on your furnace. The winter is your furnace’s busy season, and it’s under a lot of pressure. If you notice it’s not running properly, you should call in an HVAC specialist to get to the bottom of it.
Don’t skip this call because of the cost. This choice can actually cost you more in the long run since your furnace will work harder to heat your home. Eventually, even the best furnaces can throw in the towel, leaving you without heat and a major repair bill on your hands.
If you don’t have the savings to repair your furnace, a personal loan might give your budget the boost it needs. You can find out more about online personal loans in Canada right now on your phone, making it a cinch to compare your options. Shop around to find the right personal loan and the rates for you.
Clean Your Eavestroughs
Your eavestroughs play an important role in the drainage of your home, moving rainwater and snow melt away from your foundation. You want to keep these eavestroughs clean and clear of debris to ensure they can do this vital job.
While you’re up on the ladder, inspect your roof and look for ice dams. Ice dams are blocks of ice on your roof and eavestroughs that prevent water from draining off your roof as intended. The appearance of ice dams may indicate you have poor insulation in your attic, as they only form when snow melts and refreezes at the edge of your roof.
You can try clearing these dams on your own by following these DIY techniques. However, you may want to call a roofer to inspect your home to see why you’re dealing with ice dams in the first place.
Seal Window and Door Drafts
Do you feel a brisk chill move through your home, even though all your windows and doors are firmly shut and locked? Drafts indicate you have a faulty seal in the weatherstripping around these areas of your home.
Besides disturbing your cozy night in, a draft can blow in with quite the sticker shock. After all, drafts let all the heated air out, which means your furnace has to work harder to keep you spaces warm. You wind up paying for all that extra energy — not to mention, that extra work can cause your furnace to break down sooner.
To save on utility bills, replace damaged weatherstripping and freshen up the caulking around your windows and doors. These quick and relatively inexpensive chores can save as much as 30% of your heating and cooling bills.
Replacing your furnace filters, cleaning eavestroughs, and sealing drafts are three simple chores that promise a big payoff. So put on your toque and boots and get to work this winter.
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