Keeping your home safe this winter: Here’s what you need to know

Heavy snowfall leads to significant snowbanks across the City of Barrie.

With winter weather expected to sweep the region this week, Homestars, a Canadian company that provides homeowners with community-reviewed home service professionals, is giving the public tips for keeping their homes safe this winter season.

The company is warning residents that wintery weather can cause damage worth thousands of dollars if not properly prepared.

Assess the trees

Homestars suggests residents assess the trees on their property. They say that due to the dry summer, trees become more brittle and roots weaker. As a result, the likelihood of trees and branches falling during stormy weather tends to increase. They say that while this can’t be controlled, there are precautions that can be taken to minimize harm to the home.

If the trees on a property have broken or loose branches, the company recommends removing those branches, to protect windows, cars, fences, and people. They say that if the whole tree is looking like it’s rotting, it means that it’s at a higher risk of falling down and should be removed by a professional.

Check the roof

The company says to check the roof of the home and to make a habit of checking it on a regular basis. They say loose shingles can fall off in strong winds and even a missing shingle or a shingle that has moved slightly, can create enough of an opening for water to leak into the home when it rains or snows.

Inspect the fence

Homestars says to look at fence panels and posts and see if they are securely rooted to the ground still. If there are loose fence posts, Homestars suggests taking down any insecure panels and posts before gusty winds make way. They say if strong winds blow, a rotted, wobbly fence is likely to fall down.

Clear out eavestroughs

Clearing and securing eavestroughs is another important preventative measure homeowners can take, the company says. They explain that eavestroughs keep water from entering our homes and if those are blocked, that’s when flooding can happen. They recommend cleaning out leaves and debris while also ensuring that the eavestroughs are firmly fastened to the house, so nothing is loose.

Insulate pipes

Another recommendation from Homestars is to insulate the pipes outside because they can freeze in the winter, which can lead to cracks and possible flooding. They also advise homeowners to learn how to switch off the utilities, which means cutting off the flow of water, gas, and electricity to a house. They say it’s a good idea to know how to do it in case of an emergency like flooding, gas leaks, or electrical fires.

Check the chimney

A final tip Homestars has is to have a contractor check the chimney and all of its components including the caps, guards, and pots, to ensure they are all still intact.

Homestars says the research was done for them by Opinium, an award-winning strategic insight agency, through a survey of 2,000 people.