SUMMARY:
- Calgary often experiences early winter; prep for colder temperatures is crucial.
- Building exterior: Clear eaves, ensure downspout drainage, and address siding damage.
- Garage & Lawn: Store hoses, sprinklers, flush water lines, store batteries indoors, and position snow shovels accessibly.
- Vehicles: Schedule winter tire changes, have an emergency kit, and stock up on fluids.
- Winter prep ensures comfort and reduces last-minute hassle!
Well Calgary, we hope we aren’t the bearer of bad news, but it’s official: overnight lows at or below 0 are coming, and fast.
Last month we posted about why it’s important to ensure your eavestrough and downspouts are ready for winter.
Every year, tens of thousands of Calgarians get caught by how early winter can hit us sometimes. It’s not totally uncommon for it to snow in September… or June, for that matter. Jokes aside, if you haven’t started thinking about your winter prep, now’s a good time!
IT’S A GOOD TIME TO PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR WINTER NOW. HERE’S WHY:
- Calgary gets snow in September pretty often. Unpredictably, yes, but still often. Remember this? http://globalnews.ca/news/1550466/snow-in-september-its-not-unheard-of-for-albertans/
- The weather is still decent enough to do it. Hey, it was 8°C today and it’s supposed to be 22°C next week. This is the perfect weather to perform some basic outdoor prep items.
- When the snow falls, you’ll want to be inside… as opposed to trying to wrap your hoses before they freeze outside.
HERE’S A FEW THINGS TO DO BEFORE WINTER
We know it’s coming. There’s no point in denying it. Tackle these small chores before the temperature drops and you’ll be smiling sipping your double-double while watching your neighbours do in the cold what you did when it was warm.
Building Exterior
- Ensure your eaves are free of debris – Water needs to be able to flow through your eaves. Blockages, such as the impromptu leaf dams that often form in fall, will cause big problems if they trap water… especially when that water freezes.
- Ensure your downspouts drain properly – Now’s a great time to make sure that your downspouts are able to do their job.
- Address any siding damage now – Repair your siding while the weather is warm. Your siding is your first line of defense against water damage, and the constant freeze/thaw cycle Calgary experiences can really create problems. If your siding is in need of repair, schedule it now. Learn more about siding repair.
Garage & Lawn
- Put away your hoses – Unless you’re planning on watering after an aeration, power rake, or end of season fertilization, now’s the time to put away your hoses. If water freezes in them, the expansion may cause premature wear and even create holes in the hose.
- Put away your sprinklers and hose nozzles – Water freezing inside your sprinklers/nozzles is a sure-fire way to break them.
- Flush your underground water lines – If you have an underground sprinkler system, pump out the remaining water and seal it up for winter.
- Store any batteries indoors – If you store battery-powered tools (such as cordless drills or electric mowers) in the garage, take the batteries and store them indoors. Sub-zero temperatures are not beneficial for batteries and will greatly reduce their life.
- Put your snow shovel near your door – There’s nothing worse than hunting for a shovel when you need one. Now’s the time to stash them near where you’ll need them.
Vehicles
- Schedule your winter tire switch – Even if it’s scheduling a date in October, get on it now. Don’t get caught in the winter tire rush.
- Make sure you’ve got an emergency kit in your vehicle – When your car dies on the side of deerfoot in the middle of January, you’ll be glad you have a blanket and some gloves.
- Get your fluids ready – It never hurts to have extra windshield washer fluid in your garage and in your vehicle.
