Getting Your Lloydminster Home Ready for Winter

Every fall, I get the same kind of call: "Jordan, the furnace is making a funny noise. Is that a big deal?" Usually it's a small fix. But in a Lloydminster winter, small things can turn into big, expensive ones fast, so the best time to deal with them is before the first real cold snap.

Here's the checklist I'd use on my own home, plus a few thoughts for anyone buying or selling this winter.

Your prairie winter checklist

Heating and air

• Furnace service. Book a licensed technician before the rush. Health Canada recommends having fuel-burning appliances professionally inspected at least once a year (or as the manufacturer says), which also helps prevent carbon monoxide problems.
• Filters. Natural Resources Canada suggests changing or cleaning forced-air filters every three months or as they get loaded. With the furnace running hard all winter, I check mine monthly. Keep vents and return-air grilles clear of furniture, too.
• The humidifier. If your furnace has one, clean it and replace the pad. Then watch your windows. CMHC advises keeping winter humidity at or below 45 per cent, and says 30 per cent or lower may be needed in very cold weather to stop window condensation. Water dripping down the glass is a sign to turn it down.

The building shell

• Insulation and drafts. Feel around baseboards, outlets, the attic hatch and where pipes or wires come through walls. The Canadian Red Cross recommends winterizing by insulating walls and attics and caulking and weather-stripping doors and windows.
• Windows and doors. Replace worn weatherstripping and door sweeps, re-caulk gaps, and make sure storm windows are on. Window insulation film is a cheap fix for a drafty older window.
• The attic and ice dams. Ice dams form when heat escaping into the attic melts snow on the roof, and the water refreezes at the cold eaves. Natural Resources Canada calls attic ventilation your second line of defence after air sealing, and says a colder, well-vented attic is less prone to ice dams. Check that soffit vents aren't blocked by insulation, and look for water stains on the roof sheathing.
• The roof. From the ground (or with a pro), look for missing or lifted shingles and loose flashing around the chimney and vents. Fixing them in October beats a leak in February.

Water, inside and out

• Eavestroughs and downspouts. Clean out the leaves, make sure joints are tight, and point downspout extensions well away from the foundation.
• Outdoor taps. Disconnect and drain the hoses. If you have an indoor shut-off valve for the outside tap, close it and open the tap outside to let it drain.
• Sump pump and drainage. Test the pump by pouring a pail of water into the pit, and check that the discharge line runs freely and won't freeze shut. The Red Cross reminds us to plan for flooding once the snow melts, so spring starts now.
• Pipes. Wrap pipes in unheated spaces like crawlspaces and garages, and keep cabinet doors open on outside walls during deep cold. Know where your main water shut-off is. Canada's Get Prepared guidance says to learn how to shut off your water and, in a winter outage, drain your plumbing so pipes don't freeze.

Safety

• Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Test them and change batteries. Health Canada says homes with fuel-burning appliances should have smoke alarms and at least one carbon monoxide alarm with battery backup, and the most important place for a CO alarm is the hallway outside sleeping areas. Check the expiry dates, too.
• Vents after a storm. Health Canada also recommends checking exhaust vents for the furnace, dryer and fireplace during and after snowstorms, so drifting snow doesn't block them.

The garage and driveway

• Garage. Keep the door between the house and garage closed, and never idle a vehicle in the garage, even with the door open. Health Canada adds that gas-powered equipment like snowblowers shouldn't be run in the garage either.
• Block-heater outlets. Test your outdoor outlets before you need them, and replace any damaged cords. A block-heater timer saves power. You don't need it plugged in all night.
• Snow removal gear. Get the snowblower tuned up, and have shovels, ice melt and sand on hand. Here's the local rule to know: under Lloydminster's Community Standards Bylaw, owners or occupants must clear snow and ice from the sidewalk next to their property within 72 hours of a snowfall. Shovel onto your own property, not the street. The City also asks residents to keep one metre around fire hydrants clear, and it's up to you to clear the ridge of snow left at the end of the driveway after the plows go by.
• Parking bans. From October 31 to March 31, the City can put rotating parking restrictions in place when crews are clearing your area, weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on priority routes. Vehicles left in a restricted area during active work may be towed. You can sign up for road and traffic updates at Lloydminster.ca/Subscribe.

Power outages and the emergency kit

• Emergency kit. The Government of Canada recommends a kit to keep your household going for at least 72 hours, with two litres of water per person per day, plus fall and winter extras like warm clothing, gloves, extra batteries and ice grippers. Add a flashlight and a battery or crank radio.
• Generator. If you have one, test it now. Health Canada says to run a fuel-burning generator outdoors, at least 6 metres (20 feet) from any building, with the exhaust pointed away from windows and doors. A backup generator should only connect to your house through an approved transfer switch installed by a qualified electrician. Never plug it into a wall outlet.

Is there help with the cost?

Rebates change often, and right now, most of the big programs don't reach Lloydminster. SaskEnergy's programs exclude Lloydminster customers on ATCO's gas system, the federal Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program isn't offered in Alberta or Saskatchewan yet, and Lloydminster isn't on the list of Alberta's Clean Energy Improvement Program communities. Two that may help: Alberta seniors 65 and older may qualify for a low-interest SHARP home equity loan that can cover things like furnace and window upgrades, and income-qualified SaskPower customers can apply for the free Energy Assistance Program (which includes items like a block heater timer and pipe wrap). Check the program pages for current eligibility before you count on anything.

Buying or selling this winter

Selling in winter. Serious buyers are still out there in January. Keep the walk, driveway and steps clear and salted, set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature for showings, and turn on every light. Have your furnace service records and recent utility bills ready, because winter buyers ask.

What buyers should check on a winter showing. Winter can actually tell you a lot. Does the house feel warm and even, or drafty? Are there big icicles or ice along the eaves (a possible attic heat-loss sign)? Is there frost or condensation on the windows? Where is the block-heater plug, and how easy will the driveway be to clear? Ask about the furnace's age and service history.

The value of a winter inspection. Snow can hide the roof and the lot's drainage, and a good inspector will tell you what they couldn't see. But winter is also when heating problems, drafts, poor insulation and moisture show up best. A winter inspection is well worth it. Just ask about anything the snow covered.

A thought for the cold months

Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor whose journal became Meditations, wrote, "Let not future things disturb thee, for thou wilt come to them, if it shall be necessary, having with thee the same reason which now thou usest for present things" (Meditations 7.8). I like that for winter prep. You can't control the forecast, but you can deal with the furnace, the eaves and the emergency kit today, and meet the cold with a clear head when it comes.

If you're getting a home ready to sell, or you'd like a second set of eyes on a place before you buy, I'm happy to help.

Call or text me at 306-371-5888, or email jordanbirdrealtor@gmail.com.

Jordan Bird
LPT Realty
306-371-5888
jordanbirdrealtor@gmail.com