We are from South Africa and recently purchased a small older home with acreage outside Kaslo. Winter is approaching and we are sure there are things that should be done but not sure what they are. Can you give us a list of items we should attend to before the cold weather arrives? 

This list won’t be tailored to your home but some of these maintenance tips for winterizing your home and belongings should be helpful. I’ll put them in a list for your fridge door.

1.      Drain your outside hosebibs (if they’re not a frost free type) & put hoses away.

2.      Drain all water in your lawn irrigation system

3.      Clean all the autumn leaves off your roof and out of your gutters.

4.      Caulk all the flashings around your chimney(s) & plumbing vents.

5.      Re-secure and caulk the seams of your gutters.

6.       Cover any outside storage (like bicycles) with tarps.

7.      Re-enforce the roofs of any portable metal storage sheds or temporary structures.

8.      Re-install storm windows & install weather-stripping on exterior doors.

9.      Close & insulate your crawlspace vents.

10.  Get your furnace serviced & clean the filter.

11.  Clean any chimneys that serve wood stoves & fireplaces.

12.  Plug your heat tape in if you have exposed water lines & make sure it’s working.

13.  Put a new bulb in the well casing if you keep it warm this way.

14.   Winterize any gas engines that won’t be in service until spring.

15.  Put antifreeze in you car radiator.

16.  Disconnect battery terminals from unused engines.

17.  Rake up the leaves on your lawn(s) or they will turn to mush in the spring.

18.  Dig up and store bulb flower plants (check with your local garden store for varieties).

19.  Harvest the garden / turn the compost / mulch the garden beds / put away garden tools

20.  Tie up any ornamental shrubs & bushes that could be damaged by snow.

21.  Bring in the firewood.

22.  Put away summer clothes and get ready all the winter sports gear.

23.  Purchase or bring out of storage your big winter snow shovel(s)

24.  Drain all the sewer / water fluids in your camper or RV.

Welcome to Canada . I never realized until now what you don’t have to do in a climate with no winter. But that’s what makes us all Canucks and keeps the “faint of heart” amazed and at a distance. I’m sure there are other things folks could add to this list. So put another log on the fire and get set to enjoy the slowest, coziest and best season of the year. 

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This article was written by Steven Cannon, a Registered Building Official and partner in Lynch Building Inspection Services Ltd. of Nelson, British Columbia. It originally appeared in The Nelson Express.

Key words: building, home inspection, house, British Columbia, BC, Castlegar, Creston, Cristina Lake, Edgewood, Grand Forks, Kaslo, Kootenay, Kootenays, Midway, Nakusp, Nelson, Salmo, Slocan, Trail, Yak, Ymir