The sun, wind, snow and rain all take their toll on your house. The protection and maintenance of your property should always be a priority if you’re a homeowner. Ottawa has relatively calm weather most of the year, but the winters can be quite frigid and harsh. Snowfall, freezing rain, hail, and high winds can batter your roof if you didn’t take proper protective measures, and cause further damage when ice and snow start to melt.
Before the winter is here, you need to take certain measures to weatherproof your house to minimize the damage to your property – and your wallet – when spring gets here.
Weatherproofing in Ottawa
Insulation is a great way to weatherproof your house. Another fact you probably didn’t know is that a perfectly insulated and weatherproofed home will also result in a decrease in your electric bill. Who doesn’t love that? Saving energy also has long-term benefits for our planet.
Not only will weatherproofing help you in the short-term, but it will also add value to your home should you decide to sell in the future. Considering the following ways to weatherproof your home:
- Cold winter air and snow/rain can find its way into your house through cracks around the windows, holes in the foundation wall etc. If you want to spot problem spots, light a candle and bring it around windows and doors. If the flame flickers, then you know you have a leak to fix.
- During those long winter nights keep your windows shut and make sure they are sealed You may need to have older windows repaired or replaced with more energy efficient models.
- Your hot water heater can be insulated to save energy (and save some money). Get a hot water heater insulated blanket to cover it up. It is said to reduce heat loss by 25-40%.
- Insulating your entire house (walls, windows, basement and attic) will save you a fortune in the long-run. Yes, it is pricey but you will get a good return on investment and then there is the savings on energy bills. Also, it helps your heating systems to work more efficiently and to their full potential.
- Install a programmable thermostat. This too will help save a couple of hundred bucks annually due to the reduction on heating bills.
- Have your roof inspected by a professional roofing company in Ottawa. They’ll be able to check for missing shingles, leaks, and spot problem areas before they cause trouble.
Weatherproof your house efficiently this winter so that you can enjoy peace of mind as the wind and snow come pounding down.
Weatherproof your house efficiently this winter so that you can enjoy peace of mind as the wind and snow come pounding down.
