| Repairs & Maintenance - Home Safety Tips |
Your Home in Winter
Winter poses many unique challenges to homeowners - snow, cold temperatures
and indoor hazards. Knowing the following basics can keep you and your home
safe.
Fire
Government of Ontario statistics from 1995 to 2001 show a distinct pattern:
the incidence of home fires from October to March can be 60% higher than in
the summer months. The main reasons were smoking, accidents, cooking, the
use of matches and lighters, and heaters.
In winter the heat is turned up, space heaters are brought out of storage
and fires are lit in the hearth. It is important to ensure that all of these
are in proper working order and any flammable materials are kept at a safe
distance.
During the holidays, many people decorate their homes with trees, ornaments
and candles. If you have a live tree ensure the base of the tree is kept
moist. Ornaments and candles should be kept out of reach of pets and small
children. Also ensure your fire detectors are functioning by testing with a
match. It's a good idea to replace the batteries every six months.
Now is also a good time to think about getting a carbon monoxide detector.
If you have a fireplace, a gas stove or other gas appliances it is important
to be vigilant - carbon monoxide is an odourless colourless poison. If you
already have one, replace batteries every six months when you replace those
in your fire detector.
Heat Loss
Canadian winters are not only chilly they can be expensive! If your home has
poor insulation, inefficient windows, and leaks your heating bills will be
higher than they should be.
Single pane windows, which are common in older homes, allow an exchange of
heat from the inside with cold from the outside. You may want to consider
replacing them with more efficient double pane windows with insulating gases
between the layers of glass. It may take you a while to recoup your costs
but new windows will reduce cold drafts and can improve the appearance of
your home.
Electric wall plugs and switches can allow cold air to flow from unheated
inner walls to heated living areas. You can purchase simple-to-install,
pre-cut foam gaskets that fit behind the switch plate and effectively
prevent leaks.
When your fireplace is not in use, remember to close the damper. An open
damper will allow heat to escape up the chimney. It's essential to open the
damper when a fire is burning - smoke and carbon monoxide are among the
unhealthy by products of combustion. Closing the damper once the fireplace
has cooled is one of the easiest ways to save energy.
Heating
Many people simply turn up their thermostat when winter winds send a chill
through their homes without first doing an examination of the furnace. An
improperly functioning furnace can pose health and safety risks. Depending
on the type, a malfunction can result in costly inefficiency or at worst
release dangerous carbon monoxide or be a fire hazard. An inspection of
older furnaces is a wise precaution. Replacing the filter every three to
four months is a simple way to help remove dust and particles from the air
in your home. In recent years, high efficiency filters have become
available. One of these, the Filtrete from 3M, can capture up to 30 times
more dust and allergens (e.g. pet dander, pollen) then standard fibre glass
filters.
Build-up of Ice and Snow on Your Roof
Ice and snow can add hundreds of pounds of weight to your roof. A build-up
can lead to wall and ceiling cracks, even roof collapses. To protect your
home, shovel off snow after a heavy snowfall if it can be done safely. Snow
can often turn into a crust of ice that will continue to build during the
winter especially if your roof is warm. A warm roof is often the result of a
warm attic. Heat from living areas can enter the attic if there is poor
insulation. Not only will proper insulation reduce the ice build-up, it can
also reduce your heating bills!
Outdoor Chores
Of all the winter activities available we likely think of hockey, cross
country skiing or skating before we think of perhaps the most common
activity of all: shovelling snow. This winter chore can help burn calories,
but it can also put people at risk for a heart attack or back injury
according to Dr. Thomas Simmer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. He
recommends standing facing the snow you're about to shovel. Keep your back
straight, your knees bent, and throw the snow forward. Avoid throwing snow
over your shoulder. Twisting while throwing snow behind you can cause back
strain. One of the safest methods is simply to push the snow without
actually lifting the shovel.
Physical exertion in cold temperatures can put a strain on the body so it's
wise to do some stretches first to warm up. Avoid large meals before
shovelling snow. Remember to take a break to replenish fluids during large
jobs. Also take a moment to stand up straight and stretch.
Taking a few precautions can help keep yourself and your home safe all
winter and let you enjoy all the fun a Canadian winter has to offer!
Return to: Home Safety TIPS
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