5 Things you need to do to ready your house for winter 

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire or a snowbird roasting in the southern sun? Your car and home should be protected from harsh weather wherever you spend winter. Here's what you should do before you hunker down or head south.

Check your pipes, inside and out

Start by draining your garden hoses and turning off the outside taps before quickly checking on your interior pipes. If you go away for the winter, take steps to avoid frozen pipes and drains while you're away. 

Have your furnace cleaned and inspected

It may seem like furnaces break down more often in winter, but it has more to do with their overall age. If your heating bill has been creeping up, repairs are more frequent, or your home seems to take longer to warm, you may need to replace your furnace before the snow flies.  

Check the age of your doors and windows

Windows have a life of 20 to 50 years, depending on the materials and maintenance, but if they're in poor condition, your heating bills will skyrocket. It's also a good idea to replace any damaged weather stripping.

Make a clean sweep

Wood-burning stoves and chimneys should be professionally swept, and gutters, shingles, soffit, and fascia should be inspected for breakages or cracks.

Inspect your dryer ducts

Not only does lint build-up pose a fire hazard, but it affects dryer efficiency and increases your heating bill. 

Don't forget about getting your car ready for winter, too. Read our handy guide. 

Did you know?

• If you install winter tires, you get a 5%¹ discount on CAA Auto Insurance²
• When you update your wiring or plumbing, you can save on your CAA Home Insurance² premium

Protect your investments with flexible coverage. Call 1-888-545-7254 or go online to get a quote.

¹ Underwriting rules apply. Rating applied to vehicles with four (4) winter tires that meet the winter tire designation. Installation no later than November 20 and removed no earlier than April 15.

² Auto and Property Insurance are underwritten by CAA Insurance Company. 

Certain conditions, limitations and underwriting guidelines apply.