Is Your Home Ready for Winter?

It’s that time of year! Halloween decorations are getting put up, the weather is cooling down, and, if you’re an Alberta homeowner, you’re thinking about what needs to get done to prepare your home for winter.

At Spring Lake Ranch, we like to get a head start on winterizing our homes. This makes for a worry-free winter when it comes to home maintenance as well as an easier transition to spring, This year, we’re sharing our “To Do” list for winterizing your home to help ease the process. Keep this guide handy and let us know if you have any questions! (Email Sarah Corker at scorker@springlakeranch.ca.)

1. Walk the Perimeter of Your Home’s Exterior

New homes typically settle within the first three years. Check for signs of settling and address these before the season’s first freeze.  Ensure that water is draining away from your home properly, and drain rain barrels so they do not crack due to to frozen rainwater. Make sure hoses are disconnected and put away and all hose bibs are turned off. Lastly, check stairs, paths and railings for safety. When the ground gets slippery, falls are more likely, so ensure all footing is even and rails are sturdy.

The TIMBER HAVEN (For Sale)
The CEDARWOOD design

2. Clear your Downspouts and Eaves

Removing tree leaves and needles and other debris will help prevent ice damning. And once winter arrives, remember to remove snow from the roof of your home with a roof rake regularly!

Colourful fall trees and leaves at Spring Lake Ranch

3. Clean the Windows

This is best done sooner than later, before it’s too cold for the task! Clean windows will help brighten those long winter months.

The TAMARACK Bungalow. (Our newest version of this design is For Sale–the first home build in Phase 4.)
Great Room of The MEADOWVIEW Bungalow (For Sale)

4. Clean your Furnace

Over the summer when it’s not running, your furnace collects dust which, if not cleaned prior, gets blown through the house once it gets going! Prevent this by making your annual furnace cleaning occur every fall.

5. Have your Wood-burning Fireplace Cleaned and Gas Fireplace checked

Chimney buildup can be hazardous, so regular cleaning by a certified chimney sweep is important.

Stone fireplace of Scott + Kerri J’s custom bungalow at Spring Lake Ranch
Stone fireplace of The WEST VIEW 

6. Prevent Frozen Pipes

Insulate the pipes near windows, doors and in unheated parts of your home. And remember to keep the heat set no lower than 13 degrees celsius when you’re away.

The TAMARACK Bungalow

7. Prevent Cold Drafts

This is essential for maximizing your home’s energy efficiency. Repair caulking as needed around doors, windows, air vents and outside faucets. Check weatherstripping on windows and doors and seal any cracks in foundation walls.

Fresh snowfall at Spring Lake Ranch

8. Protect Your Entryway

A thick floor mat with rug pad underneath to keep it in place will help stave off the wear that wet and snowy boots can cause on your floors. Keep a boot scraper outside to remove snow and debris from footwear, and place a waterproof tray in the entryway for shoe storage.

Entryway of The MEADOWVIEW Bungalow (For Sale)

Follow these steps, and you can rest easy this winter knowing you’re home is prepared for the season.

Until then…enjoy the rest of fall! The scenery has been truly stunning at SLR this year. (The recent winds scattered a lot of the leaves but there are still some fall colours lingering.) The crisp air is lovely for walking our Lake and Ravine trails. We welcome you to take a drive out and explore the area!

Aerial views of Juniper Lane with three very private Lots For Sale, Meadow Reserve bordering The Meadow View Bungalow, other SLR homes, Loon Lake, and Spring Lake. (Taken earlier this fall.)

Interested in viewing one of these featured homes For Sale? Contact Sarah Corker at 780.288.9767 or scorker@springlakeranch.ca. 

Spring Lake Ranch  has a few remaining lots for sale, which you can find here. Custom builds can be done with any builder of your choosing.

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Sarah Corker

Sarah has been designing homes for more than 15 years, specializing in custom homes in Edmonton, Alberta and surrounding areas. She loves collaborating with her clients to build stunning, yet functional homes that will age gracefully as design trends come and go. She loves working with natural materials, such as rock and wood and then coupling them with modern building technology and design.