Winter home safety

Be weather wise

• Battery operated radio
• Spare batteries
• Flashlights (avoid candles, which can be a fire hazard)
• Winter non-perishable food
• Drinkable water
• Adequate supply of medication
• Plumbing antifreeze
• Alternative heat source, such as wood stove, fireplace, or CSA-approved space heater.
• Fire extinguisher, smoke detector, and carbon monoxide detector.

Think ahead

It's a good idea to perform some preventative maintenance on your home, including:

• Remove dead branches from your trees. Ice, snow, and wind may break the limbs and cause damage to your home.
• Clean the gutters surrounding your home. When the ice and snow melt in the spring, the excess water may cause damage to your roof and eaves.
• Maintain all heating devices and fireplaces.
• If you'll be away from home for a period of time, have someone shovel your walkway to ensure that the house looks lived in.

Loss of power

If a power outage should occur, take the following precautions:

• Avoid opening doors unnecessarily.
• Turn off all electrical appliances.
• Ensure that ventilation is maintained.
• If there is a danger of freezing pipes, turn off the main water valve and drain the line(s). Put plumbing antifreeze in toilet bowls, sinks and bathtub drains.
• Turn off and drain your hot water heater.

Restoration of power

Once power has been restored, remember to:

• Turn on the main water valve and close taps (if you've turned your water off).
• Fill and turn on your water heater.
• Flush toilets and drain sinks and tubs to dispose of anti-freeze.
• Check food for spoilage.
• Turn on the main electrical switch.