8 Tips and Steps to Prepare Your Home for Winter in Canada

As the crisp fall air begins to settle in, it’s never too early to start preparing for wintertime. If the trees in your neck of the woods have already started shedding their leaves, then the time has come for you to start winter-proofing your house. 

Are you hoping to enjoy a hassle-free winter and skip over any unforeseen circumstances due to bone-chilling temperatures? In that case, a thorough interior and exterior home inspection is recommended to uncover any potential problems—not only to uncover any potential problems, but also to ensure all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working, fire extinguishers are accessible and functional, and your emergency kits are fully stocked for winter emergencies.

Besides sparing you any last-minute worries, winterization preparations allow you to achieve significant energy savings while optimizing your comfort.

9 Tips and Steps to Prepare Your Home for Winter in Canada

1) How to Winterize Your Windows and Doors

Air and water leaks are more common during winter, especially in older houses. A thorough door and window edge inspection will allow you to ascertain whether your home is subject to this sort of problem. Make sure these openings are sealed shut in every room of your house. Otherwise, your home will, without a doubt, experience significant heat loss, which will have a dramatic repercussion on your electricity bill.

Caulking around your windows and doors is, bar none, the best option to protect your home from cold air leaks. If the sealant bead is particularly dry or fading, then it’s time to strip it and re-caulk. Using a caulking gun, you can use a removable sealant on window and door frames.

Whether you’re hoping to head the DIY route or hire a professional, our Weatherization Project Price Guide should pique your interest. 

2) Install Window and Door Weather Stripping

Before winter rears its ugly nose, you’ll soon notice that home improvement and hardware store shelves are overflowing with dozens of window and door sealants. Weather strippers keep the warm air in, preventing the cold air from seeping into your home. In doing so, you’re ensuring your comfort and you’ll automatically cut back on your energy usage.

Window Insulating Film

This product is a clear plastic film that’s stretched over windows. Such a protective film comes with double-sided tape, allowing you to stick the film to the window frame. You’ll need to use a hair dryer to ensure the film adheres to the glazing properly.

Door Sweeps

In a house, it’s not uncommon to feel a cold draft sweep in from the bottom of doors. To fix such an issue, installing door sweeps is recommended, especially for your front door. There are several types of door sweeps retailed:

• Adhesive or not

• Screw-on

• Slide-on

• Staple-on

Product selection hinges on your needs and the type of door on which you’re looking to use it.

Self-Adhesive Foam, Rubber, or Silicone Door Seal

This product allows you to seal all sorts of openings and protect against air and water leaks, as well as dirt and insect intrusions.

Want to keep reading? We have two related articles for you:

• 3 Tips to Improve the Insulation of an Exterior Door

• How to Seal Your Door

3) Remove Your Screens

Whether your screens are installed on the inside or outside face of your windows, removing them for winter is highly recommended. Since insects aren’t as present during that time of year, and you’re less likely to open your windows compared to summertime, why keep them?

By removing your screens, daylight will filter inside your home more easily and the sun’s rays will readily heat parts of your dwelling from outside. Doing so extends the screens’ lifetime and prevents weather-related damage. Before storing your screens, clean them thoroughly with soapy water and a damp rag. Wipe them dry and then store them in a safe area all winter long.

4) Home Interior Winterization

There’s a lot to look over when winterizing a home inside out, such as cleaning space or baseboard heaters to prevent foul odours and spreading dust when powered on.

Little did you know, but air also seeps in through your electrical outlets. To fix this sort of issue, you can easily purchase dedicated accessories at a hardware store to fit your outlets during winter. There are little foam plugs sold just for that. They’re placed inside every outlet to prevent cold air drafts. You can also use safety covers for outlets you barely or don’t use at all. 

Is a room in your house equipped with a portable window air conditioner? Might be best to remove it and board up the window accordingly. If you wish to leave it where it sits, make sure the part sitting outside is covered with a cover, ensuring it’s insulated all around.

Besides, if you feel your house is becoming humid as the cold front sets it, it’s best to invest in a dehumidifier instead. Retailed for $180–$420, this sort of air conditioning electrical device is designed to lower humidity levels and fix condensation problems surfacing on windows and walls.

5) Winterize Your Home, Inside Out

During winter, especially during really cold spurts, avoid airing out your home by opening windows and doors. Instead, make sure your exhaust vents are working properly. The latter is all the more real when it comes to your dryer or range hood exhaust vents.

Clean your air exchanger’s filters that have, without a doubt, accumulated dirt during periods of inactivity. Also, check the air exchanger’s drain. It has to be perfectly hooked up and should never, under any circumstances, be dragging on the floor to prevent water from dripping out on account of the defrost cycle. 

Before it’s too cold to carry out the necessary work, take some time to inspect your home’s masonry walls, pointing, and foundation. Check the foundation and the surrounding area, including air intakes and exhausts. In case you spot minor cracks in the foundation, you can caulk them yourself or hire a foundation contractor to carry out the work, sealing and repairing all cracks. 

Pick up leaves and dead branches scattered around your yard or balcony. Doing so prevents sheltering ants and rodents. Ants can survive the colder months by hiding deep in the ground. If you see ants in your home during the winter, then it’s highly likely that they’ve built a nest in there.

Also make sure all your outdoor lights are working properly and replace any burnt-out bulbs before the cold weather arrives. Good lighting around entrances, walkways, and the garage helps you move around safely as the days get shorter and surfaces become slippery. Take this opportunity to clean the motion sensors and adjust their angle to ensure optimal visibility all winter long.

6) Inspect Your Roof and Chimney

Before the first snowfall, climb on top of your house to check the state of your roof. If need be, take care of any pressing repairs to limit damages and hire a chimney sweep to clean your chimney. Moreover, check the caulk around your chimney to make sure it’s sealed and there are no risks of water leaks.

Also, clean the gutters all around the edge of your roof by clearing the build-up of dead leaves and branches. That way, your gutters aren’t at risk of overflowing nor will your roof suffer from ice dams. Don’t forget to remove any hoses hooked up to the gutters, leaving them in place could mean rainwater won’t drain in case freeze sets in.

7) Lawn, Garden, and Pool Maintenance Before Winter

As winter approaches, it’s important to take care of your green spaces and water features to prevent damage caused by frost and harsh weather. Proper maintenance helps protect your plants and extends the life of your outdoor installations.

Pruning Trees and Shrubs

Inspect your trees and shrubs for dead, diseased, or weakened branches. Prune them to reduce the risk of breakage under the weight of snow or ice. This also encourages vigorous regrowth in the spring. For larger trees or if you’re unsure about safety, don’t hesitate to call a professional arborist.

Protecting Sensitive Plants

Protect more fragile shrubs with burlap or winter protection cones. Add mulch around the base of plants to help retain ground heat and reduce winter stress.

Closing the Pool and Water Features

Winterizing your pool and water features is essential to prevent cracks and leaks caused by freezing. Here are the recommended steps:

• Lower the water level about 30 to 40 cm (12–16 in) below the skimmer.

• Disconnect and drain all hoses, pumps, and filters.

• Clean the motor and remove any accessories that could be damaged by frost.

• Install a proper winter cover to keep out debris and snow.

• Store accessories in a dry, frost-free place.

By taking these precautions, you’ll avoid unpleasant surprises in the spring and extend the lifespan of your outdoor installations. Regular maintenance of your lawn, garden, and pool is the key to enjoying a welcoming outdoor space year after year.

For more tips, check out our article 10 Tips to Prepare Your Yard for Winter.

8) Heating System Maintenance

A reliable heating system is essential for staying comfortable and safe during Canada’s coldest months. Start by testing your furnace early in the season to ensure it runs smoothly—listen for unusual noises and check for any warning lights.

Replace or clean the furnace filter before winter begins, and continue to check it monthly. A clogged filter reduces efficiency and can increase energy costs. If your furnace hasn’t been serviced in the past year, schedule a professional inspection and cleaning. Regular maintenance not only extends the lifespan of your system but also helps prevent unexpected breakdowns when you need heat the most.

For added comfort and savings, consider upgrading to a programmable thermostat. This allows you to set different temperatures for day and night, reducing energy use when you’re away or asleep. By keeping your heating system in top shape, you’ll ensure a warm, worry-free winter indoors.

9) Protecting Plumbing and Pipes

Frozen and burst pipes can cause major headaches and costly repairs during a Canadian winter. To prevent this, start by shutting off and draining all outdoor water lines, including garden hoses, exterior faucets, and sprinkler systems. Use the interior shut-off valve, then open the outdoor tap to drain any remaining water. For in-ground sprinklers, consider hiring a professional for a full system blowout.

Next, insulate any pipes running through unheated areas like basements, crawl spaces, attics, or exterior walls with foam sleeves or pipe wrap. Don’t forget pipes under sinks on exterior walls—leave cabinet doors open during extreme cold to let warm air circulate.

Finally, keep your thermostat set to at least 16°C (60°F), even when you’re away, to help prevent freezing. With these simple steps, you’ll protect your plumbing and avoid unwanted winter surprises.

What Better Time Than Fall for Winterizing Your Home?

In summary, preparing your home during the fall by addressing key maintenance tasks—like checking insulation, servicing your heating system, and sealing windows and doors—sets you up for a cozy and hassle-free winter. Taking these proactive steps not only ensures comfort but also helps you save money and prevent expensive repairs in the future.