Toronto Homeowners guide for preparing for the oncoming Winter 2023

Pre-Winter (Mid-October to Early November)

1. Turn off the shutoff valves while the weather is warm that supply the outdoor faucets and allow any excess water to drip out.

-The shutoff valves are usually in the basement; otherwise, call a Toronto Plumbing Technician if you need some assistance to locate or repair/install a new one.

2. For the Indoor plumbing inside the home, ensure to consistently maintain temperatures above 18 degrees Celsius for the health of homeowners and the plumbing system.

-Maintaining Temperatures of 18 degrees is usually due to health conditions as respiratory problems can occur at lower temps, but plumbing fixtures should do fine to temps low as 4-5 degrees Celsius.

3. To optimize the use of the water heater, check the working condition of the device, verify if there are any channels or windows that may expose the device to cool air, and lastly, verify if any extra insulation may be needed to reduce heat loss.

-If you need assistance verifying the working order and proper environment for the water heater, call a Plumbing Technician. If we find a defect, you can quickly replace it before the frosty winter onslaught.

-Occasionally, use a fan or activate a fan on your thermostat to circulate warm air around the house so unheated areas can receive warmth, thus preventing freezing pipes.

4. Lastly, check the perimeter of the house, mainly where the exterior basement walls are located. Check for cracks and fractures on walls, areas around window wells, clogged drain pipes, drain pipes, and the working order of the sump pump.

-Excess rain and the constant downward force of gravity on the water can cause water to seep and leak into residents’ basement cracks, potentially causing flooding.

-Another significant concern is the seal around basement windows, which may leak ample moisture. The basement window wells must also have good drainage, as standing water only contributes to moisture leaking.

-Clogged drains are also a massive nuisance as they can lead to backflow and eventually overflow, which may lead to devastating floods inside basements.

-Lastly, verify the working order of the sump pump. This critical device helps pump out excess water from the house’s perimeter so that excess water buildup can be pumped out.

-If you do need any assistance with any of the previous issues, immediately call your local plumber in Toronto so that the problems can be resolved before the winter onslaught

Breaking down Toronto’s weather

For those of us who are recent residents of Toronto, most of the core of winter in Toronto including January to March, temperatures are consistently well below 0 degrees Celsius, and reach extremes of -25 to -30 degrees. Toronto experiences many wind chills, blistering blizzards, and an abundance of snowfall from a couple of inches to hip height. This year is no different so it’s best to be ready for the cold and harsh winter.

Exterior Property Maintenance

• Insulating deficiencies & weatherproofing
  During the fall, inspect the exterior perimeter of your home for cracks, gaps, and missing insulations that may permit cold air passage. Immediately seal these deficiencies through weather stripping, or structural insulation to bar cold drafts from entering your warm home.
• Outdoor plumbing
  We can prevent frozen pipes by disconnecting and draining garden hoses and shutting off exterior faucets, and their respective water supply valves if possible. For further precaution insulate any exposed outdoor pipes to protect them, and if they need any repairs get that resolved soon, or call a local Toronto plumber like Everest Drain & Plumbing, we have a track record for rerouting these outdoor faucets, and insulate them at their new position.
  
• Roof-gutter inspection
  If the roof and gutters are clogged, they could prevent the snow melt from proper drainage, and ice dams could form in the gutters thus resulting in damage to it, and possibly the roof. Look over any missing shingles or structural deficiencies that could cause leaks during the winter, and address it promptly.

Interior Property Preparation

• Busting Drafts
  Drafts can expose your home to the cold sub-arctic temperatures in Toronto during winter. The first step is taking insulation to the attics, and vulnerable parts of walls, and considering draft stoppers for doors, and windows.
• Maintaining Heating Systems
  Homeowners need to maintain high efficiency and smoothness of their home’s or property’s furnace. Book an inspection for your furnace, so things like air filters don’t drag efficiency. If you need to replace or install a water heater, call Everest Drain & Plumbing, and we will dispatch a plumber to you.
• Emergency Backup Sources
  In case of furnace failure or blackouts, we highly suggest that all homeowners reserve multiple space heaters, and electrical, gas, and backup generators for heating during these unfortunate events.
• Clogged drains & high-pressure drain cleaning
  On holidays inviting guests for Christmas, and New Year’s will mean heavy cooking in the kitchen, and fun, so it could be easily clogged, so snaking your kitchen, and washrooms before, and during the holidays is advised. We also advise cleaning all drains by high-pressure washing which can obliterate, and clean debris, grease, and sediment buildup over years of accumulation. The pressure wash should also be done in combination before winter due to the cold which can harden grease, and cause clogs, and after the holidays, and New Year after heavy use of the kitchen drains has occurred.
• Sump Pump Maintenance
  Make sure your property’s sump pump is in excellent order in the fall, as replacing or installing one can mean excavating clay soil in the cold winter can be hard, and expensive. Test the device before the winter, so your house can effortlessly handle the snow melt, and rainwater in April, and May.
  If you’re worried about choosing the best sump pump system to safeguard your home from potential flooding, Here is a detailed overview of choosing the best one for you.
  If you are worried about choosing the best Sump pump system to safeguard your home from potential flooding,  then you’re at the right place.

In conclusion, prepping your Toronto home/property is one step you can make to reduce inconveniences, and costly errors that may occur without preparation come winter season. Prepping is not 100%, but it does reduce issues significantly and ensures a higher chance of a stress-free, safe, and warm season for you, your home plumbing, and your heating infrastructure. If you ever need any assistance with simple or even complex plumbing/drain issues like water heater installation, faucet installation, toilet installation, or frozen pipe, and god forbid pipe bursts, never hesitate to call us Everest Drain & Plumbing as we provide value services with upfront pricing, licensed plumber, and rapid response throughout the GTA from Hamilton, Mississauga, Richmond Hill, to Newmarket, and Toronto, and Oshawa.