1. Locate your water intake
Do you know where the water intake to your home is? Yes? Great! Now make sure that the people who live with you know as well. This will enable them to quickly shut off the water if a pipe breaks.
2. Keep an eye on your appliances
Never leave the house with the dishwasher or washing machine going. Make sure that the pipes on these kinds of appliances are in good condition: replace them every 10 years or at the first sign of deterioration (bloating, cracking, corrosion and so on). When the time comes, opt for pipes reinforced with plaited steel, which are stronger than rubber pipes according to Info Assurance.
3. Change your water heater
In the fall, dead leaves and maple and other seeds can quickly clog your gutters and force rainwater down into your home’s foundations, instead of draining it to the street, alley or backyard. So, don’t be lazy—clean your gutters!
4. Empty the gutters
À l’automne, les feuilles mortes et les samares peuvent vite encombrer vos gouttières et faire en sorte qu’elles renvoient les eaux de pluie vers les fondations de votre maison, au lieu de les écouler vers la rue, la ruelle ou votre cour arrière. Alors, ne lésinez pas sur l’effort et nettoyez vos gouttières!
5. Drain your outdoor taps
Before winter, in addition to cleaning your gutters, drain the pipes that supply your outdoor taps and which are likely to freeze more quickly: close the supply valves from inside the building and then open the outside taps to release the remaining water; once all the water has drained, shut off the outside taps for the winter. Also, empty your garden hoses. This will prevent standing water from freezing and breaking them.
