Like it or hate it, winter is part of the Canadian experience that’s as reliable as taxes and when you own a home you need to prepare for it. A complete list of comprehensive first-time home buyer tips can’t avoid this fact and that’s why we’ve put together a few points you can’t afford to overlook if you want to stay warm when the snow flies and the temperature drops.
Getting out in front of any potential issues with your furnace is a good idea since no one wants to be left without the services of that trusted appliance during the height of a mid-January storm. In the fall, you should take your furnace through a test run and turn the thermostat up high so you can make sure you can hear the fan turn on and the warm air start to blow within a few minutes. The early winter is a great time to make sure there are no obstacles blocking heating vents, your carbon monoxide detectors are working properly and you have fresh batteries installed for the upcoming season.
First-time home buyer advice also includes looking out for any plumbing that could be exposed to the elements directly or in a space like a garage where the temperature will drop below freezing. Any pipes in crawlspaces and attics should be insulated with some kind of foam insulation. Keep in mind, if you are shutting down a place for the Winter season, you’ll need to shut the water off completely and drain the pipes of any excess before you leave.
Don’t forget to check your doors and windows for leaks too by holding a lit candle near them to see if the flame flickers and bends. That usually means you‘ve got some kind of draft and these can easily be remedied with any number of caulking solutions you can find at your local home improvement store.
Here’s a few more excellent first time home buyer tips for you to look at.
