Carlos Montes Calgary Real Estate

A few winter tips for Calgary, Alberta

With near-record snowfalls in the area the past few weeks, many Calgary residents are probably tired of hearing the “W” word, and are looking forward to spring. However, just because we are tired of winter doesn’t mean it’s just going to go away. So here are a few tips to keep in mind as the snow piles up:

Indoors

-          Clear snow away from dryer and furnace vents, if they become blocked it can lead to overheating, or can shut down your system.

-          Remember to ensure that the batteries in your smoke/CO2 alarms and flashlights are charged and fully functional.

-          Keep kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors open to allow warmer air to circulate around pipes, to prevent freezing.

-          Another tip to prevent frozen pipes is to leave one faucet on a “slow drip”, which keeps water moving through the pipes.

-          A hairdryer or space heater can be used to unfreeze pipes.

Outdoors

-          Icicles are an indication that you may want to clear snow from your roof, otherwise you make have leaks and structural damage.

-          Before parking your car for the night, put wipers in upright position to prevent freezing to the windshield.

-          Use car mats and kitty litter to give your tires traction if you become stuck.

-          Real-wheel drive vehicles may need some weight in the back to increase traction, such as a sandbag.

-          Keep above a half-tank of gas at all times, it could be a life-saver if you become stuck, and also prevents water vapour from freezing your gas lines.

-          Put hand sanitizer (60% alcohol or more) on your key to de-ice a frozen lock.

-          If your windows are fogging, wipe the interior windows with shaving cream (not get) and wipe clean with a paper towel.

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