One of the dangers of an Ontario winter is frozen pipe bursts. We encounter many cases each year, such as basement flooding as a result of a pipe burst – this can happen when you’re away on holiday. Here are 5 things to consider when leaving for vacation:
- Shut off your main water supply and drain your lines
Prevent frozen pipe bursts while you are enjoying the sunshine. With drained pipes, the water cannot freeze and flood your house.
- Change your furnace filters and adjust your thermostat
In case you forget to drain the pipes, you want to make sure your furnace remains operational and that you are heating your house adequately.
- Ensure someone shovels and salts your driveway
Help your neighbours, you do not want anyone to slip and fall while taking their dog for a walk.
- Unplug your appliances and electronics
Unplugging your microwave, coffee maker, toaster, television, etc. not only saves your electricity bill, but can also prevent fires from starting.
- Have someone check your mail and your house
Ensuring your newspapers and mail are not on your front step could prevent burglars from knowing that no one is home. Also, you want to have someone check up on your house to ensure nothing has gone wrong. Please remember that your insurance policy may require you to have someone check your house while you are away in the winter months.
