Ottawa winters routinely hit -25C to -35C with the wind chill, dump 200-250cm of snow annually, and force homes through 60+ freeze-thaw cycles between November and April. The homes that don't have winter emergencies aren't lucky — they're prepared. This checklist gives you the September-October prep work, the mid-winter inspections, and the emergency-response steps for the eight failures Ottawa homes face every winter.
Furnace tune-up ($185-$285): heat exchanger inspection (CO leak check), igniter test, blower clean, filter replacement, gas pressure check. Book first 2 weeks of September for best pricing/availability before the heating-season rush. Replace CO and smoke alarms older than 10 years. Test all alarms with manufacturer test button. Replace humidifier pad on whole-home humidifier. Drain and store window AC units, garden hoses, exterior taps. Insulate exposed pipes in unheated spaces (crawl spaces, ga...
Gutter cleaning ($185-$385): remove leaves and debris, check downspouts drain 6+ feet from foundation, repair sagging sections. Roof inspection: missing/curling shingles, damaged flashing around chimney/vents/skylights, exposed nail heads (caulk with roofing sealant). Chimney sweep + inspection ($245-$385) — every 1-2 years for wood-burning; 3-5 years for gas. Window/door weather-stripping inspection: replace any compressed, cracked, or missing strips ($45-$95 per opening DIY, $145-$245 pro). Ca...
Water-heater anode rod inspection (every 3-5 years): if sediment heavy or anode rod corroded, plan replacement. Sump-pump test: pour water into pit, confirm pump activates, runs, and shuts off cleanly. Battery backup test: unplug primary, run on battery. Install battery backup if you don't have one ($385-$685 — prevents basement flood during winter outages). Outdoor faucet shut-off: locate interior shut-off valve, close, then open exterior tap to drain. Insulate any unshut-off exterior plumbing.
Garage door fall maintenance ($145-$245): lubricate rollers/hinges/springs with silicone (NOT WD-40 — gums in cold), check spring tension, photo-eye sensor alignment, weather seal condition. This prevents 80% of January spring-failure emergencies. Driveway crack seal ($245-$685): fill cracks larger than 1/4 inch with hot or cold-pour asphalt crack sealer before winter freeze-thaw widens them. Snow-stake placement at driveway/lawn edges to protect from plow damage.
Programmable thermostat: set heat schedule, replace batteries. Snow shovel + ice melt + snow blower fuel: test snow blower runs (fresh fuel + check belt + auger). Roof-rake purchase if not owned ($85-$185 — for clearing snow load when accumulation exceeds 60-90cm). Emergency kit: flashlights with fresh batteries, candles, manual can opener, 3 days food/water per person, blankets, phone charger backup (12,000+ mAh power bank), first-aid kit. Locate and label all shut-off valves (water main, gas, ...
Roof snow load: when accumulation exceeds 60cm of fresh snow OR 30cm of ice/dense snow, use roof rake from ground to clear at least 4-6 feet up from eaves. Engineering rule: roofs designed to handle ~40 psf snow load (Ottawa code); 60cm fresh snow = ~12 psf, 60cm dense/ice = ~28 psf. Critical when accumulation lasts 2+ weeks. Ice dam check: any icicles longer than 12 inches or ice ridges along eaves = ice dam. Heat the dam from below (NOT the roof — never chip ice from roof, damages shingles). L...
First 2 weeks of September. Costs $185-$285 and includes heat exchanger inspection (CO leak check), igniter test, blower clean, gas pressure check. Booking later means competing with heating-season rush — longer waits and higher emergency rates.
Long-term: attic insulation to R-60, soffit + ridge ventilation unblocked, seal all attic bypasses (chimney chase, ceiling fixtures). Canada Greener Homes Grant covers up to $1,750. Short-term in winter: use roof rake from ground to clear snow within 4-6 feet of eaves before ice forms. NEVER climb on snowy/icy roof.
Minimum 16C if leaving for vacation. Below 16C risks pipe freeze. Better: 18C minimum + have a neighbour check every 48 hours. If furnace fails while away, pipes can freeze within 12-36 hours at outdoor temps below -15C.
When accumulation exceeds 60cm of fresh snow OR 30cm of dense/icy snow that persists 2+ weeks. Use a ground-level roof rake to clear 4-6 feet up from eaves. NEVER climb on snowy/icy roof — fall risk plus shingle damage from chipping.
Shut off main water supply. Open faucet on affected line. Apply heat to frozen section with hair dryer, heating pad, or space heater (NEVER torch — fire risk). Thaw from faucet end backward toward blockage. Leave dripping 24 hours after flow returns. If burst pipe: call plumber AND IICRC water restoration immediately.