Heating expert suggests it’s time to get homes winter ready

With winter-like weather arriving in Saskatchewan on Tuesday, heating experts are encouraging people to make sure their homes are ready for the winter.

“Getting your sprinklers blown out, that should be done by now,” Brent Badrock of Gibbon Heating said on the CKOM Morning Show on Tuesday. “The furnace maintenance, of course, obviously (do that) before that first furnace kick-in and (make sure) your filter (is OK) of course.

“And if you have a fireplace, get that checked out. Make sure that chimney is nice and clear.”

Badrock suggested that even if people have a gas fireplace in their home, it’s important to make sure that’s running properly in order to avoid any potential problems down the road.

“Turn that (gas fireplace) on. Make sure you don’t have any gas leaks or smells and then again chimneys being clear is an important thing,” Badrock explained. “Making sure that it’s venting properly – go outside and just make sure some smoke is coming out of it – it’s very important.”

While most people will prioritize making sure their source of heat is working and good to go, Badrock mentioned it’s also important to make sure doors are sealed and aren’t letting heat escape, especially in the case of older doors.

“You can get the weather strip around it and get that clear plastic as well that can help keep that heat in so you don’t have massive heat loss and (are) working that furnace overtime,” he mentioned.

For newer houses, Badrock encourages people to check their air intakes on the outside. He said they get plugged with dirt and other material throughout the year. That makes it tough for the house to breathe and that could help fix any heating problems someone is having.

Temperatures throughout Saskatchewan are expected to remain cool over the next 10 to 14 days.