Winterizing Your Home: Essential Tips for Tenants and Landlords 

Insights for Owners and Tenants
This series provides valuable tips and insights for both property owners and tenants to enhance their living and management experiences.

As the cold weather approaches, it’s time to prepare your home for winter! As a property management company and housing provider, Satellite Community Homes is focused on keeping properties warm, energy-efficient, and safe during the colder months. Whether you’re a tenant or a landlord, taking the time to winterize your unit—whether it’s an apartment, townhome, or house — can prevent costly damage and help you stay comfortable all winter long. Here’s what we recommend:

1. Turn Off Outdoor Water Taps

One of the most important tasks in winterizing your unit is to turn off any outdoor water taps. Freezing temperatures can cause water left in outdoor pipes to expand, leading to burst pipes and potential flooding. Here’s how:

• Locate the shut-off valve inside your home that controls the outdoor tap (often found in the basement or utility room).
• Turn the valve off, then open the outdoor tap to drain any remaining water.
• Once the tap is fully drained, close it tightly.

2. Seal Windows and Doors

Drafty windows and doors can lead to a significant increase in heating costs. Sealing gaps can prevent cold air from entering and warm air from escaping.

• Tenants: Use draft stoppers for doors and weatherstripping for windows. If you notice any serious gaps, contact your landlord.
• Landlords: Check for gaps around windows and doors and apply caulk or replace worn weatherstripping where necessary.

3. Clean Gutters and Downspouts

Clogged gutters can lead to ice dams, which can cause water to back up into your roof and walls.

• Tenants: Contact your landlord if you notice blocked gutters or downspouts.
• Landlords: Ensure that gutters are cleaned of leaves and debris before the first snowfall.

4. Check Heating Systems

A well-maintained heating system is key to staying warm.

• Tenants: Test your heating system before the cold sets in. If you notice any issues, report them to your landlord immediately.
• Landlords: Schedule annual furnace or boiler inspection. Change filters in forced-air systems and ensure heating units are functioning properly.

5. Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Winter often means closed windows and increased use of heating systems, which makes it essential to test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

• Tenants: Test your detectors monthly. If batteries are low or missing, replace them yourself if you are able to, or contact your landlord.
• Landlords: Ensure that all detectors in your units are fully operational and are within the expiry period. Ensure that any battery-operated detectors have their batteries relaced annually.

6. Prevent Ice Buildup on Walkways

Snow and ice on walkways and steps can be hazardous!

• Tenants: Keep a bag of salt or ice melt handy to spread on any icy surfaces.
• Landlords: Ensure walkways, driveways, and staircases are cleared after each snowfall to prevent accidents.

By following these steps, both tenants and landlords can help ensure that their homes are ready for the winter months ahead. Taking preventative action now can save you time, money, and stress as the temperatures drop.

Stay warm and stay safe!