Some tips to keep your home and family safe this winter

Canadian winters can be harsh and you'll want to do everything you can to keep your home and family safe, warm and comfortable for the season.

The following winter safety information, courtesy of the Ontario Real Estate Association and your local realtor, will help protect your family and keep energy costs at bay this season.

Furnace maintenance It's wise to have your heating system professionally inspected, adjusted and cleaned once a year; preferably before the heating season begins. A poorly maintained heating system is not only less energy efficient, it can break down, catch fire or become the source of carbon monoxide during heating months. Have a ready supply of furnace air filters so you can replace them regularly, and if your furnace has a built-in humidifier, clean and maintain it over the winter. Also be sure to keep the area around your furnace clutter and dust free and it's a good idea to vacuum the furnace vents on each floor of your home regularly. As a safety measure, you should install carbon monoxide detectors in sleeping areas and check them regularly to ensure they're working properly.

Power outages Power failures can and do occur; sometimes for a few minutes or hours, sometimes for days.

When electricity is cut off due to a storm, not only do the lights go, but everything in your home that runs on electricity; the stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, water pump, heating system, television, portable phone, etc. While you can't prevent a power failure, you can prepare for one. Here are some precautions to take before the power goes out: • Have emergency supplies (candles, matches, flashlights, etc.) always on hand and in one place. Don't use these supplies for anything but an emergency. • Check flashlights and other battery-operated units once a month to ensure they are in working order. • Don't store kerosene, gasoline and propane lamps and lanterns in the home. Useful in a pinch, these can be a fire hazard and must be handled with caution. • Keep some emergency rations that don't require much cooking in a special section of the kitchen cupboard. Also, keep an oldfashioned can opener handy. You'll need it to open any cans. • Keep a supply of drinking water on reserve; enough to last you and your family for up to three days is the rule of thumb. • Have at least one batteryoperated radio with fresh batteries on hand. If you live in a rural area, this may be your only way of keeping in touch with the world and learning what's going on.

When the power

does goes off: • Disconnect or turn off any motor-driven electrical equipment such as the water pump, refrigerator, oil burner, etc. until the power is restored. If you don't, these items may be damaged with the sudden high or low surge of voltage that may occur when power is restored. • Don't open your freezer. This will only speed up thawing. A fully loaded freezer cabinet will keep food frozen for about two days. Never refreeze frozen food that's become soft to the touch. Cook it and then refreeze it. • Conserve what heat there is in the home by keeping all windows and doors closed. • If you have running water, slightly open all faucets above the basement level to keep pipes from freezing when the temperature drops. Running the faucets, however, won't work if your water supply comes from your own electric water pump. • When the inside temperature in your home drops to about 10 C, it's time to think about closing up your home and seeking refuge where there is a power supply.

Outdoor safety • Keep a container of salt or sand at entrances to sprinkle when ice builds up. • Remove garden equipment and furniture from walkways and store where it is not exposed to the weather all winter. • Remove any liquids or other materials that can be damaged by freezing from unheated areas such as the garage, tool shed or outside storage bins. Check the labels to be sure. • If no one in your home is physically fit to shovel snow, get a power snow remover or arrange for someone in proper physical condition to clear your walkways and driveway. • Have your snow plow or snow blower checked out well before the first snow.

This article is provided by local REALTORS® and the Ontario Real Estate Association for the benefit on consumers in the real estate market.