Harsh weather conditions can do some serious damage to your home and community. It’s not out of the ordinary for Canadians to experience heavy snowstorms during the winter months. However, it's hard to predict what damage will be done, so being prepared is essential to help protect your home and family from the unexpected.

Ensure Your Outdoor Unit is Free from Obstructions
Head outside to your outdoor unit and have a thorough inspection of the area. Make sure the area is free of anything that can impact obstruction or cause damage. This includes outdoor furniture, lawn tools, and planters, essentially anything that is close to your system. If there’s any snow or other obstruction covering the exhaust vents, you’ll want to clear them to avoid water from entering and freezing within the system. To stop anything unwanted from entering your system, be sure to clean a perimeter of at least 18 inches around and below your furnace vent.

If you'd like to take an extra step of protecting your system, you can purchase a winter cover for your outdoor air conditioner condenser. Though a cover is not a requirement since an air conditioner does not operate during the winter months, it is a good layer of protection from any obstructions, especially if you plan on being away from your home for extended periods of times. 

Change Your Air Filters
Your air filters require regular replacement to assure your system functions accordingly and does not have any limitations to airflow. An air filter that is filled with dust and dirt requires your HVAC system to work even harder to provide your home with the comfort you have come to expect. During harsh weather conditions your system is already working harder, so you’ll want to eliminate any factors that add additional stress to your system’s performance.

Invest in a Backup Generator
Harsh winds and heavy snowfalls can result in power lines being down. Without power, your home could be without heat for an undetermined period of time. Consider investing in a backup generator for the wellbeing of your family during the unexpected circumstances that snowstorms can bring.

Install a Smart Thermostat
It’s hard to prepare for a snowstorm if you aren’t in your home. However, by investing in a smart thermostat you can still provide your home with some sort of preparation from anywhere in the world. During these harsh weather conditions you may need to adjust indoor home temperature to avoid overworking your HVAC system, and you can do so from the touch of your smart device. Investing in a smart thermostat is an investment in the safety of your home.

Make it a Routine to Prepare your Home Prior to the Winter Season
To be ready for the unexpected, make it a priority to winterize your home every season. We’ve created a checklist to help you prepare for potentially harsh winter months.

Winter Preparation Checklist:
-   Ensure your home is properly insulated
-   Weatherstrip your windows and doors
-   Have your air vents professionally cleaned
-   Schedule an HVAC maintenance appointment
-   Make any necessary repairs
-   Always keep an eye out on the weather forecast

If you need HVAC maintenance to protect your systems from a heavy storm, give our team at Maple Air a call today! If your home has been impacted by the result of harsh weather conditions, Maple Air is here to help repair or replace your HVAC system to ensure your family’s comfort is maintained. Contact us today for any inquiries.