Hate or love it, winter is coming! With the first signs of snowfall showing up across different cities in Canada, we decided to give you some ideas on how to prepare your place for winter and also give you some advice on products and services that might help as well.

Carbon monoxide detectors

We are going to start off with the safety side of things because safety comes first. During winter we tend to keep all windows and doors shut which means harmful gases like carbon monoxide are less likely to escape. If you have a carbon monoxide detector, make sure you test it and make sure it’s working. If you don’t have one and need to purchase one, the best brands we identified are Kidde and First Alert. Kidde has some basic options and so does First Alert. If you want more advanced units with digital displays, Kidde has some and so does First Alert. The important thing is to make sure you have one!

Smoke detectors

Most home fires tend to occur during the winter months. This could be because people use their fireplaces more, because they are in doors more or because they have more appliances running at the same time during the winter months. Whatever the cause may be, we recommend you test your smoke detectors and make sure they are functioning. And if worst comes to worst, make sure you have a fire extinguisher as well

Put Your Ceiling Fans on Reverse

If you have ceiling fans in your place, put them in reverse. Changing the rotation makes your fan bring the cold air up and force warm air down. This is a quick and easy way to keep your place warm

Check your windows

Staying on the topic of keeping your place warm, make sure your windows are winter proofed and do not have any cracks or holes. One of the most common ways to let cold air in, or let the heat escape is through the windows, so make sure these are winter proof and secure. If you notice any problems, you can always purchase a window insulator kit to solve the problem. 3M has an affordable window insulator kit that works like a charm.

Check your doors

Windows aren’t the only way heat escapes, doors are just as bad. If you notice a draft coming from underneath your doors, you can winter proof your doors by using draft guards and draft stoppers. If you want something simple, the Twin Draft Guard should do the trick, but if you want something that keeps the heat in and reduces light, noise and smells, then you should consider the MATIXID Door Draft Stopper. It's more expensive, but it may be a more suitable option for you.

Door and Floor Mats

Keeping things at the door, we recommend you buy a winter ready door mat and floor mat. The last thing you want is snow, dust and ice melt building up at your entrance and all over the floor. If you want something affordable and effective, the J&M Home Fashions Door Mat is affordable, should protect your floors, help clean your shoes and is easy to clean. If you want something more heavy duty and aesthetically pleasing, the Guardian Golden Series Floor Mat by The Millennium Mat Company is what you are looking for. They have a wide selection of colours and sizes that are more aesthetically pleasing.

Pet and Environmentally Friendly Ice Melt

If you have a driveway, walkways or sidewalks at your apartment or house, then ice melt is a must have for the winter months. If you want to avoid accidents and just have peace of mind of mind, then it’s a good idea to invest in some. Snow Joe has an affordable pet and environmentally- friendly ice melt that should do the trick.

Purchase a Space Heater

Some days are chillier than others and some parts of your place may be colder than others, especially if you have a basement. A quick fix for that is to invest in a space heater. There are quite a lot of options out there deepening on what you are looking for. If you want something affordable yet effective, the ALROCKET Oscillating Space Heater, is a good option with great features and is highly rated on Amazon. If you are looking for something more energy efficient, versatile with more options, TaoTronics has the 1500W Portable Small Heater and the TT-HE001 Space Heater. Both have an array of features and come highly rated.

Purchase a Humidifier

Some household heating systems reduce the amount of moisture in the air which can lead to dry and cracked skin. If you’ve also moved from a place that is typically humid or just doesn’t have winter weather, then you may experience this problem. A simple solution is to invest in a humidifier which should provide some relief. The most affordable and highest rated option we could find was the Honeywell HUL520BC MistMate Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier, although it works well in small rooms, and you may need more than one for larger areas. If you are looking for a more automated option, with multiple modes, features that can work in large rooms, then the two best options we found were the TaoTronics Cool Mist Humidifier and the TaoTronics Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier with LED Display. Both come highly rated, work in large rooms and won’t break the bank.

Note: If you still experience extreme skin irritation, we recommend you consult a dermatologist

Have an emergency kit handy

This doesn’t happen that often, but if there happens to be a power outage during winter, you want to be prepared. Keeping items such as blankets, flashlights, batteries, canned food, water, and portable cell phone chargers could come in handy. You may not have to use them, but it could come in handy in case of an emergency. The most comprehensive, complete and highest rated option we could find was the 72HRS Deluxe Survival Kit. They have the deluxe options for 1-4 people, and the more affordable essentials option for 1-4 people. We hope you never have to use it, but if you ever need to, you won’t regret having one of these survival kits.

In our next blog, we will give you some more advice on how to prepare your place for winter. In the meantime, if you have any other ideas, please comment below, contact us or comment on our social media.