While April showers might bring May flowers, it is good practice to perform a few simple and quick activities that can make our lives a bit easier to endure during the wettest month of our year.
Here are some of the ways you can prepare your homes:
- Make sure gutters and downspouts are free from snow, ice, leaves or other debris that may have accumulated during the winter and will block water flow. You’ll need a ladder for this, so please get a friend or family member to help out and be safe. Also, while you’re doing this, examine that all the connections to the spouts are properly fit together.
- If you have a downspout extension, ensure it is directing water away from the house foundation. If you don’t have an extension, acquire one at local building suppliers for a reasonable cost and install it yourself.
- Clear snow and ice from basement windows and examine the frames for signs that they may be leaking or are damaged.
- If you have a storm drain on the street near your home, do yourself and your neighbours a favour by clearing leaves and other winter debris from the grates so excess rainwater can effectively be drained away.
- Examine main and upper-level windows for signs of leakage during heavy rain and high winds. You may not notice this during other months, but if there are problems, April could be the time when they appear.
- Keep your basement dry. In the unfortunate event of flooding, your furnace and/or water heater can be affected if the water levels rise to the burners or electrical connections. If this happens, the red shut off switch outside your furnace room should be shut off and a qualified service technician should be called to assess damage and repairs.
April can also be a wonderful time to do some yard cleaning and to start preparing your homes for the warmer months ahead.
At Scotia Fuels, we always try to provide the best advice to our customers. If you’re not yet a customer, please drop us a line at https://scotiafuels.com/contact-us/ or better yet, call us at 902-453-2121. One of our friendly local staff will be happy to help you.