Before cold weather arrives, review drainage, heating, alarms and insurance together. Use this checklist to plan work and ask questions. Roofing, work at height, electrical systems, fuel equipment and structural concerns need appropriately qualified help.
Outside: keep water moving and equipment clear
Roof, gutters and ice
Look from the ground for visible damage, detached downspouts or unusual ice buildup. Arrange safe gutter maintenance and direct runoff away from foundations and walkways according to local requirements. Do not climb an icy roof or attack ice dams with sharp tools. Recurring ice dams can require an assessment of attic heat loss, insulation and ventilation. Natural Resources Canada on roofs and ice dams
Air intakes, exhausts and gas meters
Maintain equipment clearances and watch for snow blocking furnace, water-heater or fireplace vents. Do not fit improvised hoods, screens or wrapping that may interfere with airflow. Never kick a gas meter or vent pipe to clear ice. Contact the utility or a qualified technician if you cannot safely deal with an obstruction. TSSA’s meter and vent safety advice
Air conditioners and heat pumps need different treatment
Identify whether the outdoor unit is cooling-only equipment or a heat pump that operates in winter. Never wrap an operating heat pump in a cover or blanket. Maintain airflow and service clearances according to its instructions. Whether a shut-down air conditioner needs a cover is also model-specific. Carrier on cold-weather heat-pump maintenance
Windows, outdoor items and walkways
Address appropriate sealing defects without blocking required ventilation or escape routes. Secure loose furniture. Prepare snow-clearing tools and suitable de-icing materials, maintain lighting and keep entrances and steps usable. Secure any mats so that they do not become trip hazards.
Inside: check heat and alarms before they are needed
Arrange professional servicing
Have fuel-burning equipment inspected and repaired by appropriately certified technicians working through a TSSA-registered contractor. Gas piping and leak checks are not routine do-it-yourself tasks. Perform owner-serviceable filter maintenance according to the instructions, and arrange suitable fireplace and chimney inspection and cleaning. TSSA on registered contractors and annual inspections
If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds or CO poisoning is suspected, get everyone outside into fresh air immediately and call 911 from outside. Do not re-enter until emergency responders say it is safe, and do not remain inside to investigate. Ontario carbon monoxide safety guidance.
If you smell gas or suspect a gas leak, leave the area immediately. Do not use phones, electrical switches or flames nearby. Once safely away, call 911 or the gas supplier’s emergency line. If the gas is burning, call 911 and do not try to extinguish it. Gas supplier emergency guidance.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Test devices and replace batteries or expired alarms according to the manufacturer. Ontario requires working smoke alarms on every storey and outside sleeping areas; the building’s applicable installation requirements also matter. Ontario’s home fire-safety guidance
Carbon monoxide requirements expanded on January 1, 2026. Existing homes meeting the applicable conditions, such as a fuel-burning appliance, fireplace, attached garage or heated air supplied by a fuel-burning appliance outside the home, need CO alarms on every storey and adjacent to each sleeping area. Apartments and multi-unit buildings have additional situation-specific rules. Ask the local fire department if uncertain. Ontario’s current CO-alarm requirements
Insulation, plumbing and absences
Look for cold areas around pipes and visible insulation concerns. Attic improvements must consider moisture, air leakage and ventilation together. For a long absence, confirm heating, indoor inspections and any professional drainage requirements against the policy. A neighbour passing by may not meet those conditions.
Insurance: ask about specific losses and limits
- Property: Which snow, ice, wind or water losses are insured? Are there different limits or exclusions for the roof, garage or fence?
- Water: Do you have overland-water, sewer-backup or groundwater coverage? What conditions apply to freezing and absence?
- Liability: How does the policy address covered legal liability and defence if someone is injured because of the property’s condition?
- Additional living expenses: What triggers coverage for temporary accommodation and other extra costs, and what limits or receipt requirements apply?
Do not assume there is a universal “natural disaster endorsement” covering every snow or freeze loss. Ask the broker to identify the actual coverage and available options. FSRA encourages specific questions about exclusions, limits, deductibles and water protection. FSRA’s property-insurance questions
Temporary accommodation is not automatically reimbursed whenever a home is damaged. Additional living expenses generally require a covered trigger, such as an insured loss making the home unlivable, and apply to eligible additional costs within the policy’s limits. Some policies have separate evacuation or prohibited-access provisions. IBC on additional living expenses
Keep records for the next review
Store service dates, repair photos and invoices together, with a short list of unfinished work. Report new damage promptly and mitigate safely. Maintenance records support an account of what happened; they do not guarantee a claim outcome.
Contact A-Z Insurance to review winter-related insurance questions. Phone: 905-707-2929. Email: info@azinsure.ca.
This is general information, not a substitute for equipment instructions, an on-site professional assessment or your policy. Confirm current fire and municipal requirements and the coverage applicable to your circumstances.