Home Winter Maintenance Tips — 5 Simple Things You Can Actually Do Yourself

As the cold weather settles in, your home starts working a lot harder than you think.A few easy maintenance steps can make a big difference in comfort, efficiency, and avoiding mid-winter surprises.

Here are 5 dead-simple winter prep tips every homeowner can handle.

1. Furnace Winter Maintenance (Filter + Humidifier)

Your furnace is about to clock in for its busiest season. Before it does:

✔ Change your furnace filter A fresh filter helps your furnace run efficiently and keeps dust down.Swap it every 1–2 months through winter (more often with pets).

✔ Check your home humidifier If you have a furnace-mounted humidifier, replace the pad and ensure the water line is clear. Aim for 40% humidity — it feels warmer, protects floors, and reduces dryness. These two tiny tasks make a huge difference in how comfortable your home feels in winter. If you recently did a bathroom renovation or basement renovation, or a whole home renovation, you'll want to protect your new materials. This will help.

Changing a furnace filter.

2. Clean Exterior Vents

Dryer, kitchen, and bathroom vents all need to breathe.Take five minutes and check them outside for:

• Lint buildup

• Leaves

• Bird or wasp nests

• Ice forming in extreme cold

Clogged vents = higher energy bills and potential fire risk.

3. Check Weatherstripping & Door Seals

Drafty doors and windows let warm air escape and cold air slide in.Walk around your home and look for:

• Visible gaps

• Cracked or brittle rubber seals

• Areas where you can literally see daylight

Replacing weatherstripping is cheap, quick, and saves money instantly.

4. Test Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Winter is when your home is sealed tight and heating systems run nonstop — making detectors more important than ever.

• Press the “test” button

• Replace batteries

• Make sure you have a CO detector near sleeping areas

A 30-second test could save your life.

5. Reverse Your Ceiling Fans

Most people forget this one (if you have an upstairs ceiling fan. Switching your ceiling fans to spin clockwise on low speed helps push warm air down from the ceiling.

Result:

• More even heat

• Less strain on the furnace

• Lower heating bills

A simple switch, noticeable difference.

Final Thoughts

Winter prep doesn’t need to be complicated.These small, inexpensive tasks help your home run smoother, stay warmer, and avoid mid-season headaches.

Dirsal Homes — Home Renovations shouldn’t be stressful, in any season.

Bonus Tip: Be Ready for Power Outages

Winter storms in Ontario can be unpredictable. It’s smart to keep a small emergency kit on hand — nothing extreme, just the basics to stay comfortable if the power cuts out for a few hours.

Keep things like:

• Bottled water (a few litres per person)

• Dry or shelf-stable food (granola bars, canned soup, crackers, nuts)

• Portable power bank for phones

• Flashlights or battery-powered lanterns

• A safe backup heat source — like a butane heater, propane heater designed for indoor use, or even extra blankets if you’d rather avoid fuel-based options

You’ll rarely need it, but when you do, you’ll be glad it’s there.