Frozen pipes, ice damming, and a furnace that picks the coldest week of the year to fail — almost all of it is preventable. Here's what to check before the temperature drops for good.
Every fall I get calls from homeowners after something has already gone wrong — a burst hose bib, an ice dam that's found its way into an attic, a furnace that won't fire on the first cold snap. Almost everything on that list is preventable with an hour of your own time before the real cold sets in. This is the same list I run through mentally on every inspection I do this time of year, condensed into what you can check yourself.
Exterior & Envelope
Disconnect and drain exterior hoses
A hose left attached to an exterior bib traps water in the line, and it's one of the most common causes of a split pipe once temperatures drop below freezing — even on a "frost-free" bib.
Inspect caulking and weatherstripping around windows and doors
Gaps here are direct heat loss and a path for moisture and cold air infiltration all winter long.
Clear gutters and confirm downspouts direct water away from the foundation
Clogged gutters back up, freeze, and contribute directly to ice damming along the roof edge.
Check roof for damaged or lifted shingles
Small deficiencies get worse fast once snow load and ice are added — better to find them now than after a leak shows up on the ceiling.
Trim tree limbs near the roofline
Snow-loaded branches are a common cause of roof and siding damage in heavy winters.
Foundation & Crawlspace
Confirm crawlspace vents are set for winter (closed or covered, per your home's design)
Uncovered vents on some crawlspace designs let in cold air that can freeze exposed plumbing running through that space.
Insulate any exposed pipes in unheated spaces
Pipe insulation sleeves are inexpensive and take minutes to install — a burst pipe is not.
Seal foundation cracks and gaps around utility penetrations
These are entry points for cold air and, later, meltwater during spring thaw.
Heating System
Replace or clean furnace filter
A clogged filter restricts airflow, forces the system to work harder, and is one of the most common causes of a mid-winter no-heat call.
Test the furnace before you actually need it
Run it for a full cycle on a mild day so any issue shows up before the first real cold snap, not during it.
Check and test CO detectors
Combustion appliances working harder in cold weather make this the season CO detectors matter most — test batteries now.
Bleed hydronic baseboard heaters, if applicable
Trapped air reduces heating efficiency in hot water systems.
Attic & Insulation
Confirm attic insulation is even and adequate depth
Thin or uneven insulation creates warm spots on the roof that melt snow unevenly — a direct contributor to ice damming.
Check attic ventilation isn't blocked
Proper airflow keeps the underside of the roof deck cold and consistent, which is your best defense against ice dams.
Look for daylight or drafts around attic access hatch
An unsealed hatch is a surprisingly large, often-overlooked heat loss point.
Ice damming, explained. It happens when heat escaping from your living space warms the roof deck unevenly, melting snow that then refreezes at the colder eave. Water backs up under the shingles and can work its way into the attic or down an exterior wall. It's an insulation and ventilation problem before it's ever a roofing problem — which is why patching the roof alone rarely fixes it.
Why This List Matters More Here Than Almost Anywhere Else in BC
Prince George sees a real winter — sustained sub-zero stretches, real snow load, and freeze-thaw cycling that coastal BC simply doesn't deal with. Homes built or maintained with a milder climate in mind will find their weak points here first: thin attic insulation, exposed plumbing in crawlspaces, gutters that were fine for rain but not for ice. None of these show up on a home's paperwork. They show up as a call to a plumber at 11pm in January.
The Bottom Line
Most winter emergency calls trace back to one of the items on this list. None of them take more than an afternoon to check, and almost all of them are far cheaper to fix in October than to repair in January. If you'd rather have a second set of eyes go through the whole house — roof, attic, crawlspace, and mechanical systems — before the cold sets in, that's exactly what a seasonal readiness inspection covers.
Not Sure Your Home Is Ready for Winter?
I offer seasonal readiness inspections covering the roof, attic, crawlspace, and mechanical systems — catch the small stuff before it becomes a January emergency call.
Book a Winter Readiness Inspection
Mike Webber — Ironclad Inspections
Mike is a CanNACHI Certified and MICRO Certified Mold Inspector based in Prince George, BC, with 15+ years of hands-on trades experience. Ironclad Inspections serves Prince George, Quesnel, Vanderhoof, and surrounding Northern BC communities. Licensed Inspector #89905.