With a new season just around the corner, now is the ideal time to start preparing your home and vehicle for cooler days ahead! Here are our best tips to make sure you’re prepared for what’s to come.

Home

Inside

To keep your family cozy and warm throughout the winter, check out all these items now.

• Check your furnace and water heater. Ensure they are both working properly and not near the end of their lives. Having a professional assess them is helpful!
• Replace furnace filter. This should be done regularly regardless of the season, but now is a good time to do it if you haven’t thought about it for a while.
• Check for leaks. Go to every tap, toilet, and other water sources in the house to make sure they are not leaking. In winter, those little leaks can result in frozen pipes.
• Seal windows and doors. Check for a breeze around your windows and doors and seal them now before cold air starts seeping in.

Outside

Saskatchewan winters can be tough on your home’s exterior, so using this checklist to prepare will set you up for a successful season.

• Clean eavestroughs. Get leaves and other debris out now before they get trapped inside by snowfall. If they aren’t free for proper drainage, you can end up with ice dams throughout the winter. Make sure your drain spout is cleaned out as well.
• Clean around exhaust vents and air intakes. If these get blocked up by debris or snow, it can cause poor performance issues from your appliances and can even be a fire hazard.
• Check the roof. Make sure any damage is repaired now before the weight of heavy snowfalls makes it worse.
• Drain outdoor water sources. Check outdoor pipes, faucets, and sprinklers to make sure they are fully drained. Turn them all off for the season and blow out water lines to ensure they are fully empty. Water left behind can cause frozen pipes.
• Clean chimney. Debris built up in your chimney can be a fire hazard when you decide to use your fireplace in the winter.
• Clean up the yard. Rake any leaves that are left, put furniture and toys/games away, and move anything else you don’t want to leave trapped under the snow all winter. This also means less cleanup to be done when spring arrives.

Auto

Having your vehicle ready for the season is also important, so you can get where you need to go without issue!

• Battery check-up. As the temperatures get colder, your battery performance can be significantly impacted. Get it tested now for voltage and cranking power so that if it comes up weak or showing signs of age, you can replace it before it leaves you stranded. CAA Battery Depot can help if you are in Regina!
• Coolant flush and fill. Your engine needs a coolant system to protect it from freezing. Check the coolant you’re using to ensure it’s appropriate for the temperatures here in Saskatchewan. By flushing and then filling it, you can remove old, degraded coolant and put fresh coolant in its place, making sure that you are protected from freezing and corrosion.
• Check tire pressure and tread depth. Your tire pressure can drop when lower temperatures hit. Make sure you’re checking it regularly for the recommended pressure (usually found in your owner’s manual) and inspect the tire tread depth as well. When your tread is insufficient, you can end up with reduced traction on wet or snowy roads. Late fall is also a good time to schedule your winter tire swap.
• Wiper blades. You can be faced with plenty of rain and leaves throughout this season, so making sure your wiper blades are in good condition is important to keep your field of vision clear when you’re driving. If they are worn out or streaking on your windshield, consider replacing them. You can even get winter wiper blades to better stand up against the incoming snow and ice.
• Lights and signals. Do an examination of all your exterior lights like headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals to make sure they are functioning correctly. Since the days are going to be getting shorter, you want working lights to see properly.
• Top off all essential fluids. Check your brake fluid, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and windshield washer fluid. Make sure there are no leaks and you have the amounts you need.
• Heating system. Check to make sure your car’s heater is working properly—no one wants to be caught in –40 weather with no heat.
• Inspect hoses and belts. Look inside the engine for any cracks, leaks, or wear and tear on these important components.
• Clean your car. Make sure the exterior is cleared of things like leaves and debris. Consider treating yourself to a full detail so you can start the season fresh and restock your vehicle’s emergency kit.
• Get a professional inspection. Many of the things on this list can be checked by a pro who will know exactly what’s needed to prep you for this time of year.

Don’t Forget Insurance

If your home and vehicle seem ready for the fall, but you don’t have a solid insurance plan in place, you’re forgetting one of the most important parts. With CAA Insurance, you can have confidence that you’re prepared for whatever the season throws your way. Check out our website for a quote on Home Insurance and Auto Extension Insurance, call 1-844-393-EASY, or visit us in-store. And if you’re a CAA Member, you are eligible for 10% off for bundling both with us on top of other discounts!