January home maintenance checklist

• Check the furnace filter DIY
  Pull it out and hold it to the light. If you can't see through it, replace it. A clogged filter makes the furnace run longer and can trip its safety switch on the coldest night. Furnace cost guide →
• Clear snow from side-wall vents DIY
  High-efficiency furnaces and water heaters vent through plastic pipes on an outside wall. Snow drifts can block them and shut the appliance down, or push exhaust back into the house.
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms DIY
  Press the test button on each one. Ontario law requires a CO alarm outside every sleeping area if your home has a fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage.
• Watch for icicles and ice dams Note it
  Big icicles along the eaves usually mean heat is escaping into the attic and melting snow on the roof. Note where they form: that's where to look at insulation and air sealing in spring. Insulation cost guide →
• Protect pipes on outside walls DIY
  During a cold snap, open the cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls and keep the heat at least 15°C if you go away. Find your main water shut-off now, before you need it. How to prevent frozen pipes →
• Keep indoor humidity in check DIY
  Water running down the inside of windows means humidity is too high for the cold. Run bathroom and kitchen fans longer and turn down a humidifier until it stops.

General guidance for typical GTA houses. Follow your equipment manufacturer's instructions, and call a licensed pro for gas, electrical and anything on a roof.