We all have all noticed it is officially the beginning of winter here in Fort McMurray. Here are four things to check and keep up on this winter to avoid unnecessary headache, emergencies and trouble with your rental here in Hangingstone Point.

  1. A) Clearing snow around your unit, what you are responsible for

According to RMWB, snow must be cleared within 48 hours of falling. Tenants have to clear their walkways, garage parking stall, in front of the garage doors.

(A style units) your parking space is in front of your garage). You must clear your walkway and full driveway.

(B style units) your parking space is beside your garage. You must clear the walkway, the parking pad and the space in front of your garage door.

You may push the snow to the street for the street cleaners to remove!

Snow removal contractors do not move garbage bins, so make sure you get those out of the way so that equipment can do the work without issue.

 

2) Water tanks and thermostats

  1. Check the thermostat has a new battery. That white cap should come off, if it’s a battery powered thermostat, may be dying and need to be replaced.
  2. Moving to the furnace. The is a light and switch on the side. The door to the furnace NEEDS TO BE CLOSED. The safety on it turns off the furnace if that door is open.
  3. Check the light. If its green, blinking green, another color or off
  4. Check the intake vent on the outside of the unit. If anything is in that vent or blocking it, clear it.

These are the most common issues that can see the device turn off as a precautionary measure.

To restart the “Pilot” here are your basic steps:

  1. Set gas valve to “Pilot”
  2. Push down on knob or pilot button and click ignitor until pilot lights.
  3. Continue holding knob down until pilot holds or light flashes.
  4. Set tank temperature.

Also there should be instructions on the tank itself.

 

3) If your unit has an Air Conditioning unit installed

  1. Clear the Space Around Your Air Conditioning Unit
  2. Clean the Outside of Your Air Conditioning Unit
  3. Cover Your Air Conditioning Unit
  4. Update Your Thermostat Setting
  5. Have Your AC System Checked Regularly by a Professional

 

4) Attic rain and avoiding condensation build up over the winter in your unit

  1. If you are not sure that the attic upgrade was completed in your unit, call us! We spent a lot of time this Fall, ensuring we got to each unit, however, if for some reason you are the odd one out. Please let us know.
  2. Run your bathroom fan longer. Before and after you shower or soak in the tub, run the fan longer to help keep air moving and prevent build up that leads to that dripping you may experience.
  3. Turn down your humidity! Right now we know with Winter being dryer than the Sahara Desert, its tempting to turn that up. That’s going to make it rain. No pun intended.
  4. Open windows. We know, it is absolutely frigid out. In high efficiency homes, built to be air tight, its really helpful to open doors when weather allows, to help wick away that excess moisture build up. Keep your townhome as dry as you can.
  5. Turn down your temperature a touch. Even a one to two degree dip will make a difference. When its into the double negatives, this has huge effect. Sorry Albertans, the unfortunate truth about our beautiful province includes managing our wild weather fluctuations.
  6. If these things fail, please call us to have a look. We do encourage you to call and ask questions about these efforts and we want to ensure that we do keep an eye on it. We want to be sure that nothing more sinister is going on up there such as an air leak.

For those of us taking off for any extended times during the winter in Fort McMurray, please review your insurance policies and be prepared to ensure you have your home while vacant, checked every 72 hours; in the event of water leaks or interior disasters beginning.

If you require these services, they are available for a fee.