How to Winterize Your Home Before the First Snowfall

4 min read · Thames Valley Snow, London, Ontario

Winter in London, Ontario tends to arrive faster than people expect, and a lot of the work that keeps a home safe through the season is easiest to do while the weather is still cooperating.

Start outside. Disconnect and drain garden hoses, shut off exterior water valves where you have them, and check that gutters are clear so meltwater has somewhere to go instead of backing up under the roofline. It is also worth walking your driveway and walkway edges to spot cracks that could get worse once water freezes inside them.

Inside, check weatherstripping around doors and windows, and make sure your furnace has had its seasonal service before the first cold snap rather than after. A quick look at your attic insulation can also catch problems that lead to ice damming later in the winter.

Don't forget the practical side of snow season itself. Decide where you'll pile shovelled snow, mark driveway edges if you have a curb or garden bed nearby, and move anything fragile out of areas a plow truck or shovel crew will need to pass through.

Prepare Your Driveway and Walkways

Your driveway takes a beating in winter. Before the first snowfall:

• Fill small cracks so water cannot get in and freeze.
• Put reflective stakes along edges, curbs and garden beds.
• Move planters, decorations and hoses away from where snow will be pushed.
• Check that downspouts drain away from the driveway, not across it.

Downspouts that empty onto a driveway are a common cause of ice patches. Water melts off the roof on a sunny afternoon, runs across the pavement and freezes solid overnight.

Plan Where the Snow Will Go

A big storm can produce a lot of snow, and it has to go somewhere. Choose a spot that does not block sightlines at the end of the driveway, does not cover drains and does not melt back onto your walkway. Keep piles away from the house foundation too, so meltwater does not end up in the basement.

Decide on Snow Removal Before It Snows

If you plan to hire help, fall is the time to book. Thames Valley Snow seasonal plans run December 1 to March 31, and service is automatic every snowfall of 5 cm or more. Crews return in long storms, the City windrow is cleared, and you get a timestamped photo after every visit. Before the season, edges, steps and drains are marked so they are easy to find under snow.

Seasonal prices start at $650 to $725 plus HST for a single or 1.5-car driveway. Add-ons include walkway and steps from $150, seasonal salt for $175, and pet-safe de-icer for $120. Seniors and front-line workers get 5% off seasonal plans.

Build a Small Winter Kit

• A good shovel and an ice scraper
• Pet-safe ice melt for steps
• Sand or grit for traction in very cold weather
• Flashlight and batteries in case of power outages

Protect Your Roof and Eaves

Ice dams form when heat escapes into the attic, melts snow on the roof, and the water refreezes at the cold eaves. Good attic insulation and ventilation help prevent this. After a heavy storm, watch for long icicles along the gutters, which can be a sign of ice damming. Clear gutters in fall so meltwater has a path off the roof instead of backing up under the shingles.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I finish winterizing?

Aim for late October or early November, before night-time temperatures stay below freezing.

Do I need to call for snow removal after each storm?

Not with a seasonal plan. Service is automatic at 5 cm or more.

Ready to stop worrying about the next storm? Get a free quote, or call or text (548) 888-8702. You can also read more about residential snow removal and walkway and steps clearing.

What's included… and what's extra

A Thames Valley Snow seasonal residential plan starts from $650 for a standard driveway. It covers clearing the driveway every time snowfall reaches the trigger depth in your agreement, plus the windrow the city plow leaves at the end of the driveway. Larger driveways are priced on our snow removal prices page.

Popular add-ons, priced per season: walkway and steps $150–175, salting $175, priority service $125, pet-safe salt $120, driveway extension $95 and city sidewalk clearing $90. Add only what your property needs; everything is listed on the quote so there are no surprises. Get your fixed price or call or text (548) 888-8702.