Winter Maintenance: Keep Your Exterior Vents Clear
Winter in Calgary is synonymous with heavy snow and freezing temperatures. While clearing driveways and sidewalks is often top-of-mind, one essential task homeowners frequently overlook is keeping exterior vents free of snow and ice. Ensuring these vents are unobstructed is critical for your home’s safety, efficiency, and comfort.
Understanding Exterior Vents and Their Functions
Your home features several key vents, each serving vital purposes:
Gas Meter
While not an exhaust vent, the gas meter ensures a safe natural gas supply. Keeping it accessible prevents damage and allows for maintenance or emergency checks.
Water Heater Exhaust
This vent expels harmful gases, such as carbon monoxide, produced during water heater operation. Blockages can lead to inefficiency or dangerous gas backflows into your home.
Furnace Exhaust
Like the water heater vent, this removes combustion gases. If snow or ice blocks this vent, your furnace may shut down or pose safety risks.
Dryer Vent
Removes moisture and lint during laundry cycles. Blockages here not only reduce dryer efficiency but also significantly increase fire risks.
The Calgary Winter Challenge
In Calgary, where snowfall can be heavy and temperatures drop drastically, blocked vents can cause:
Health Hazards: Carbon monoxide buildup from blocked vents is life-threatening and invisible. A carbon monoxide detector is a must for every home.
Reduced Efficiency: Blockages force appliances to work harder, increasing energy bills.
Appliance Shutdowns: Modern systems often include safety features that shut down appliances when vents are blocked, leaving you without heat during freezing temperatures.
Proactive Maintenance Tips
To ensure your vents remain functional throughout the winter, follow these simple steps:
Inspect Regularly
After heavy snowfalls, check all exterior vents for snow and ice accumulation.
Clear the Surrounding Area
Shovel snow at least 1-2 feet away from the base of your home where vents are located.
Install Vent Covers
Specialized covers prevent snow buildup without hindering airflow.
Avoid Directing Snow Toward Vents
When using a snowblower, take care to avoid blowing snow toward exterior walls.
Schedule Annual Maintenance
Have professionals inspect and service your furnace, water heater, and dryer to ensure optimal performance and safety.
Local Building Code Considerations
Calgary’s building codes offer guidance to minimize vent blockages:
Gas Meters: Must remain accessible for utility inspections by providers like Enmax or ATCO.
Exhaust Vents: Should be installed at least 12 inches above the average snow level. However, in heavy snow years, even this may not suffice, making regular checks vital.
Final Thoughts
Winter maintenance goes beyond shoveling driveways it’s about protecting your home and family from potential hazards. Clear exterior vents ensure your home operates efficiently, safely, and comfortably during Calgary’s harsh winters.
For more expert tips on home maintenance or real estate advice, don’t hesitate to reach out.