Calgarians are still adjusting to the snow and freezing temperatures, and apparently so are their homes.
Have you noticed ice forming around your home, windows or doors? That’s what many in the city are dealing with this week after Calgary received its first blast of winter weather.
Cliff Keveryga, CEO and founder of Calgary Home Inspections, says it’s something he sees every year whenever there’s a drastic shift in the temperature.
He says the balancing act is keeping heat inside the home while simulataneously maintaining airflow.
“You do need to leave your window blinds up, at least an inch to two inches,” he says. “If we don’t have that air circulation through the blinds, that’s when we get condensation buildup and frost on your windows.”
“It starts to sweat and freeze, and then you’ll have issues with the drywall underneath the windows, swelling and bowing.”
He says for too many people forget to check humidity, adding that 20 per cent is a good setting for Calgary.
Keveryga says consistent melting and reforming of ice around windows and doors could lead to big problems down the road with mold and mildew.
“Especially with the doors, that’s where that weather stripping really plays a big part,” he says.
He recommends adding weather stripping if you feel a draft, or depending on the age of the home, it could be necessary to replace those windows and doors all together.
Residents should also make sure their outdoor down spouts are in fact in a downward position. It ensures when chinooks hit and snow starts melting that water isn’t pooling and freezing next to the foundation.
Keveryga strongly recommends checking your furnace vents, intake valves and chimneys to make sure they’re free from snow and ice. He adds blocked vents can lead to dangerous carbon monoxide buildup.