How to Prepare Your Calgary Home for Winter with Egress Windows

Understanding Egress Windows

As winter approaches in Calgary, ensuring your home is properly prepared for the cold months is essential. One key aspect of winterizing your home is focusing on egress windows. These windows are not only a critical safety feature, allowing for emergency exits, but they also play a significant role in maintaining your home's energy efficiency.

Egress windows are typically found in basements and must meet specific size and operational requirements to allow for quick and easy escape during emergencies. As you prepare for winter, understanding how these windows function in your home can help you make the necessary adjustments to enhance safety and insulation.

Insulating Egress Windows

Proper insulation is crucial to prevent heat loss through egress windows during Calgary's harsh winters. Start by checking for any drafts or leaks around the window frames. These can often be corrected with weatherstripping or caulking, which can significantly improve the window's insulation properties.

Adding thermal curtains or blinds is another effective way to insulate egress windows. These coverings can help trap heat within your home, reducing energy costs and keeping your living space comfortable. Consider investing in high-quality materials that are designed specifically for thermal insulation.

Ensuring Accessibility

While insulation is important, it's also crucial to maintain the accessibility of egress windows during winter. Heavy snowfall and ice accumulation can block these windows, making them difficult to open in an emergency. Regularly check around your egress windows to ensure they are not obstructed by snow or ice buildup.

Keep a shovel or snow removal tool handy to quickly clear any obstructions if needed. Additionally, applying a de-icing product can prevent ice from forming around the window, ensuring it remains functional throughout the season.

Maintaining Window Wells

Egress windows often come with window wells, which can collect water, snow, and debris. It's important to keep these wells clean and free of obstructions. Install a window well cover to prevent snow and rain from accumulating inside. This cover can also help keep out leaves and other debris, reducing the risk of clogging and potential water damage.

Regular maintenance of window wells not only protects your egress windows but also ensures that they continue to serve as a viable escape route when necessary. Check the wells periodically and remove any debris that may have collected.

Conclusion

Preparing your Calgary home for winter involves more than just insulating walls and sealing doors; it includes ensuring that features like egress windows are ready to face the cold months. By focusing on insulation, accessibility, and maintenance, you can enhance both the safety and energy efficiency of your home.

Take proactive steps now to inspect and update your egress windows, ensuring a warm and secure winter season for you and your family. Not only will this preparation make your home more comfortable, but it will also provide peace of mind knowing that your emergency exits are fully operational and effective.