Seasonal upkeep6 min read

When winter finds a weakness.

Three things cause almost all winter damage: ice dams, frozen pipes and condensation. None of them arrive without warning. Here is what the warning looks like and what to do about it.

Updated July 18, 2026

Fall prep handles most of the work. But a Quebec winter runs long, and a house needs some attention during the season, not just before it. The expensive damage almost always happens in January or February, and almost always after signs you could have caught.

Here is what I watch between December and March.

What causes an ice dam, and how do I prevent one?

Heat escaping into the attic. It melts snow in the middle of the roof, the water runs down to the edge, which stays cold, and it refreezes into a ridge of ice. Water backing up behind that ridge eventually gets under the shingles and inside.

The real fix is in the attic: enough insulation and enough ventilation to keep the roof deck cold. In the meantime, a long handled roof rake used from the ground after a big snowfall pulls snow off the edge and takes away the dam's raw material. Thick icicles hanging along a gutter are your warning light.

How do I keep pipes from freezing?

Keep heat moving. Do not shut the heat off entirely in an unused room, open the cabinet doors under sinks that sit against an exterior wall, and insulate any pipe running through the garage, a crawlspace or an unheated basement.

If you travel during a cold snap, do not set the thermostat too low, and have someone check the house. A week away with a burst pipe is the worst case there is, because the water runs the whole time.

Do I need to clear snow off the roof?

Sometimes, yes. The light snow in December is not the problem. Built up snow that then gets soaked by rain or a thaw is, because it turns very heavy. Flat and low slope roofs hold the most, and additions, carports and lower sections fill in first.

Do not climb onto a snow covered roof. Use a roof rake from the ground, or hire an insured company. A door that suddenly sticks, or a new crack in a ceiling in midwinter, is worth a same day call.

Why are my windows sweating?

Because the indoor air holds more moisture than the outdoor temperature allows. You cook, you shower, everything stays shut, and the humidity condenses on the coldest surface in the house, which is the glass. A little fog on a very cold day is normal. Water running down the frame, stains or mould is not.

Run the bathroom fan during and after showers, run the range hood when you cook, and turn the humidifier down when it gets really cold outside. If the house has an HRV, make sure it is running and its filter is clean.

What should I watch on the heating side, and for outages?

Change the filter during the season, not just in October. And after every snowfall, go clear the outside vents: the side vents on a high efficiency furnace, the water heater vent and the dryer exhaust. A vent packed with snow is a carbon monoxide risk, not just a comfort issue.

Keep enough on hand to ride out a few hours without power too: flashlights, batteries, charged devices, water, and a plan for where to go if the cold settles in. Know where the main water shutoff is, in case a pipe lets go while the power is out.

Printable checklist

Take this list with you

Tell me where to send it and the checklist lands in your inbox as a PDF, ready to print or keep on your phone. No spam, ever.

Frequently asked questions

A pipe froze. What do I do right now?

Open the tap that pipe feeds so the pressure has somewhere to go, then warm the frozen section gently with a hair dryer or a space heater. Never an open flame. If you cannot find the frozen section, or the pipe has already split, shut off the main water valve and call a plumber.

Can I sell my house in the middle of winter?

Yes, and there are fewer listings competing with you. You just have to handle what winter makes visible: a clean driveway and steps, lights on for late afternoon showings, a warm house, and summer photos of the yard if you have them.

Are icicles on my roof a problem?

Small icicles after a thaw are normal. A thick ridge of ice along the roof edge that comes back every year almost always means heat is escaping into the attic. That gets solved with insulation and ventilation, not by chipping the ice off.