Unless you’ve packed up and headed south for the winter, cold weather is coming your way. When British Columbia gets hit by winter storms, cold snaps and even polar vortexes, you want to keep yourself, your loved ones and your home safe.

We want to help you keep your house, condo or townhouse warm over the colder months. Here’s a quick checklist to get your started:

• Add a humidifier to carry heat through your home
• Replace your furnace filter
• Take precautions to keep your pipes from freezing 
• Weather strip your windows and doors to seal them closed     
• Block drafts under doors with door draft stoppers
• Seal wall holes and cracks with spray foam
• Cover cold floors with area rugs
• Insulate walls, attics, crawlspaces and more
• Reverse your ceiling fans
• Wrap yourself in sweaters and blankets! 

Now your home is set for the colder temperatures ahead, here are some more creative tips to keep your home warm till the spring thaw.

Tackle the cold with these 5 smart winter hacks

Cook soups, stews and casseroles

Not only do piping hot, hearty meals warm you up from the inside, but they also need to cook for a long time, thereby slowly but surely warming up your living space. Check out some hearty winter recipes  for hot pots of stews, soups and casseroles.

Heat while you sleep

Everyone enjoys climbing into fresh bedding, but you may enjoy it even more during cold times if you switch the soft cotton for cozy flannel.

Move the couch and expose your heat source

Is your couch or rug blocking the radiator, air ducts or baseboard heaters? Then it’s blocking heat from getting into your room (and you). Move your furnishings away from heat sources and your room will warm up fast. If you were using the couch to hide your radiator, you can always install a radiator cover to camouflage it while still allowing it to heat up the room.

Get steamy

Every time you shower, leave the bathroom door open. The hot steam will travel throughout the house and can help reduce the dryness of winter air which is bad for your skin, hair, plants and wood flooring.

Let the sunshine in!

During sunny days, open your curtains and let the sunlight in. Even on winter’s coldest days, the sun rays will help warm your whole home.

5 little luxuries to heat you up

1. Everyone gets a hot water bottle!
   Not looking forward to climbing into a cold bed at night? Fill a hot water bottle and put it under your duvet at the foot of your bed. If your feet could talk, they’d gladly thank you. What’s more, BCAA Members earn 1% back in CAA Dollars at Walmart.
2. Buy a heated desk chair or seat cushion
   If you’re working from home, a heated desk chair will keep you warm and increase your circulation. Better yet, many heated chairs come with multiple massage functions to break up your workday and relieve any tension.
3. Install a towel warmer
   How many times have you stepped out of the warm shower and wished you had immediate relief from your chilly bathroom? A towel warmer will extend the warmth of your morning shower and dry your towels faster to keep them mildew-free.
4. Get a thermal curtain or blinds
   On the days that aren’t sunny outside, thermal curtains and blinds can help seal in the heat by covering your cold window panes and drafts.
5. Install a programmable smart thermostat
   This one is a little more pricey but it’s a great way to keep the temperature no lower than 16 degrees Celsius. You want to make sure your pipes don’t freeze and expand as this will cause their connecting faucets and pipes to freeze and burst. Install a small thermostat which will alert you to unusually low temperatures in your home which could save you from freezing pipes.

Protect your winter fortress with home insurance

One of the best ways to keep warm and cozy this winter is by insuring your home against unexpected storms, freezing, floods and theft. Review your coverage, some external water mishaps from heavy rain or snow require an optional coverage that may not be part of your base policy. Sleep soundly when you have BCAA Home Insurance, knowing that BCAA paid out over 95% of claims related to fire, water, weather and theft.*

There are many ways to save on BCAA Home Insurance. You can save 5% in your first year when you buy online. Plus, BCAA Members automatically save an additional 10% on a BCAA Home Insurance policy and a further 1% (up to 10%) for every consecutive year you’ve had your home insurance with us. Learn more at bcaa.com/home 

Have a happy, cozy winter!

^{*From 2021 to 2025, BCAA paid out on over 95% of home insurance claims related to fire, water, weather and theft. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.}