Ready, Set, Winter!

Simple tips to protect your home and prepare for the season ahead

Preparing for winter starts at home. From protecting water pipes to keeping catch basins clear, there are simple steps you can take to prepare your property and help support the City of Vaughan’s winter operations.

Protect your water pipes 

To keep your pipes safe this winter, follow these tips: 

• If you’re going away, arrange for someone to check on your home regularly to ensure it is heated and there are no visible leaks from your pipes.
• Before going away, shut off your property’s main indoor water shut-off valve and drain your pipes. 
• If you shut off your indoor water supply, turn off your water heater to prevent it from burning out.
• Turn off outdoor taps – the shut-off valve is typically located in the basement of a home. Once this is done, keep the outdoor taps in the open position so any water remaining in the pipe can expand in the spring without causing the pipe to burst.
• Disconnect and drain all outdoor hoses and faucets. Winterize sprinkler systems, pools and spas, as per the manufacturer’s guidelines. 
• Ensure areas that contain indoor water pipes are kept above 8 degrees Celsius (46 degrees Fahrenheit), especially near the water meter.
• You may even consider placing a space heater in this room. When using electric heaters, place them at least three feet away from combustible materials such as curtains. Ensure you plug them directly into the wall outlet and turn them off when not in use.
• Insulate pipes that are near an outside wall, in crawl spaces, attics and cold rooms. 
• Seal any air leaks that allow cold air to come inside your home. 
• If you have water supply lines in your garage, keep the door closed as much as possible.
• Watch for frost or condensation on your pipes or a drop in your water pressure throughout the winter.  

Help keep catch basins clear of snow and ice 

Catch basins, which are the drains you see on the road, are designed to collect rainwater and melting snow to prevent flooding on streets. During the snowy months, catch basins can become blocked by ice, snow and other debris, which can impede drainage. If you live nearest to a catch basin, you are encouraged to help keep it clear if it’s safe to do so by removing blockages, such as leaves and snow.

Stay off stormwater ponds 

These ponds are not designed or intended for recreational use. Water constantly flows in and out of stormwater ponds, so the water levels are always changing, making any activity in or around them unsafe. When frozen, the thickness of the ice is highly unpredictable, which also makes it dangerous to walk or skate on. 

Ensure waste is accessible for collectors

Our crews work hard to collect all waste throughout the winter, but waste bins or bags that are buried in snow, on top of or behind snowbanks or covered in snow are not accessible to waste collection crews, and will not be picked up. In cold temperatures, some waste materials may freeze inside your bins and adhere directly to the interior. If the waste collectors can’t remove the items when tipping the bin, they will remain inside. Keep any materials left in the bin until your next collection day. Crews cannot return for bins that were not fully emptied due to freezing. If there is snow in the forecast the night before your collection day, wait until morning to set out your waste so it doesn’t get covered in snow or freeze onto your bins. 

To report non-emergency winter maintenance service requests, visit Service Vaughan. 

Stay informed!

For more information on our winter maintenance program, visit vaughan.ca/snow. For additional details and to receive the latest information on Vaughan’s winter operations:

• contact the SNOW hotline at 905-879-SNOW (7669) or email service@vaughan.ca.

• follow the City’s official corporate channels on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

• subscribe to Vaughan News.