Winter maintenance tips for condo dwellers

One of the benefits of living in a condo building is the lack of maintenance required on your part. This perk is especially noticeable in the winter, but there are still a few things you should keep in mind as the temperature continues to drop.

No, you likely don’t have much snow to shovel or walkways to salt, or even exterior water to switch off. Living in a condo, your maintenance fees cover most exterior and interior common area maintenance. But, the winter can still impact the interior of your condo unit. Here are a few things to consider since winter has come early this year!

Replace your air filter

Most new (-ish) condo units have a panel on the wall where the air filter is located. It’s shocking how few people realize what the panel is for. If you open it up, you’ll discover an air filter. Air passes through it so you don’t breathe in a bunch of dust. If it’s really dirty, then the quality of your air is worse, and the system has to work harder to heat your home. 

The easiest thing to do is to turn off your air system, remove the filter and take it to a hardware store to see if they have matching filters. If you’re lucky, some property management even have the filters for sale onsite, so you don’t have to worry about getting the wrong size. Ideally, you should switch out your filter twice a year. 

Monitor humidity  

Winter is dry, so some people use humidifiers in their homes. If you’re one of these people, you should make sure you’re not overdoing it with the humidity. If you start to notice condensation on your windows, then it’s too humid in your home. Excessive moisture indoors and freezing temperatures outdoors can lead to damage. 

Check for air tightness 

Your balcony door and windows probably got a lot of use through the spring, summer, and fall. It’s important that your windows and doors fully close or else you’ll waste a lot of energy and money trying to heat your home through the winter. Depending on the types of windows and doors you have, air leaks can be easily fixed with caulking, but if you have something like a broken sliding door, you may have to call a professional. 

Clean ceiling lint trap

If you have a washer and dryer in your condo unit, then there are two lint traps you need to clean. This is another thing many new condo dwellers aren’t aware of. Most people know about the lint trap in the dryer, but if you look up in your laundry room, there’s a lint trap in the ceiling. 

Through winter, you’ll be washing and drying heavier articles of clothing like sweaters and jackets, so it’s important that the ceiling lint trap is cleaned. Not only will it help your dryer work properly, but it’s also a fire hazard that should be avoided. 

And like in every home, you should check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they are working and the batteries are charged. 

We hope these tips help make winter slightly more bearable in your condo!