Winter Tips for Your Home

The winter weather has arrived and here’s what you need to know to be prepared!

Potholes

Snow, ice and freeze-thaw cycles can cause serious damage to our roadways.

To report potholes, phone 311, the city’s 24-hour service portal, or visit www.toronto.ca/311. Have the closest municipal address on hand – it helps pothole repair crews work efficiently.

Snowclearing

Did you know that the city clears 5,604 km of roads each and every time it snows?

Expressways are cleared after 2.5 cm of accumulated snow and arterial roads after 5 cm. Local roads are cleared following the accumulation of 8 cm of snow.

If it’s been 18 hours since the end of a storm and your street has still not been ploughed, please call 311.

For more information about the city’s snow ploughing practices, click here.

Icy sidewalks are a serious pedestrian safety hazard, particularly for our older neighbours and those with accessibility issues. So please be nice and clear your ice!

Senior city staff advised that contacting 311 is the fastest and most efficient way to report snow and ice issues. Each time you contact 311, your issue is recorded (with a service request number that can be tracked) and the request goes immediately to Transportation Services for investigation and follow up.

Toronto Hydro

If power is down following a snow storm, Toronto Hydro suggests following these tips:
-Check to see if your neighbours have power. If they don’t, it is likely that more work is planned on your street.
-If your home is the only house without electricity, check your electrical panel inside your home to see if the breakers are in the “on” position.
-Check outside and visually inspect if the electrical equipment on your home is damaged or if the service wire is down. If the customer-owned connection point (usually the pipe and wires attached to your home connected to the powerline) is damaged, you may need to contact an ESA-certified electrical contractor. A list is available on the ESA’s website at http://www.esasafe.com.

In the event of a power outage this winter, you can contact Toronto Hydro’s Customer Care team at 416-542-8000. This number can also be used to report emergencies such as downed or sagging wires.

You may also report power outages and streetlight outages by visiting this link.