Finding your main shutoff valve
Finding your main Shutoff valve is one of the most useful things you can know in case of an emergency. This will help you be prepared to deal with a burst pipe. Turning off your main water supply is a good way at limiting damage before a plumber comes to help. You may be able to locate it near the water meter, or in a crawl space or in the basement.
Insulation of the pipes
One of the first ways to fight against any damage in the winter is to make sure that you have good insulation on your pipes. In Manitoba when the weather becomes cold the pipes are at risk of freezing and expanding which may cause the pipes to burst. To prevent any damage from water coming into your home make sure the pipes are wrapped and insulated so it stays warm on the inside. A few things you can buy from your local Manitoba hardware store are cheap insulation or
Drain all your faucets in the home
If there is water left in the pipes it is at rest of freezing when the temperature drops. Most outdoor faucets and pipes are mostly at risk as the outdoor ones are more at risk of freezing. First you should shut off your valves along with opening all the faucets and the bleeder caps to get all the water out of the pipes. If you want to be on the safe side and leave the bleeder caps open making sure to put a bucket underneath to catch any drips and making sure you do the same with your indoor faucets.
Let the Faucet Drip
Most times you don't want your faucet to drip to save water however in the minter months letting it drip it may prevent serious damage to your home. When the weather drops below freezing temps let the water drip very slow and steady. This method works for all your faucets but this will be especially useful with exterior faucets which are at a higher risk of damage due to subzero temperatures in the winter.
Disconnect all the outdoor hoses
Aside from the faucet method it is a good idea to take care of all the hoses outdoors. When taking care of all the outdoor hoses make sure you take them and place them somewhere for the winter until the weather warms up. Install hose bib covers to prevent your hose bibs from freezing durning the night. A cover can slow down the heat loss and protect them from being damaged.