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Each year, fall seems to come and go in the blink of an eye. It can
feel like it goes from cool evenings and a faint smell of pumpkin
spice to snow days and slippery sidewalks before you even have time
to put on a toque. When it comes to your home, taking a little time
to get prepared in the warmer weather could save you some headaches
when winter starts blowing in. Wondering what kind of home
maintenance tasks you need to do to get your property ready for fall
and winter? Consider these tips:
Both are meant to direct water away from your home to prevent leaks
all year long — but they can’t do that if they’re damaged or clogged
with leaves or other debris. Fall is a good time to remove all
debris and repair or replace any damaged sections.
Follow our
step-by-step guide
to close the shut-off valve, disconnect your hose, and drain the
pipe and valve. If you have an in-ground irrigation or sprinkler
system, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions to drain it,
too.
This means having them professionally inspected and cleaned, as well
as making sure the area surrounding your fireplace is set up for a
safe burning season.
Learn more about fireplace safety before it’s time to light yours
up.
Bonus tip: Do you have a wood stove or
pellet stove? Both require you to
take special safety precautions.
This could include:
Make sure you have working carbon monoxide detectors on each floor of your home — and remember to follow the maintenance instructions to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Many ceiling fans can be set up to change direction (from counterclockwise to clockwise) and run on a lower speed in the fall, which allows warm air to be pushed down from the ceiling. This can help you save energy and money.
Keep the warm air inside and the cool air outside by re-caulking around window and door casings (if needed), as well as checking the weather stripping on your doors.
Bonus tip: Try closing your door on a piece of paper. If you can slide the piece of paper up and down along the doorframe without ripping it, it’s probably time to replace the weather stripping on your door.
Have a professional thoroughly inspect your roof (inside and out) and have any damaged areas repaired before the snow starts.
Long grass and piles of leaves can make perfect nests for insects and rodents. Plus, if snow falls before you have a chance to cut your lawn and clear away the leaves, it can lead to snow mould and other fungal issues. When it’s time for the last lawn-mowing of the year (after your lawn has stopped growing), lower your blades one notch and go for a shorter cut. It’s okay to leave some grass clippings on the lawn itself, but you’ll want to clear away any large piles of leaves and other debris, paying special attention to the areas surrounding your home’s foundation.
Some people assume that grilling season is over once the snow starts to fall, but properly maintaining your barbecue can extend its life and reduce fire hazards. Check out our full guide to winter barbecuing before you transition from summer to winter grilling.
You can usually do this from the inside, rather than having to dig around the outside of your foundation. This can help protect your basement from flooding when the snow starts to melt next spring.
Even though you won’t be turning on your air conditioning during the colder fall and winter months, a small amount of power is still going to travel to your air conditioner. Turning off the breaker saves energy and will deter rodents looking for a warm place to nest.
If your fall home maintenance finds you making any major changes to your property, make sure you have the coverage you need during and after your renovations.
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