Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

Now that fall has arrived, Canadians look forward to sipping hot cocoa or spiced apple cider, baking delicious fall treats, and strolling through parks draped in colourful foliage. But along with planning how you will cozy up this fall, it’s also important to prepare your home for winter.

Not sure how to get your home ready for the chilly days ahead? Please keep reading my blog to learn how!

Home Maintenance Tasks to Check Off Before Winter

Seal Up the Holes That Let Air In or Out 

A home with air leaks around doors and windows is like wearing a jacket with the zipper undone. These drafty doors and windows let cold air sneak into your home, making your heating system work overtime to keep things cozy. The result? Rising utility bills and a chillier home.

Hence, to prevent this from happening, make sure to seal up all the air leaks in your home before winter sets in. One effective method to do that is through weatherstripping. Weatherstripping typically consists of a flexible material, like rubber, foam, or vinyl that is applied to the edges of the door or window frame. The weatherstripping material creates a tight seal around the edges of doors and windows, preventing drafts from entering your home. You can also use a high-quality exterior-grade caulk to close any gaps around windows and doors.

Have Your HVAC System Checked and Cleaned

Since most people plan to spend our fall days snuggled up indoors, it's important to ensure that your home’s air quality is at its best. To do that, schedule an appointment with a professional who can check and tune up your HVAC system. The technician will check all the HVAC components and clean the interior parts of the system to remove any dust and debris. It’s also a great time to swap out those furnace filters if you haven’t done so in the past 1-3 months. 

Winter-Proof Your Outdoor Faucets

Outdoor faucets are those handy fixtures that you use for watering your garden, washing your car, or filling up your kid’s pool. To winterize these outdoor faucets, first, locate the shutoff valve inside your home and turn this valve clockwise to shut off the water supply. Next, head outside and open the faucet to let all the water drain out.

Don’t forget to disconnect any hoses attached to the faucet; this prevents the water in the hose from freezing. In the end, cover the outdoor faucet with a cover or some insulation to protect it from freezing temperatures.

Assess Your Roof's Health

Strong winds, heavy rain, and snowfall can wreak havoc on your home’s most protective layer - the roof. That's why inspecting your roof before autumn rolls around is a must.

Start this task by grabbing a pair of binoculars and taking a look at the roof from the ground. Search for any signs of roof damage such as missing shingles, curling or buckling shingles, or damaged flashing around chimneys or vents. If possible, pop into your home’s attic and check the underside of your roof. Look for dark stains, mould, or mildew in the attic which can be clues to potential roof leaks.

Clean and Unclog the Gutters
 

As long as you’re wearing gloves and protective eyewear, you can remove the debris from the gutter manually. For tough clogs, you might need a gutter cleaning tool or a garden hose with a strong spray to clear things out. In case you notice any significant damage in your gutters like rust or holes, call in a professional.

Cut Back the Trees and Bushes

The best time to trim trees and bushes before winter is late fall, just before the first hard frost. This timing helps plants enter dormancy, cutting down on stress and boosting their growth for spring.

When trimming your trees for the winter, make sure to remove only about 20 to 25% of the plant growth to avoid stressing the plant. Use sharp, clean tools to make clean cuts and trim at a right angle just above a bud or branch junction.

Fix Up the Walkways and Driveways

Before the weather turns chilly, inspect your walkways and driveways for cracks, potholes, or uneven surfaces. These seemingly small things can become worse over time, especially with freezing temperatures and snow.

In case you find any damage in the driveway, make sure to take care of it without any delay. Smaller cracks can be taken care of with a concrete or asphalt filler and for larger cracks or holes, use a patching compound. When it comes to the application and drying times of these solutions, go by the book and follow the instructions word for word. If you see any larger cracks or potholes in your driveway, it would be best to call in a professional for a more permanent solution.

Go Over the Safety Systems in Your Home

Last, but not least, do a top-to-bottom review of your home's safety features as you complete your fall maintenance tasks. Here are the basic things you must do to ensure your home remains safe and secure -

• Test the batteries of the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace them if needed.

• Check the pressure gauge of fire extinguishers to make sure it’s in the green zone and replace any extinguishers that are past their expiration date.

• Look for frayed wires, overloaded outlets, or other signs of electrical issues in your home.

• Review and test your home security system to ensure all components are working correctly.

What Will Happen If You Leave These Tasks Undone Until Winter?

Failing to prepare your home for winter can cause you a lot of issues and headaches when the cold weather hits. For instance, your heating system might break down, pipes could freeze, or drafty windows might let in the chill. As a result of this, you'll be stuck with taking care of expensive repairs instead of relaxing and enjoying the winter season.

On the other hand, by ticking off your winter home maintenance checklist now, you can keep your home warm, comfy, and ready for whatever winter throws your way. So, roll up your sleeves and tackle these to-dos before the cold sets in!

If you have any questions about today’s blog topic, or about anything else real estate- related, please give me a call, 905-683-7800.

 

Thanks For Reading Today’s BLOG!

If you would like to see any of my previous blog posts, please click here.

Brian Kondo
Sales Representative / Team Leader
The Brian Kondo Real Estate Team
Re/Max Hallmark First Group Realty Ltd.
905-683-7800 office
905-426-7484 direct
brian@briankondo.com
www.BrianKondo.com
www.BrianKondoTeam.com

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