Fall Home Maintenance Checklist: 10 Things to Do Before Winter
Before the cold weather arrives, give your home a little TLC. Fall is one of the best times of year to take care of those small home maintenance jobs that are easy to put off. A little time spent getting your home ready now can help prevent bigger, and often much more expensive problems once winter arrives. And if you live in Toronto or the GTA, you know our homes have to handle a lot over the next few months: freezing temperatures, snow, ice, wind and plenty of freeze-and-thaw cycles. So before you're completely into pumpkin spice and holiday planning, here's a simple fall home maintenance checklist to work through.
1. Clean Your Gutters & Downspouts
Once the leaves start falling, your gutters can fill up quickly. Clogged gutters can prevent water from draining properly and may lead to overflowing water, ice buildup and water getting where it shouldn't.
Take a few minutes to:
- Remove leaves and debris from your gutters
- Make sure downspouts are clear
- Check that water is flowing away from your foundation
- Look for loose or damaged sections
This is one of those jobs that's easy to forget, until the first big rainstorm.
2. Give Your Roof a Quick Inspection
You don't necessarily need to climb onto the roof yourself. In fact, leave that to a professional if you're not comfortable doing so. Instead, take a look from the ground and check for anything that looks out of place.
Look for:
- Missing or damaged shingles
- Damaged flashing around vents and chimneys
- Sagging areas
- Excessive moss or debris
If something doesn't look right, it's much better to have it checked before winter weather makes a small issue worse.
3. Check Your Windows & Doors
Those little drafts you don't notice in September can become very noticeable in January! Walk around your home and check for gaps or cracked caulking around windows and doors. You may also want to check your weatherstripping and replace anything that's worn or damaged. A few small fixes can make your home feel more comfortable and help prevent warm air from escaping.
4. Get Your Furnace or HVAC System Ready
Before you turn the heat on for the first really cold day, make sure your furnace or HVAC system is ready to go. Consider having your system serviced if it hasn't been checked recently, and replace your furnace filter if needed. And don't wait until the first cold snap to find out your furnace isn't working!
It's also a good time to make sure your vents aren't blocked by furniture or other items.
5. Disconnect Your Garden Hoses
This is a small one, but it's important. Disconnect your garden hoses before freezing temperatures arrive and drain them properly before storing them.
If your home has exterior water shutoffs, make sure they're properly closed for the season as well. Water left sitting in outdoor plumbing can freeze and potentially cause damage.
6. Trim Trees & Shrubs
Take a look around your property and trim back branches that are getting too close to your house, roof or power lines. Winter snow and ice can add significant weight to branches, increasing the risk of them breaking. Fall is also a good time to tidy up overgrown shrubs and remove dead branches.
Your home, and your neighbours will thank you!
7. Check Your Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors
This is a quick one that should be on everyone's list. Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries if needed.
It's also a good time to check the age of your detectors and replace them if they're past their recommended lifespan. With windows closed and heating systems running throughout the winter, making sure these devices are working properly is especially important.
8. Check Your Exterior Caulking & Seals
Take a walk around the outside of your home and look for cracked or deteriorating caulking around windows, doors and other openings. Small gaps can allow water and cold air to get in. Replacing damaged caulking is a relatively inexpensive maintenance job, and much easier to deal with now than after water gets behind it and causes a bigger problem.
9. Get Your Winter Supplies Ready 🧂
Before the first major snowfall, make sure you know where all your winter gear is!
Check that you have:
- A working snow shovel
- Ice melt or salt
- Winter boots and outdoor gear
- Scrapers and brushes for the car
- Any other winter equipment you rely on
It sounds obvious, but nobody wants to discover their snow shovel is broken when there's 20 cm of snow on the driveway.
10. Take a Walk Around Your Home
Finally, do one last walk around your property and look at things you might normally overlook. Check your foundation for obvious cracks or signs of water intrusion. Look at exterior stairs, railings, decks and walkways. Make sure outdoor lighting is working and that nothing is loose or damaged.
You're essentially looking for anything that could become a bigger problem once winter arrives. A Little Maintenance Now Can Save You Later.
Home maintenance isn't always the most exciting part of homeownership, but staying ahead of the little things can make a big difference. Fall is the perfect time to take an hour or two, walk around your home and make a list of anything that needs attention. Your future self will thank you when the first big snowstorm hits.
Save This Checklist! If you're a homeowner, save this post and work your way through the list before winter arrives. If you're thinking about buying a home, remember that maintenance is part of the cost of homeownership. When you're looking at a potential new home, I can help you understand what to look for beyond the pretty kitchen and the perfect living room. Thinking about buying, selling or making a move? Let's chat.
