Essential Fall Home Maintenance Tips for Southern Ontario

As the leaves begin to fall in Southern Ontario, it's the perfect time to prepare your home for the colder months ahead. A little preventative maintenance now can save you from costly repairs later and ensure that your home remains warm, safe, and energy-efficient throughout the winter. At Leppard Inspections, we understand the importance of maintaining your home, and we're here to help you navigate your Fall home maintenance with these easy tips.

1. Inspect and Clean Your Gutters

Why It's Important: In Southern Ontario, where Fall brings an abundance of leaves, clogged gutters can lead to water buildup. This can cause significant damage, including roof leaks, basement flooding, and foundation erosion. When the temperature drops, clogged gutters can also contribute to the formation of ice dams, which can lift shingles and damage your roof.

What to Do:

• Remove Debris: Regularly remove leaves, twigs, and other debris from your gutters. This can be done using a gutter scoop, a garden trowel, or a gloved hand.

• Check for Damage: After cleaning, inspect your gutters for signs of rust, sagging, or other damage. Repair any issues immediately to ensure proper water flow.

• Downspout Inspection: Ensure that downspouts are clear and that water is directed at least three to four feet away from your home’s foundation to prevent water damage.

Pro Tip: Consider installing gutter guards to keep debris out while allowing water to flow freely. This can reduce the frequency of gutter cleaning and prevent blockages.

2. Check Your Roof for Damage

Why It's Important: Your roof is one of the most critical components of your home, protecting you from rain, snow, and wind. Even small issues, such as a missing shingle or a loose piece of flashing, can lead to leaks and water damage once snow begins to accumulate.

What to Do:

• Visual Inspection: Use binoculars to perform a visual inspection from the ground. Look for missing, curled, or damaged shingles. Pay attention to areas around chimneys, vents, and skylights, as these are prone to leaks.

• Check the Attic: From inside your attic, inspect for signs of leaks, such as water stains, mold, or damp insulation. These can indicate a problem with your roof’s integrity.

• Hire a Professional: If you're uncomfortable inspecting your roof yourself or if you notice any signs of damage, it’s best to hire a professional. They can conduct a thorough inspection and address any issues before winter arrives.

Pro Tip: Consider scheduling a roof inspection at least once a year, preferably in the fall, to ensure any potential issues are identified and resolved before winter.

3. Seal Windows and Doors

Why It's Important: Drafts around windows and doors can significantly impact your home’s energy efficiency, leading to higher heating costs and a less comfortable living environment. In Southern Ontario, where winters can feel harsh, ensuring a tight seal around all openings is essential.

What to Do:

• Draft Detection: On a windy day, use a lit candle or an incense stick to detect drafts around windows and doors. If the flame flickers or smoke moves horizontally, there’s a draft. In many cases, you can even just use your hand to feel for drafts.

• Weather Stripping: Apply weather stripping around doors and windows to seal any gaps. There are various types of weather stripping available, such as adhesive-backed foam, V-strip, and door sweeps. These items can easily be picked up from places like Home Hardware or Canadian Tire.

• Caulking: Use exterior-grade caulk to seal gaps around window frames, door frames, and where any utilities enter your home. Silicone or latex-based caulk is ideal for this purpose.

• Storm Windows: If you have older windows, consider installing storm windows for an additional layer of insulation against the cold.

  
  

Pro Tip: Consider upgrading to double or triple-pane windows if your current windows are old or single-pane. These energy-efficient windows can reduce heat loss and improve your home’s overall energy efficiency.

4. Service Your Heating System

Why It's Important: A properly maintained heating system is essential for a warm and comfortable home during the winter months. Regular maintenance can prevent unexpected breakdowns, improve efficiency, and extend the life of your system.

What to Do:

• Replace Furnace Filters: Dirty filters restrict airflow and reduce your heating system's efficiency. Replace or clean filters every 1-3 months, depending on usage.

• Professional Tune-Up: Schedule a professional inspection and tune-up of your furnace or boiler. A technician will check for any issues, clean components, and ensure everything is functioning optimally.

• Thermostat Check: Test your thermostat to make sure it’s working correctly. Consider upgrading to a programmable or smart thermostat to better manage your home’s temperature and energy use.

• Radiator Maintenance: If you have radiators, bleed them to remove any trapped air, which can cause uneven heating.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget about your fireplace! Have your chimney inspected and cleaned to remove any creosote buildup, which can be a fire hazard. Ensure that the damper is functioning properly to prevent drafts.

5. Prepare Your Lawn and Garden

Why It's Important: Proper lawn and garden care in the Fall sets the stage for a healthy yard come spring. In Southern Ontario, where winters can be tough on plants, a little extra attention in the Fall can make a big difference.

What to Do:

• Leaf Management: Rake fallen leaves and either compost them or use them as mulch to protect your garden beds. Left unattended, leaves can smother your lawn, leading to bare spots in the spring.

• Lawn Care: Aerate your lawn to relieve soil compaction and improve water and nutrient absorption. Apply a Fall fertilizer rich in potassium to help strengthen grass roots for the winter.

• Tree and Shrub Pruning: Trim dead or overhanging branches to prevent damage from snow and ice. Prune shrubs to shape them and remove any diseased or damaged parts.

• Mulch Application: Apply a layer of mulch around trees, shrubs, and perennials to help retain moisture and regulate soil temperature throughout the winter.

• Wrap Trees and Shrubs: Wrap any trees or shrubs that require protection from the elements over winter, like evergreen trees. We typically do this by adding 4 stakes around the tree, then wrapping burlap around the stakes.

Pro Tip: Plant spring-flowering bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, and crocuses in the fall. They’ll provide a burst of colour as soon as the snow melts, signalling the arrival of spring.

6. Winterize Exterior Faucets and Irrigation Systems

Why It's Important: In Southern Ontario, where temperatures can drop well below freezing, it’s crucial to winterize exterior faucets and irrigation systems to prevent pipes from freezing and bursting.

What to Do:

• Disconnect and Drain Hoses: Remove all hoses from exterior faucets, drain them, and store them indoors for the winter.

• Shut Off Water Supply: Locate the shut-off valve for exterior faucets, usually found in the basement or crawl space, and turn it off. Open the exterior faucet to drain any remaining water.

• Irrigation System: If you have an irrigation system, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for winterizing. This typically involves draining the system and possibly using compressed air to blow out any remaining water.

• Insulate Faucets: Install insulated faucet covers over exterior faucets to provide additional protection against freezing, if you’d like to take the extra step.

Pro Tip: If your home is older or prone to freezing issues, consider installing frost-proof exterior faucets. These are designed to prevent freezing by shutting off the water supply further inside the wall.

7. Test Safety Devices

Why It's Important: As the heating season begins, it’s vital to ensure that your home’s safety devices are functioning correctly to protect your family and your home. Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and house fires are significant risks during the winter months, especially if your heating system is faulty or your fireplace is in use.

What to Do:

• Smoke Detectors: Test all smoke detectors in your home to ensure they are working correctly. Replace batteries at least once a year, or as needed.

• Carbon Monoxide Detectors: CO detectors are essential, especially if you have gas appliances, a fireplace, or an attached garage. Test them regularly and replace batteries as needed.

• Fire Extinguishers: Check that your fire extinguishers are fully charged and easily accessible. Make sure everyone in the household knows where they are located and how to use them.

• Emergency Plan: Review your family’s emergency escape plan. Make sure everyone knows what to do in case of a fire or CO alarm, and practice the plan regularly.

Pro Tip: Consider upgrading to interconnected smoke and CO detectors that communicate with each other. If one detects an issue, all alarms in the house will sound, ensuring everyone is alerted. My home is currently using Nest Protect smoke and CO alarms which announces throughout the entire house (4 different alarms) what is being detected as well as where. Plus it sends a mobile notification. This is just one example though, there are a number of other brands that make similar systems.

By taking the time to perform these fall maintenance tasks, you can protect your home and improve its energy efficiency, prepare for winter, and ensure the safety and comfort of your family. At Leppard Inspections, we're here to help with comprehensive home inspections that identify potential issues before they become costly repairs. 

Contact us today to schedule your fall inspection and keep your home in top condition throughout the year.

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