FIRST PUBLISHED SEPT 2019. UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2024

Fall is a great time to take care of some essential items around your home before the snow starts to fly and the cold weather sets in. With fall almost here and winter just around the corner, take the time now to boost energy efficiency throughout your home and prevent damage from winter storms with proper tree care. We've researched and talked to the experts on our team to provide you with a checklist to properly maintain your home this fall.

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Turn your main water valve on and off. We discuss it often because it's a vital part of home maintenance. It is essential that you turn your main water shut-off valve on and off again four times per year. This will prevent it from seizing or leaking when you have to turn it off in an emergency or during a renovation.

Care for your trees and shrubs. If you have trees on your property, consider hiring an arborist to care for them. These pros can spot signs of poor health early on to prevent tree loss and know how to prune properly to avoid falling limbs in winter storms. Ensure you trim out the dead portions of trees before they go dormant.

Clean your gutters and downpipes. Once most of the leaves have fallen, clean out the gutters of leaves and debris. Clogged gutters during rainstorms can cause water to pool and damage your roof or siding.

For a great and very thorough guide to cleaning and maintaining gutters, click here for a free PDF from our friends at Ashton Real Estate Group in Nashville. This is the most thorough guide I’ve seen!

Close down the barbecue. Even if you plan on using your BBQ throughout the winter, you should clean the grill either by turning on the barbecue's heat and scrubbing with a brush or by putting the racks into a self-cleaning oven. Clean the briquettes and burners and replace them if necessary.

Not only should your BBQ be closed down, but you should also do some light maintenance on your deck. This includes power washing any debris from the deck, touching up areas that need additional stain or water sealant, and removing furniture until it’s needed again next spring. We offer a deck maintenance program that takes care of all of this for you. We also return again in the spring to get your deck spring and summer ready. If you’d like more information on this program and you live in the Durham Region or Clarington area, click here to contact us.

Seal gaps where critters can come in. With the colder weather on its way, small critters like mice will be looking for warmth. Take a walk around the exterior of your home and look for even the smallest of holes. Fill these holes with steel wool and then caulk.

Store your summer items. Clean and store outdoor furniture. Clean and maintain tools such as lawnmowers. Ensure you thoroughly clean the underside of the lawnmower before putting it away. Remember to turn off fountains and store them indoors if they are portable.

Prepare exterior faucets. Remove all exterior garden hoses, drain, and store. Turn the inside valve for the exterior faucet off. Open up the exterior to drain any water. Turn it off for the season once it's drained. If you want to be proactive, now is the time to install non-freezing exterior faucets.

Make improvements to the roof. If you get a lot of ice and snow on your roof, ice guards and perhaps a roof ice melting system may be an appropriate option.

Consider Eco-Friendly Roofing Solutions

If you're thinking about improving your roof’s performance, fall is a great time to consider eco-friendly roofing solutions that can help reduce your environmental footprint and boost energy efficiency. Options like cool roofs, green roofs, or solar shingles offer sustainable alternatives to traditional roofing materials, while also enhancing your home’s protection against winter weather.

Here are a few eco-friendly roofing options to consider:

Cool Roofs: These are designed to reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat, keeping your home cooler and reducing the need for air conditioning in warmer months.
Green Roofs: A green roof is covered with vegetation that helps insulate your home and reduces stormwater runoff. Though more common in urban areas, they are becoming increasingly popular in residential settings.
Solar Shingles: These shingles generate electricity while also functioning as a durable roofing material. If you’re thinking about going solar, this is a great way to integrate energy efficiency into your roof replacement.

In addition to these materials, consider using eco-friendly insulation under your roof. Materials like cellulose or recycled cotton insulation are great alternatives to traditional fiberglass, providing excellent thermal performance while being kind to the environment.

By incorporating eco-friendly materials into your roof maintenance or replacement, you can reduce your energy usage and minimize your home’s environmental impact.

Add weatherstripping. Weatherstripping applied around the frames of windows and doors helps boost winter warmth and cuts energy costs. Add door sweeps to the base of drafty doors to keep heat in and cold air out.

Direct your drainage. Take a close look at the soil around your foundation and make sure it slopes away from your house by at least 6 vertical inches over 10 feet. That way, you’ll keep water from soaking the soil around your foundation, which could lead to cracks and leaks.

Check your furnace. Schedule a maintenance checkup with your local heating and cooling pro. Change your furnace filters, too. This is a job you should do every two months anyway, but if you haven’t, now’s the time. If your HVAC system includes a built-in humidifier, make sure the contractor replaces that filter.

Upgrade to Smart Home Devices for Added Comfort and Efficiency

In addition to regular furnace maintenance, consider integrating smart home devices into your heating system. A smart thermostat can automatically adjust the temperature based on your schedule, helping to save energy and reduce costs. Many models allow you to control the temperature remotely through your smartphone, making it easier to keep your home warm while you’re out and ensure energy isn't wasted when it's not needed.

Other benefits include:

Energy Savings: Smart thermostats can learn your preferences and adjust automatically, helping reduce heating costs.
Remote Access: Control your home’s temperature from anywhere, whether you're at work or on vacation.
Integration: Some models integrate with other smart home systems, allowing you to monitor your home’s heating, lighting, and security from one app.

Upgrading to smart devices can boost your home's efficiency and make your heating system more convenient and cost-effective.

Check your safety devices. Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors; replace batteries as needed. Check the expiration date on your fire extinguisher and replace it if needed. If you haven’t checked your home for radon, fall is a good time to do so. As the weather gets cooler and windows stay shut more often, radon is more likely to become trapped in your home.

Clean dryer vents. Lint buildup in dryer vents can make your dryer work less efficiently and even cause a fire. Cool, dry fall weather increases static electricity, which can ignite lint that has built up, so now is a key time to get that lint out.

Deck/Porch Maintenance: Sealing a wood deck to prevent splintering and discoloration is a must, and it should be done annually. You should also give your deck a yearly examination to check for loose boards and nails. Wood decks also need to be cleaned regularly. If you decide to clean it yourself, follow the exact directions on the cleaning solution. In some cases, it may be necessary to hose down the deck and surrounding area before applying cleaning solutions.

Basement Inspections: Though foundation cracking is something that can happen at any time of year, winter frost heaves and soil shifts can cause leaks or make small cracks problematic. Identifying cracks early on is a sure-fire way to keep your fixes as quick and affordable as possible. Get a professional inspection and mark any cracks that are found with a felt-tip pen, clearly stating the diameter at the time of the marking. Examine them regularly to see if they are getting any bigger, and pay extra close attention during the winter and rainy seasons.

Window Air Conditioners: Vacuum the internal parts of air conditioners. Remove units from windows or wrap the outside box with an approved tarp or plastic air conditioner cover in order to prevent the rusting of vital parts.

Ceiling Fans: Change the direction of your ceiling fan (clockwise in the winter and counterclockwise in the summer) to create an upward draft that redistributes warm air from the ceiling. By spinning in a clockwise direction in the cooler months, the ceiling fan will pull air up toward the ceiling and distribute the warm air more evenly.

Wood Stoves and Fireplaces: Get your wood stove and fireplace in working order. Examine your wood stove's or fireplace insert’s door gasket for a tight seal. Also, clean and inspect the glass door for cracks, and have the chimney cleaned by a licensed chimney sweep. A clogged chimney poses the risk of a chimney fire, which can be ignited by burning creosote—a combination of wood tar, organic vapours, and moisture buildup.

Garage Door: Weather-strip your garage door. Make sure the seal between your garage door and the ground is tight to prevent drafts and keep out small animals.

Porch and Deck: Check the supports, stairs, and railings on porches and decks. Make sure the handrails can support someone slipping on snow or ice.

Fertilize Your Lawn: The best offence is a good defense. If you want to keep your lawn looking great in the spring and summer, you need to prep it for the fall and winter. Roots are still active when the grass isn't growing, so applying fertilizer will prevent winter damage. This will also help your lawn turn green faster in the spring.

Post-COVID Home Maintenance Considerations

With many of us spending more time at home, whether for remote work or simply as a result of lifestyle changes since the pandemic, it's become more important than ever to ensure that our homes are comfortable, functional, and healthy. As you prepare your home for the colder months, consider these post-COVID home maintenance tips to keep your living environment safe and efficient:

Optimize Your Home Office: If you’re working from home more often, make sure your home office is properly insulated and ventilated to stay comfortable through the fall and winter. This can also help you manage heating costs more effectively if you’re spending extended hours in one room.
Improve Air Quality: Since we’re spending more time indoors, air quality is crucial. Consider upgrading to a high-efficiency air filter for your HVAC system and ensure it’s regularly maintained. Adding an air purifier to high-traffic areas or your home office can also help reduce allergens and keep the air clean.
Enhance Comfort with Zoning Systems: If your home has different heating and cooling needs in various rooms, installing a zoning system could help you control the temperature more precisely. This is especially useful if your family members are home more frequently and need customized temperature settings in different areas.
Indoor Lighting and Mood: With more time spent indoors, proper lighting can improve both your mood and productivity. Consider installing energy-efficient LED lighting or smart bulbs that allow you to adjust brightness and colour temperature depending on the time of day.

By paying attention to these changes in home usage since the pandemic, you can ensure your home is not only well-maintained but also optimized for comfort and health as you head into the colder months.