October, when our thoughts turn to falling leaves, sweater weather, Pumpkin Spice Lattes and…home maintenance? That’s right, now is the time to prepare your home to withstand Toronto’s inevitable deep-freeze.
Fall is the perfect time to take care of the little things that can make a big difference for your home. Most of these tasks are well within the skill-set of the average homeowner, but even if you hire a professional to help you, I think it’s well worth the investment for the peace of mind being prepared will bring.
1. It’s so important to the overall wellbeing of your home to keep your roof’s drainage system running smoothly. Fall is definitely the right time to get your mind IN the gutter and check for blockages, rust and corrosion. Fresh mesh guards can help keep your gutters in check too!
2. The best way to avoid frozen pipes in the winter is to make sure you thoroughly drain your outdoor faucets! If you’ve got an in-ground sprinkler system making sure that is drained is key as well.
3. Nobody wants to call the roofer after a snowstorm or ice storm. Schedule a check-up for your roof now, before the severe weather hits and take care of any loose shingles or issues before they cause real problems.
4. Keep dust at a minimum and make sure your home stays cozy by having your furnace serviced and changing your filter. Pro-tip: if your furnace uses a disposal filter, you can vacuum it once before replacing it!
5. When you’re out raking leaves, take a little extra time to fertilize your lawn! This will give your grass a stronger foundation on which to thrive in the spring.
6. I once heard that “A home with air leaks around windows and doors is like a coat left unbuttoned.” Now, you’d certainly never walk around in mid-January with your coat unbuttoned, would you? Make sure there aren’t any major leaks in your caulk and even consider weather-stripping your windows for extra coverage. This will do wonders for your heating bill too!
7. It’s time to admit that you probably won’t be having one last meal al fresco and store or cover your outdoor furniture. Just make sure that that everything is dried thoroughly beforehand to avoid mold or mildew forming over the winter months.
8. Remember Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins? Well, let’s just say you won’t have to get that dirty to make sure your fireplace is in good working order. Even if you only use it occasionally, you should maintain your fireplace annually. Take some time to look for flue blockages (birds love to nest on top of an unprotected flue) and make sure that if you have a brick chimney there are no bricks missing. If you think something might need attention, call a professional. You don’t want to risk fire or smoke damage.
Now that you’ve done all that it’s time to sit back, relax and enjoy a cozy evening in your well maintained home!
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