Top 5 Most Important Tips for Canadian Homes:
Know Your Main Shut-Offs: In an emergency, you need to find these fast. Locate and label your main water shut-off valve and your electrical circuit panel. Everyone in the household should know where they are.
Clean Your Gutters (Twice a Year!): Clogged gutters are a leading cause of basement flooding and roof damage. Clear them in the spring after the seeds fall and again in the late fall after the leaves have dropped.
Grade Away from Your Foundation: Ensure the soil around your home slopes away from the foundation wall (about 6 inches over 10 feet). This is your first and best defense against water intrusion.
Test Safety Devices Monthly: Make it a habit—when you change your clock for Daylight Saving Time, test all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace the batteries.
Leave a Trickle of Water: On nights when the temperature is forecast to drop below -25°C, let a cold-water faucet farthest from your water main trickle slightly. This can prevent pipes from freezing.
Seasonal Checklists (The Canadian Homeowner's Bible)
Spring (The Thaw)
Inspect Your Roof: Look for loose or missing shingles damaged by winter ice and snow.
Check Your Foundation: Look for new cracks that may have formed from frost heave.
Service Your A/C Unit: Turn it on early to ensure it works, and clear any winter debris
from the outdoor condenser unit.
Survey Your Property: Ensure downspouts are extended at least 6 feet away from the
foundation to direct spring meltaway.
Summer (The Heat)
Check Caulking: Inspect and repair caulking around windows and doors to keep your home
energy-efficient.
Reverse Your Ceiling Fans: Change the blade direction to counter-clockwise to create a
cooling downdraft.
Inspect Your Deck: Check for loose boards, wobbly railings, and protruding nails. Now is the
time to re-stain or seal it.
Clean Your Dryer Vent: A clogged vent is a major fire hazard. Disconnect the hose from the
back of the dryer and vacuum it out.
Fall (The Prep)
The #1 Tip: Clean Those Gutters! Prevent ice dams by ensuring water can flow freely away from
your roof.
Disconnect Garden Hoses: Drain and disconnect hoses from exterior faucets to prevent frozen
pipes inside your walls.
Get Your Furnace Serviced: Change your furnace filter and consider a professional tune-up for
efficiency and safety before the heating season begins.
Check Your Chimney: Have your fireplace and chimney inspected and cleaned by a professional
before first use.
Winter (The Deep Freeze)
Prevent Ice Dams: Ensure your attic is well-insulated and ventilated. After a snowfall, use a
roof rake to remove the bottom 4 feet of snow from the edge of your roof.
Check for Ice: Keep walkways and driveways clear of ice to prevent falls. Use a pet-safe and
plant-safe ice melt.
Mind Your Vents: After a heavy snowfall, check that your furnace, dryer, and bathroom
exhaust vents are not blocked.
Monitor for Drafts: Feel for drafts around windows and doors. Use weather-stripping or
temporary window film to improve efficiency.
Room-by-Room Quick Wins
Bathroom: Run the fan for 20 minutes after a shower to vent moisture and prevent mould
growth.
Kitchen: Pour a 1/2 cup of baking soda followed by a 1/2 cup of vinegar down kitchen drains
monthly. Flush with hot water to deodorize and help prevent clogs.
Laundry Room: Every few months, pull your washer out and check the hoses for bulges,
cracks, or leaks. Replace them every 5 years.
Basement: Keep items stored in plastic bins instead of cardboard boxes to protect them
from moisture and pests.
When to Call a Pro
While DIY is great, some jobs require an expert. Call a certified professional for:
Electrical Work beyond changing a lightbulb or outlet cover.
Major Plumbing leaks or re-piping.
Gas Appliance installation or repairs.
Structural Changes to walls or foundations.
Any Problem that makes you feel unsafe or is beyond your skill level.
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