Today is the first day of fall! Saying goodbye to the warm summer weather can be hard for some, but we have so much to look forward to in autumn. From apple picking under the colourful leaves to Halloween! Fall is one of the most beautiful seasons we have. Is your home ready for the new season? Here is a fall home checklist to make sure your house is ready for the upcoming months.
Check your fireplace and chimney
Not many people think if their fireplace during the summer. To get a head start on winter, have a professional clean your chimney and ensure your fireplace is in top shape.
Test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
This should be done every month. Take a few minutes at either the beginning or end of each month to make sure everything is in good working order.
Winterize landscaping and remove leaves
Who doesn’t love the look of leaves on the ground? It looks beautiful now but may inhibit spring lawn growth. So get the kids ready and make the most out of family time while jumping in leaf piles!
Clean furnace filter
Changing your furnace filter is very important, especially in the winter. They are fairly inexpensive and easy to change yourself.
Clean gutters and downspouts
Once most of the leaves have fallen, it’s time to clean your gutters. Clogged gutters can cause damage to not only your roof but also your siding.
Check exterior of home for gaps or and minor repairs
Small critters will look for any hole or gap in a home for some warm place during the winter. Check the foundation of your house for any possible entryways and seal them up.
Check walkways, stairways and railings
All stairs and railings around your home should be in top shape for when the snow and ice comes around! If anything is loose, grab a screwdriver and tighten them up.
Stock up on winter supplies
One of the joys of living in Canada, especially Ottawa is enduring our cold winter months. The last thing you want is to head to Canadian Tire and find out they are all sold out of your favourite shovel or snow blower. Do yourself a favour and stock up on all winter supplies before everyone is buying them!
Shut off exterior faucets
Protect your pipes from freezing by turning off all our hose and exterior faucets before the weather gets too cold.
Clean dryer vents
Duct cleaning is not the most pretty of jobs but it has to be done. Get ahead of the game and have a professional come by and give them a good cleaning.
