Fall Home Maintenance Checklist: Prepare Your Home for Winter

Fall is the perfect time to prepare your home for winter. From cleaning your windows and gutters to winterizing exterior plumbing and trimming overhanging tree branches, a little preventative maintenance now can help protect your home from costly problems later.

As the days get shorter and temperatures begin to drop, homeowners across Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Stayner, Thornbury, Meaford, Blue Mountain and Grey Bruce should start thinking about their fall home maintenance checklist.

Here are some of the most important things to take care of before winter arrives.

1. Clean Your Windows Before the Shorter Days Arrive

There are fewer hours of daylight during the fall and winter, so why let dirty windows reduce the amount of natural light entering your home?

After a summer of exposure to pollen, dust, insects, dirt and the elements, your windows can accumulate a noticeable film that makes glass look dull.

Professional window cleaning can help restore those clear, bright views just in time for the changing seasons.

Clean windows allow you to enjoy more of the natural sunlight available during the shorter days — whether you're looking out at the fall colours or watching the first snowfall of the season.

If you're searching for window cleaning in Collingwood or surrounding Georgian Bay communities, fall is an excellent time to schedule your cleaning before winter weather arrives.

2. Give Your Siding a Fall Cleaning

Your home's siding takes a beating throughout the summer.

Pollen, dust, dirt, algae, mildew, spider webs and other organic growth can accumulate on the exterior, leaving your home looking tired and dirty.

Organic Growth

Fall is an ideal time for a professional house wash.

Soft washing uses specialized cleaning solutions and low pressure to safely remove organic buildup and surface grime from siding, soffits, exterior trim and other areas of your home.

Cleaning your siding before winter not only improves your home's appearance but also removes the organic buildup that has accumulated throughout the warmer months.

And there's nothing quite like heading into fall with a clean, fresh-looking home.

Freshly Cleaned

3. Clean Your Gutters Before the Spring Melt

Your gutters and downspouts play a critical role in moving rainwater and melting snow away from your home.

Ensure Proper Flow

Throughout the year, gutters collect leaves, pine needles, shingle granules, moss and other debris. If that material isn't removed before winter, it can restrict water flow and create problems when the snow begins to melt.

Why Is Fall Gutter Cleaning So Important?

There's another issue homeowners don't always consider: weight.

A gutter filled with wet leaves and debris can become extremely heavy. Add rainwater, ice and snow over the winter, and that additional weight can place significant stress on your eavestrough system, hangers and fascia.

Over time, gutters can begin to:

• Sag or bow

• Pull away from the fascia

• Separate at the seams

• Overflow

• Damage the fascia

• Eventually fall away from the home

Remove Heavy Debris

What starts as a simple gutter cleaning can potentially prevent a much more expensive repair.

And when spring finally arrives, you want your gutters ready to handle the snow melt.

Clean gutters allow water to flow properly through the system and away from your home when temperatures begin to rise.

4. Winterize Your Exterior Plumbing

Before temperatures begin consistently dropping below freezing, make sure your exterior plumbing is ready for winter.

If your home has interior shut-off valves for exterior taps, shut off the water supply before freezing temperatures arrive.

Once the water is shut off, open the exterior tap and allow the remaining water to drain from the line.

Leave the exterior tap open after draining.

This allows any remaining water to escape rather than becoming trapped inside the plumbing.

Drain Outdoor Spigots

Frozen water expands, and that expansion can damage pipes, fittings and connections. A small amount of preventative maintenance in the fall can potentially save you from a major plumbing problem in the spring.

Don't forget about other exterior water systems such as irrigation lines, outdoor showers or other plumbing connected to your property.

If you're unsure how your particular system should be winterized, consult a qualified plumber or irrigation specialist.

5. Trim Tree Branches Overhanging Your Roof

Take a walk around your property and look up.

Do you have large branches hanging over your roof?

Have Branches Cut Back

Fall is a great time to have a local arborist inspect and, if necessary, trim branches that could pose a risk to your home.

Freezing rain and heavy, wet snow can add tremendous weight to tree branches. A branch that looks perfectly safe during the summer can become a potential hazard during a winter storm.

Falling branches can damage:

• Roof shingles

• Roof decking

• Gutters

• Eaves and fascia

• Siding

• Skylights

• Vehicles

• Decks and other structures

  
  

Hiring a qualified arborist to address potentially dangerous branches before winter can help reduce the risk of storm-related damage.

Don't wait for winter to arrive.

Get your home cleaned, maintained and ready for the season ahead.

Bayside Clean — The Wash Experts

Serving Georgian Bay, Grey Bruce and surrounding communities.