The Ontario Homeowner Maintenance Calendar: What to Do Each Season

Most of the emergency repairs we attend were preventable with an hour of attention months earlier. Ontario weather is unusually hard on houses because of the freeze-thaw cycle, so timing matters.

Fall, before the first freeze

· Clear eavestroughs and confirm downspouts discharge well away from the foundation

· Shut off and drain exterior hose bibs

· Reseal exterior caulking around windows, doors and trim

· Have the furnace serviced and replace the filter

· Check attic insulation depth and that soffit vents are not blocked, which is what causes ice dams

· Reverse ceiling fans and test the sump pump

Winter

· Keep snow and ice clear of furnace and dryer exhaust vents

· Watch for icicles and ice dams along the eaves, which signal heat escaping into the attic

· Run bathroom fans longer; interior humidity condenses on cold windows

· Check the basement after thaws for signs of seepage at the floor and wall joint

Spring

· Walk the exterior for winter damage: shingles, flashing, brick and mortar, and grading that has settled toward the house

· Test the sump pump again and consider a battery backup before storm season

· Clean eavestroughs after the trees finish dropping

· Check the driveway and walkway for freeze-thaw cracking before it opens further

· Service the air conditioning before the first hot week

Summer

· Re-grade soil so it slopes away from the foundation

· Repaint or re-stain exposed wood before it starts to check

· Inspect the deck structure, ledger board and railings

· Book bigger projects now; late summer and fall are when good crews get booked out

The three problems that cause the most damage

· Water at the foundation, from grading and downspouts

· Heat loss into the attic, which causes ice dams and roof leaks

· Deferred small repairs, where a fifty dollar seal becomes a wall rebuild

When to call

If you see staining on a ceiling, efflorescence or damp at a basement wall, or mortar crumbling out of joints, get it looked at before the next freeze. We do assessments across Brampton, Mississauga, Toronto and the surrounding region and will tell you plainly if it can wait.