The Complete Home Maintenance Checklist for Ontario Homeowners

Ontario is hard on houses. Winters drop to -25°C, summers get humid, springs are wet and falls are dry. Every season opens up its own weak spots, and catching a problem early is always cheaper than fixing it once it's grown.

This home maintenance checklist breaks the year into seasons and lists the jobs that matter most in Ontario's climate.

Spring (March to May)

Once winter lets go, start with the outside of the house.

• Look over the roof for shingles that went missing, cracked or lifted over the winter
• Clean out the eavestroughs and downspouts, then run some water through to make sure they drain
• Check the foundation for new cracks left by the freeze-thaw cycles
• Test the sump pump before the spring thaw by pouring water into the pit
• Check exterior caulking around windows, doors and anywhere a pipe, vent or wire goes through the wall
• Walk the deck and look for heaved boards, split wood and rusty fasteners
• Get the air conditioning serviced before the first hot spell
• Clean the dryer vent. A full year of lint buildup is a fire hazard.

Summer (June to August)

Summer is for exterior work and getting ahead of problems.

• Touch up outside caulking and paint wherever moisture could get behind it
• Check fence posts at ground level for heaving or rot
• Look at the deck stain or sealer. In Ontario's climate it needs redoing every 2 to 3 years.
• Cut trees and shrubs back from the house and the power lines
• Repair or replace any torn window and door screens
• Clean the AC condenser coils and check refrigerant performance
• Pull out the range hood filter and give it a good cleaning

Fall (September to November)

Fall is the most important maintenance window of the year. Everything you do now gets the house ready for a long winter.

• Shut off the outside hose bibs and blow them out before the first frost
• Clear leaves out of the eavestroughs before they freeze, because blocked gutters cause ice dams
• Check attic insulation and ventilation, since ice dams also start from the inside
• Seal gaps around pipes, utility penetrations and foundation cracks
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and put in fresh batteries
• Book an HVAC inspection, have the furnace serviced and change the filter
• Caulk any gaps in window and door frames before heating season
• Disconnect garden hoses and put them away

Winter (December to February)

In winter you're doing less outside and keeping a closer eye on things indoors.

• After a heavy snowfall, watch the roof edges for ice dams
• Keep roof drainage paths clear of ice where you can
• During thaws, check basement walls and floors for moisture
• Change the furnace filter every 3 months, or more often if you have pets
• Test the GFCI outlets in bathrooms, the kitchen and the garage once a month
• In extreme cold, leave the cabinet doors open under any sink on an exterior wall

Year-Round Tasks

Regular maintenance is the single best investment you can make in your property. If your walk-through turns up something that needs a professional, call (289) 928-5689 for a free estimate.

• Test smoke and CO detectors every month
• Once a quarter, look under sinks and around appliances for drips
• Flush the water heater once a year to clear out sediment
• Run water in fixtures you don't use much so the traps don't dry out