Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
Use this fall home maintenance checklist for Canadians to organize outdoor cleanup, heating checks and winter preparation before cold weather arrives. Work through a few jobs at a time, adapt the list to your climate and home, and get the free printable through CBB Free Tools: Home & household.
You won’t do the chores in one day, so the Fall Home Maintenance Checklist is handy for me.
With the cooler weather, being outside doesn’t bother me as the high humidity does, so now is a perfect time.
Let’s see what is on my Fall Outdoor Maintenance Checklist and why it’s essential for homeowners.
Fall Home Maintenance Checklist To Start Early
Free printable: Download the Fall Home Maintenance Checklist PDF. Save it to your device or print a copy, choose the jobs that apply to your home, and tick them off as you go. You can also browse CBB Free Tools: Home & household.
As we complete a task, we mark it off the checklist to know it’s done.
The last thing you want to happen is to forget something crucial that could cost you, the homeowner, lots of money you didn’t need to spend.
For example, if you have holes around your house, including the roof or garage, that is a prime target for mice, rats, raccoons, and other outdoor friends to come around.
Pests can enter walls and attics through small gaps. Repair unwanted openings using suitable materials, but preserve required ventilation and drainage. Ask a qualified professional if you are unsure how to protect an opening safely.
Over the years, we’ve had mice get in even though I’ve covered everything around the house.
Inspect vent covers for damage and correct operation. Never seal a dryer exhaust, combustion intake or exhaust, or other required vent; use the manufacturer’s approved protection and arrange repairs when needed.
They will leave a mess of mice poop behind the walls and burrow and eat their way through your insulation, as we’ve experienced.
The cost was a complete tear-down of our basement and installing new insulation.
Hiring out that basement work would have added to our costs. That was our family’s experience at the time, not a current repair quote; ask local contractors for estimates for your own home.
If you must call a rodent removal company to visit your house in the winter to get any party-goers out of your attic or basement, that will cost you some money.
Regular inspections help you spot problems, but they cannot prevent every repair. Set money aside for planned upkeep and unexpected costs; our Canadian emergency fund guide can help you think through a household cushion.
The Honey-Do List
Here’s a sneaky conversation Mrs. CBB had with me the other day!
Mrs. CBB– Honey, could you BBQ these homemade burgers for us tonight?
Mr. CBB– Of course, no problem.
Mrs. CBB– While you’re out there (this is where I cringe), why don’t you work on the Fall Home Maintenance Checklist?
Mr. CBB- You know who I will blame if I burn the burgers. Haha
Packing Up Outside For Winter
Before winter, put away outdoor furniture and inspect play equipment. For a central air conditioner, follow the manufacturer’s winter-care instructions rather than automatically wrapping it. Never cover an operating heat pump or block its airflow; it may need to run throughout winter.
I also put away the rest of the deck furniture, which wasn’t much.
Before freezing weather, disconnect, drain and store garden hoses. Winterize outdoor taps according to their design: where there is an indoor shutoff, close it and drain the exterior line as instructed. Frost-free taps still need hoses disconnected. Arrange irrigation-system winterization if needed.
Homeowners will want to do this so the outdoor water lines don’t freeze and burst.
Fall Home Maintenance Checklist For A Deck And Fence
Check the deck, fence and steps for loose boards, protruding fasteners and rot. Repair hazards first. Stain or seal only if needed and when the product’s temperature, moisture and curing requirements can be met; every surface does not need an annual coating.
Fall Gardening Prep
Garlic and spring-flowering bulbs can be part of fall garden preparation when local conditions are suitable. Plan around your region’s climate rather than a fixed calendar date.
Related: How Fall Gardening Will Save Your Money.
Planting dates vary across Canada. Use local gardening guidance for garlic and spring bulbs, and aim to finish while the ground is workable. Clear diseased plant material appropriately and keep useful leaves for mulch or compost. Our guide to making compost at home explains how autumn leaves can feed next year’s garden.
Roof Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
Inspect the roof from the ground with binoculars, looking for missing shingles, loose flashing or obvious damage. Arrange a qualified roofer for a closer inspection or repair; do not climb out of a window or walk on the roof to complete this checklist.
Have gutters and downspouts cleared safely, especially after the main leaf fall. Check that downspouts discharge away from the foundation and that drainage routes are clear. Use professional help where access or ladder work is unsafe.
Now is a great time to clean any debris and leaves from the gutters and eaves around your home.
Wash accessible windows from a safe position and inspect frames, weatherstripping and caulking. Arrange help for upper-storey windows. Do not obstruct drainage holes or ventilation openings when sealing drafts.
I do, however, check all the windows and seals for any visible leaks, as that can be a huge money waste when it comes to hydro over the winter months.
Now is the time to sort these issues while the weather is reasonable for working outside.
Indoor Fall Maintenance: Heating, Alarms and Winter Supplies
A Canadian fall checklist needs indoor jobs too. Book heating service before the busy cold-weather season, and follow the instructions for your own equipment. Natural Resources Canada’s heating and cooling maintenance guide explains what to check and when to call a contractor.
- Inspect the furnace filter; clean or replace it with the correct type and size according to the manufacturer. Record the date and next check on a furnace filter tracker.
- Keep supply and return vents clear. Clean HRV or ERV filters and accessible parts as directed by the manual.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms using their test buttons. Check expiry dates and follow battery instructions; sealed batteries are not replaceable. Continue monthly testing and follow local installation requirements.
- Arrange chimney inspection and cleaning if you use a fireplace or wood stove. Leave fuel, electrical and gas work to a qualified professional.
- Inspect accessible plumbing for leaks, and test a sump pump according to its instructions if you have one.
- Check shovels, traction supplies, outdoor lighting and snow-removal equipment before the first snowfall. Refill emergency supplies and check flashlight batteries.
For renters and condo owners, check which jobs belong to the landlord or condo corporation. Report leaks, damaged exterior surfaces and heating concerns promptly rather than altering shared equipment. For alarm testing advice, see Ontario’s home fire safety guide; check the requirements where you live.
Saving Money To Hire Help
As always, hire someone if you can’t do a job on your Fall home maintenance checklist.
There are loads of Fall clean-up companies willing to come and do the job for you.
I’ve mentioned projected expenses a million times, but don’t forget to save for them all year if you are paying for these services.
When you save in advance, it eases the stress of finding ways to pay for the service.
Fall Home Maintenance Checklist for Outdoor Cleaning
Mr. CBB, do you have a list of all the Fall jobs I need to complete outside of our home?
Recently, I received an email from a man who says they’ve just purchased their first home and weren’t sure what to do.
These printable lists come in handy, especially when busy with your career and family.
Get the free two-page Fall Home Maintenance Checklist in CBB Free Tools
If you know someone living alone or a senior who might need their Fall Home Maintenance Checklist, give them a hand.
You can print a copy of this Fall Home Maintenance checklist, bring it around, and perhaps ask them if they could use free help.
There’s nothing wrong with volunteering to help those who could use it and not speak up or know any better.
My mother-in-law, who has dementia and still lives in her home, wouldn’t know how to do most of this stuff.
We’ve sent a copy of our Fall Home Maintenance Checklist to her caregiver to see if we need help or if we can visit and do the chores for her.
Don’t Forget To Put Up Your Christmas Lights
Seasonal lights belong on the winter-preparation list too. Check cords and lights for damage, use equipment rated for outdoor use, and arrange safe help for high places.
Our Christmas lights are a transparent white, and I hang them upside down, not as visible.
We used to leave our lights up to avoid hanging them each season. Follow your lights’ instructions for installation and how long they may remain outdoors; temporary decorations are not a substitute for permanent lighting.
Call me lazy, and I’ll take it! It does not cost me any money.
P.S. Start thinking about winter tires, shovels, and your winter maintenance!!
Fall Home Maintenance Checklist FAQ
When should Canadians start fall home maintenance?
Start in late summer or early fall and work backwards from your local first frost and usual snowfall. Northern and Prairie households may need to finish outdoor water jobs earlier than households in milder coastal areas. Recheck gutters after most leaves have fallen.
Which jobs should I do first on a tight budget?
Start with alarm testing, active leaks, blocked drainage, heating concerns and outdoor plumbing that could freeze. Get quotes for work you cannot safely do yourself. Cosmetic jobs and optional garden purchases can wait.
Do I need to seal my deck and driveway every fall?
No. Inspect their condition first and follow the product and surface manufacturer’s guidance. Temperature, dry weather and curing time matter. Repair hazards promptly, but plan optional coating work for suitable conditions.
Where can I find the free printable checklist?
Download the Fall Home Maintenance Checklist PDF directly, or visit CBB Free Tools: Home & household. Save it to your device or print a copy for your home binder.
Discussion: Which fall maintenance job comes first at your home, and what would you add for your part of Canada? Share your tips in the comments below.
Please leave your comments below.