Maintaining your home in the fall

The last days of summer and the beginning of the fall are the perfect time to inspect your home and make sure it will withstand the cold winter fast approaching. While the inspection requires very little from homeowners in terms of time and money, it can avoid major expenses. Inspecting the inside and the outside of the building helps prevent costly breakdowns around the house. These breakdowns are usually caused by cold temperatures, strong winds, snow and ice. Moreover, by paying special attention to the insulation and the heating system, homeowners can also eliminate heat losses and cut their energy bills.
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Roof, chimney and gutters
Filling cracks
Exterior accessories
Closing the pool
Heating
Ventilation and isolation

Roof, chimney and gutters

  • Check the roof and replace damaged shingles. Make sure all shingles are solidly attached to the roof and nail or glue them if necessary. Always be careful when climbing on the roof of your house. If the slope is steep enough, stay on the ground and inspect the roof using a good pair of binoculars.
  • It is very important to clean the chimney thoroughly, because soot that accumulates inside it can cause a fire. Also, make sure birds didn’t build their nest in your chimney during the summer. The chimney needs to be swept at least 1 to 3 times a year, depending on how frequently the fireplace is used. A chimney sweep can check and do the job, but with good advice and proper techniques, you can do it yourself.
    • Wear old clothes, gloves and protective glasses.
    • Open the damper.
    • Seal the opening with a plastic sheet to contain the soot.
    • Push the brush down the chimney.
    • Add rods as you go further down the chimney.
    • Use a wet-dry vacuum to pick up the soot.
    • Keep animals from entering your chimney by installing a chimney cap.

  • Ensure gutters are in good condition and solidly nailed to the building. Run water in the gutters using a garden hose and look for leaks, while making sure the downspouts drain properly. Remove debris and leaves accumulated in the gutters. Otherwise, water left in the pipes will freeze when winter comes and the expansion of the ice could crack the gutters.

Filling cracks

  • Examine the exterior walls and the foundation of your house. If you notice cracks in the concrete, caulk them to prevent damages that could arise when water freezes. Walk around your house and make sure the exterior siding is in good condition and solidly attached to the building.
  • Seal the driveway with a specially designed product. If there are cracks in the asphalt, repair them immediately or they will otherwise expand when the ground freezes.
  • Look for cracks inside your home on the walls and in the concrete slab in the basement; seal if needed. While you are in the basement, why not take the time to tidy it up and discard useless objects?
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