Fall checklist
What your GTA home needs this fall
Short, practical steps for the season ahead. Most take less than an hour and save you from the repairs that come with frozen pipes, ice dams and spring floods.
Before the first hard freeze
Six jobs for October and November
Pick a dry weekend. None of these needs special tools, and the last one is a quick visit from a pro.
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Clean your gutters after the leaves drop
Clogged gutters overflow against the foundation, and that water ends up in your basement. Clear them once most leaves are down, usually in early November.
Why it matters: one clogged downspout can send hundreds of litres toward your foundation in a single storm.
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Shut off and drain outdoor taps
Close the indoor shut-off valve for each outdoor tap, then open the tap outside to let the line drain. Disconnect and store the hose.
Why it matters: water left in the line can freeze, split the pipe inside the wall and leak for weeks unnoticed.
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Test your sump pump
Pour a bucket of water into the sump pit. The pump should switch on, empty the pit and shut off by itself. Check the battery backup too.
Why it matters: you want to find a dead pump now, not during the first big storm.
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Find your main water shut-off
Find the valve where the water line enters the house, usually in the basement near the front wall. Turn it to make sure it moves, and tag it so everyone at home can find it.
Why it matters: when a pipe bursts, every minute spent searching means more water on the floor.
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Check the attic before snow arrives
Look for damp insulation, daylight around vents and frost on nail tips. These are signs warm air is escaping into the attic.
Why it matters: escaping heat melts roof snow, which refreezes at the edge and forms ice dams.
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Book a furnace check and change the filter
Have the furnace serviced before the first cold snap and put in a fresh filter. Test the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms while you are at it.
Why it matters: by law, homes with a fuel-burning appliance or attached garage need working CO alarms.
December to February
Six jobs for the deep freeze
Winter damage starts quietly: a pipe on an outside wall, an ice ridge on the roof. A few minutes after each cold snap catches most of it.
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Open cabinet doors on cold nights
When the forecast drops below −15 °C, open the cabinets under sinks on outside walls so warm room air reaches the pipes. Let a thin stream run from the furthest tap.
Why it matters: most burst pipes in GTA homes are on exterior walls, behind closed cabinets.
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Watch the roof edge for ice dams
A thick ridge of ice along the eaves and long icicles mean water is backing up under the shingles. Rake the first metre of snow off the roof from the ground.
Why it matters: trapped meltwater soaks into ceilings and walls and shows up as stains weeks later.
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Keep the heat at 15 °C or higher when away
Going south for a week? Leave the thermostat no lower than 15 °C, shut the main water valve and ask someone to check the house every couple of days.
Why it matters: many insurance policies exclude freeze damage if the home was left unheated or unchecked.
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Clear snow away from the foundation
Shovel a strip about a metre wide along the walls, especially near basement windows and window wells.
Why it matters: during a thaw, banked snow melts straight into window wells and cracks in the foundation.
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Keep vents and the dryer exhaust clear
After every big snowfall, check the furnace intake, exhaust pipes and dryer vent on the outside wall. Brush away snow and ice.
Why it matters: a blocked furnace exhaust can push carbon monoxide back into the house.
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Look for condensation and frost inside
Check window corners, closets on outside walls and the attic hatch. Run bathroom fans for 20 minutes after showers and keep indoor humidity around 30–40%.
Why it matters: steady winter condensation is how mold gets started behind furniture and drywall.
March to May
Six jobs for thaw and spring rain
Spring is flood season in the GTA. Snowmelt and heavy rain arrive together, and the basement is where they meet.
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Extend your downspouts
Make sure each downspout discharges at least 2 metres from the foundation, onto ground that slopes away from the house. Snap-on extensions cost a few dollars.
Why it matters: a downspout dumping at the wall is one of the most common causes of wet basements.
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Test the sump pump again
Repeat the bucket test before the spring melt, clear debris from the pit and make sure the discharge line outside is not frozen or blocked.
Why it matters: the pump that worked in November may have failed quietly over winter.
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Walk the foundation after the melt
Look for new cracks, soil that has sunk against the wall and window wells full of leaves or ice. Fill low spots with soil so water runs away.
Why it matters: small cracks let in a little water at first, then more every year.
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Check the roof and attic for winter damage
From the ground, look for missing or lifted shingles. In the attic, look for water stains on the underside of the roof deck and damp insulation.
Why it matters: ice dam leaks often show up only once spring rain finds the same gap.
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Turn the outdoor taps back on slowly
Open the indoor valve, then the outdoor tap, and check inside the wall behind it for drips over the next day.
Why it matters: a pipe split by frost only leaks once water is back in it.
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Ask about a backwater valve
Have a plumber check whether your home has a backwater valve on the main sewer line and that it is clean. Many GTA cities offer rebates to install one.
Why it matters: during heavy storms, overloaded city sewers can push sewage back up through basement drains.
June to August
Six jobs for storm and humidity season
Summer brings sudden downpours, wind and muggy basements. Long days make it the easiest time for bigger checks.
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Run a dehumidifier in the basement
Keep basement humidity under 50%. A cheap hygrometer tells you where you are; empty or drain the dehumidifier so it does not shut off.
Why it matters: mold can start growing on damp drywall and boxes within 24–48 hours.
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Trim branches over the roof
Cut back branches that hang over the roof or touch the siding, and check large trees for dead limbs after each storm.
Why it matters: a falling limb in a summer windstorm can puncture the roof in seconds.
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Check washer and dishwasher hoses
Look for bulges, cracks and rust at the fittings. Replace rubber washer hoses with braided steel ones every five years.
Why it matters: a burst washer hose can release hundreds of litres an hour while you are out.
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Clean the AC condensate line
Find the small drain line from your air conditioner or furnace and make sure it flows freely into the floor drain or pump.
Why it matters: a clogged line overflows slowly and soaks the floor and drywall around the furnace.
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Move valuables off the basement floor
Put boxes, documents and electronics on shelves or in plastic bins at least 15 cm off the floor.
Why it matters: even a few centimetres of storm water ruins anything stored in cardboard.
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Review your home insurance for water
Check whether your policy covers sewer backup and overland flooding. These are often optional add-ons in Ontario.
Why it matters: a standard policy may not cover the most common summer basement flood.
If something already happened
Burst pipe or flooded basement? Do this first
The first hour decides how much damage spreads. Keep everyone safe, then follow these steps.
Stop the water
Close the main shut-off valve, usually in the basement where the water line enters the house. Turn off power to wet areas only if you can reach the panel from a dry spot.
Photograph everything
Take wide shots and close-ups before you move or throw anything out. Your insurer will ask for them.
Call a restoration team
Water spreads into drywall and subfloors within hours. Professional drying in the first day helps prevent mold.