TARION: Important Home Maintenance Tips for Fall

By Tarion

As the weather begins to cool and the leaves start to fall, raking your lawn isn’t the only home maintenance task that needs attention. In order to keep your home in good shape for the long run, and to maintain your new home warranty rights, maintenance should be performed year-round. In the autumn months, think about preparing your home for winter. Just as we take out warmer clothes and put away our bathing suits and sandals, our home also needs to get ready for the change in weather.

If you own a newly constructed home, upkeep is an essential part of maintaining your warranty. All new homes in Ontario come with a warranty that lasts seven years from the date of the first possession, guaranteed by Tarion Warranty Corporation. The warranty protects homeowners from issues like water penetration through the basement or foundation walls; defects in the electrical, plumbing and heating systems, and major structural damage, among other problems. In order to ensure your home stays covered, your regular seasonal maintenance should include:

• Turning off your outside water supply from the inside, while leaving outside taps open;

• Having your furnace serviced in preparation for winter;

• Cleaning and testing all exhaust fans;

• Checking your sump-pump float and discharge line and testing overall operation;

• Installing a protective winter cover on your air conditioning unit;

• Checking windows and doors for cracks around the framing; fixing the caulking if you notice any cracks or separations;

• Inspecting your fireplace and chimney dampers and  servicing or cleaning if necessary;

• Testing smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors;

• Having your roof inspected to ensure shingles, flashing and chimney caps are in place and sealed properly.

Maintaining a home properly includes taking care of it year-round and it’s worth remembering that ongoing maintenance helps to ensure that your statutory warranty is protected. A more comprehensive checklist of seasonal home maintenance tasks is available online at tarion.com.