We’ve all heard of spring cleaning.  But what about getting your home ready for the cold months? These chores may not be as exciting as making your space beautiful for the long days of summer, but they’re very important when preparing for wind, rain, and snow that's surely on the way. 

We live in a moderate climate, which means we don’t usually see temperatures dip into the negatives.  But, that doesn’t mean it never happens. If last winter taught us anything it’s that Vancouverites are (to put it bluntly) pretty pathetic Canadians when it comes to the cold (cue all the transit busses piled up along Broadway).  Most buildings in our city aren’t equipped to deal with below zero temperatures, as we saw during last year’s cold spell. Don’t let your home fall victim to bursting pipes! Insulate your pipes and shut off your water when leaving for a trip. Same goes for your outdoor appliances.  Ensure your hoses are turned off and free from water and bugs. 

Another suggestion is to free your lawn of leaves. This isn’t just for aesthetics as leaves can cause a lot of harm such as clogging pipes and flooding streets. Rake the leaves in your yard and set them out for collection in the same way you do your organics . 

And speaking of gutters, it’s a great idea to check your gutters and drainage. With the arrival of fall in Vancouver comes lots of rain, so make sure you’re prepared! This mundane task could save you a lot of money in the long run.

And with that, I wish you all a happy fall tune-up!