Fall Home Maintenance Made Easy: November
It’s November: month 2 in Fall and the second part of our monthly maintenance series. As a reminder, our staff have put together a list of home maintenance jobs for this month, with some helpful tips and a time and cost estimate.
November is getting chilly and you should be pretty much ready for Winter by now. You’ll start to see those outside jobs start to tail off as we start spending more time inside, but a rainy November is the perfect time to catch up on those inside jobs.
November
External Jobs
Leaf Blowing
Description: Leaves everywhere! Now those Autumnal colours are in full flow, so are the falling leaves. They cover paths, cars, lawns, the roof and just about everything else. You can get a Pro to keep those paths clear and blow those pesky leaves away.
Top Tip: Consider blowing the leaves early in the season to a corner of your garden or only from concrete paths and driveways. Fallen leaves are a great Winter habitat for insects, including important pollinators. As they mulch down, they’ll do wonders for your soil. Leave until the average temperatures are regularly above 10c/50f.
Pro to Hire: Landscaper
Time & Cost: 1-2 hours | $72
Winter Tire Swap
Description: Switch over to your winter tires and clean, cover and store summer tires in a dry place. Depending on whether you have your Winter tires already mounted on rims or not, this can by a handyman job or you’ll need a garage and technician. Assuming you already have them mounted, a handyman with a torque wrench/gun can get these swapped over in around an hour. For cleaning, drying and storing the Summer tires, add another hour.
Top Tip: Schedule early to beat the rush and ensure tire availability.
Pro to Hire: Handyman or Mechanic
Time & Cost: 2 hours | $104 for Handyman / ~$160+ for Mechanic
Sanitize Trash and Recycling Receptacles
Description: Keep your bins clean and hygienic to avoid odors and pests during colder months.
Top Tip: Use a disinfectant solution to thoroughly sanitize, especially in high-contact areas. Consider sticking an air freshener inside the bin lid to help mask any unpleasant odors.
Pro to Hire: Cleaner
Time & Cost: 1 hour | $62 (2 hour min.)
Check and Touch-Up Exterior Paintwork
Description: November is your last chance to inspect and touch up any peeling paint on sidings, soffits or eaves.
Top Tip: Sand down the area to remove any loose chips or flakes of paint before touching up. Label paint cans with the colour code and uses for easy access next year.
Pro to Hire: Painter
Time & Cost: 1 hour | $71 (2 hour min.)
Internal Jobs
Flush Drains
Description: Use a combination of boiling water, baking soda, and vinegar to keep drains clear.
Top Tip: This eco-friendly method helps prevent clogs and bad odors & is also a great choice for homes on a septic tank system!
Pro to Hire: Cleaner
Time & Cost: 1 hour | $62 (2 hour min.)
Clean & Service the Dishwasher
Description: With rain falling outside, it’s the perfect excuse to do those jobs you’d never normally consider. Cleaning the dishwasher is one of those jobs. Clean the filter, spray arms, and door seals to ensure your dishwasher runs efficiently.
Top Tip: Use a nail pick or pin to pull debris out of the spray arms. Lay down some dry paper towel under the door to help you identify any leaks in the seal (you’ll see the wet spots clearly).
Pro to Hire: Cleaner or Appliance Technician
Time & Cost: 1-2 hours | $62 (2 hour min.) / significantly more for Technician
Clean Air Purifiers and HVAC Filters
Description: You should be checking and/or replacing furnace or HVAC filters every 3-6 months. The majority of home owners do this annually, especially for furnaces only used through the colder months. Now’s also a great time to clean air purifier filters for better air quality.
Top Tip: Doing this every season can improve energy efficiency and extend equipment life.
Pro to Hire: Maintenance Pro or HVAC Technician for a more thorough service
Time & Cost: 1 hour | $71 (2 hour min.) / significantly more for Technician