This article has been updated from a previous version.
With the pandemic distorting our collective sense of time, it’s hard to believe the summer is already over. But don’t be fooled. Fall is here, and winter is just around the corner. It may be tempting to hide under a blanket until next year, but autumn is about more than pumpkin spice and sweater weather; it’s a time to get some chores done.
Here are the top things you need to address before it gets colder.
Indoor floods are no fun. Take it from me — I found this out the hard way. Not only are they traumatic and can cause immediate damage to property and possessions, but the long-term effects on the structure of your home (such as mould and rot) can be devastating and expensive.
Also, did you know that your home insurance may not cover flood damage if the cause turns out to be something that could have been prevented through regular home maintenance? Fortunately, floods can be avoided if you know what to do:
Sometimes a flood occurs despite preventative measures to protect your home. That’s where home insurance can protect you.
But floods are not automatically covered. You have to request that coverage beforehand.
A 2018 Insurance Bureau of Canada survey found that almost 45% of Canadian homeowners believed they had flood insurance as part of their home insurance policy. Flooding is the costliest disaster in Canada year after year. There are two types of weather-related water coverage available — overland flooding and sewer backup — and they’re both optional. You would need to add the coverage for those perils to your policy.
Adding flood coverage will increase your monthly premium. If cost is a concern, you may be able to lower your premium by switching insurance companies. Try comparing home insurance rates from other insurance providers and see what you’d have to pay for flood protection. With water damage claims becoming increasingly common in all parts of Canada, you don’t want to risk making do without it.
No one likes a chilly, drafty home. Having a good seal around all the openings around your house will not only make your home toastier but can also save you a whole lot on your hydro bill. Check and update things like:
It seems like every single year my shovels get stuck in my shed, held prisoner inside by a pile of snow blocking the doors. Imagine a moment in the future where there is a sudden big storm outside and your snowblower is still buried behind a big pile of camping equipment (or worse, it won't start), or you can’t find your shovels and your car is trapped. Now is a great time to find and test your equipment. It wouldn’t hurt to also stock up on ice-melt sidewalk salt (it always sells out after the first big storm.) You should also:
Make sure your home is fire safe, allergy free, and comfortable. It may go without saying, but your furnace is going to become very important to you again soon. The first thing you should do before kicking on the heat is to clean or replace your furnace filter. Not only does this help improve the quality of your inside air; it also keeps your furnace running more efficiently. Cleaning the furnace and testing it (or hiring someone to do this) is essential to do in the fall, especially as the furnace gets older.
If your home is heated with baseboard or radiator heating, they should be cleaned and inspected for potential hazards as well.
Finally, this is also a great time to:
Also, check your home insurance policy to ensure you have the coverage you need to pay for any unexpected mishaps. In addition, there may be discounts on your home policy available to you to take advantage of to save a few dollars.
Once you do all that, you will finally be ready for that blanket and pumpkin-spiced latte. You’ve earned it!