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As the seasons change, there are home maintenance tasks you can do to protect your home. Discover what to do in the spring to protect against summer storms, and fall tasks to help you prepare for winter. We've put together a seasonal home maintenance checklist below as well as a downloadable version.
Our checklist will help you schedule your yearly home maintenance to take care of your property and tips to help you do so safely.
You'll also find information on the space our crews need to work safely on equipment in your community throughout the seasons. Awareness can help protect your home and keep your family and our team safe.
Below are things you can do in and around your home to help protect your property throughout the year. Our annual home maintenance checklist covers all four seasons including tasks to winterize your home and what you should know before planting this summer.
Pumps with discharge valves require the exterior valve to be in the open position and the valve connected to the sewer system in the closed. For exterior discharge hoses, inspect and reconnect it, and ensure water drains at least 2.0 metres away from the foundation. If your sump pump only discharges to the surface, inspect and reconnect your discharge hose and remove splash pad to drain water away from the foundation. Ensure water drains at least 2.0 metres from the foundation. Learn more about sump pumps.
Transformers are those green or grey boxes on some front yards next to the sidewalk. If you have one on your property, you must make sure it's not blocked. To work safely, our crews need room and solid footing. The area needs to be clear of trees, shrubs, decorative rock, or other landscaping features. Learn more about transformers.
Check and clean your sanitary backwater valve if your home is equipped with one. If your home does not have one, you may be eligible for a subsidy to install one by booking a free flood prevention inspection. Book an inspection or learn more about backwater valves.
If you see any downed trees on power lines in your community, report it to EPCOR immediately, and if you're worried about a tree growing too close to a power line, you can request a tree trimming.
If water can't run through your gutters and downspouts, it can spill over, causing pooling next to your foundation. This may lead to basement flooding. Water should be able to drain at least 2 meters from your home. Learn more about eavestroughs maintenance.
Do not park in front of a fire hydrant and ensure there aren't trees, plants, fences, or other landscaping features too close to it. Learn how EPCOR can help you with hydrant maintenance programs.
Clear out leaves, dirt and debris from your window wells that may prevent your window wells from properly draining. Learn more about window well maintenance.
Do not dig near power poles, transformers, and switching cubicles. There are grids installed underground up to 1 metre from transformers and cubicles - digging near them is not safe. If you are planting anything in your yard, contact Utility Safety Partners before you dig. They will mark your utility lines so you know what areas to avoid when digging. Striking a power line can damage the power line and possibly cause injury.
Re-install the rain barrel underneath the diverter discharge pipe. Ensure that the overflow can drain 2 meters away from your home or garage. Learn more about maintaining your rain barrel.
Contact a qualified contractor to inspect the valves, underground water supply, timer(s) and to energize the underground sprinkler system for summer use.
Inspect and clear debris for proper water flow. Water should drain 2 meters away from your home.
The curb stop (CC) valve, found on your driveway or front yard, must be clear and accessible so we can access it during an emergency or to turn water off per your request. Learn more about the CC valve.
Safely trim trees and shrubs to keep them away from power lines. If trimming your tree or shrub requires you to work within 7 metres of an overhead power line running power pole-to-power pole, call us at (780) 412-4500 and request a Safety Codes consultation.
Check for any water leaks on your property as part of your regular maintenance and ensure that your water shut off is functional.
When cleaning gutters, trimming trees, or taking down Christmas lights, look for overhead lines first. Never work too close to power lines.
Help keep water moving and clear debris, ice, and snow from the catch basin near your house. Report damaged catch basins to EPCOR. Learn more about catch basins
Check for any water leaks on your property as part of your regular maintenance and ensure that your water shut off is functional.
Ensure that the overflow can drain 2 meters away from your home or garage and keep the screen free from debris. Learn more about maintaining your rain barrel.
Clear out leaves, dirt and debris from your window wells that may prevent your window wells from properly draining. Learn more about window well maintenance.
Turn off the internal water supply to your hose bib and remove and drain garden hoses.
Contact a qualified contractor to winterize and clear the water supply pipes to prevent damaging the underground sprinkler system.
Pumps with discharge valves require the exterior valve to be in the closed position and the valve connected to the sewer system in the open position. For exterior discharge hose, disconnect it. If your sump pump only discharges to the surface, disconnect your discharge hose and install a splash pad to drain water away from the foundation. Learn more about sump pumps.
Turn off outside taps, remove connected hoses, and check to ensure pipes are insulated. Learn more about preventing frozen pipes.
If water can't run through your gutters and downspouts, it can spill over, causing pooling next to your foundation. This may lead to basement flooding. Water should be able to drain at least 2 meters from your home. Learn more about eavestroughs maintenance.
Drain your rain barrel and store it upside down so it does not collect snow over the winter months. Ideally, you should keep your barrel in a shed or garage as barrels left outside in the winter may crack. Learn more about maintaining your rain barrel.
Check and clean your backwater valve. Learn how to maintain your backwater valve.
Help keep water moving and clear debris, ice, and snow from the catch basin near your house. Report damaged catch basins to EPCOR. Learn more about catch basins
When cleaning gutters, trimming trees, or putting up Christmas lights, look for overhead lines first. Never work too close to power lines.
Inspect and clear debris for proper water flow. If foundation seepage is present, remove 1.5 metres of snow and ice around the perimeter of the foundation.
Do not cover fire hydrants when clearing/shovelling snow, park in front of them, and ensure there aren't trees, plants, fences, or other landscaping features too close to it. Learn how EPCOR can help you with hydrant maintenance programs.
Keep your driveway and walkways cleared of ice and snow and make a path through the snowy yard. Don't block the meter with a fence, deck, shed, or other landscaping. Learn more about meter reading safety.
Safely trim trees and shrubs to keep them away from power lines. If trimming your tree or shrub requires you to work within 7 metres of an overhead power line running power pole-to-power pole, call us at (780) 412-4500 and request a Safety Codes consultation.
