Fall Maintenance Checklist for London, Ontario Homes

To get a London, Ontario home ready for winter, clean the eavestroughs once the leaves drop, shut off and drain outdoor taps before the first hard freeze, book a furnace service, test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every storey, seal drafts around windows and doors, and set leaves out for the City's green week pickup.

Most of it fits into two or three weekends between mid October and late November. Below is the full checklist in the order I'd tackle it, with the London-specific details that generic lists leave out.

Why Does Fall Maintenance Matter More in London, Ontario?

London earned its nickname honestly. In neighbourhoods like Oakridge, Byron and Westmount, the oaks and maples planted in the 1950s and 60s now tower over the rooflines. They are a big part of why people love living here, and they drop a remarkable volume of leaves into eavestroughs every October and November.

The timing is also tighter than most people expect. London's average first frost arrives in early to mid October, and overnight lows hover near 0°C through November. The window between "too many leaves still up" and "too cold to be on a ladder" is only a few weeks.

Month	Average overnight low	Nights at or below 0°C	Average snowfall
September	9.9°C	0	0 cm
October	4.3°C	5	3 cm
November	-0.4°C	17	17 cm
December	-6.1°C	27	48 cm

Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada, 1991-2020 climate normals for London International Airport, where the average first fall frost is October 13. Nights and snowfall are rounded monthly averages.

My family has lived in Oakridge since 1959, so fall cleanup has been a family ritual for three generations. My 11 years in environmental conservation also taught me how much water and trees shape a property. Most of the costly winter problems I see in mid-century homes start with water going somewhere it shouldn't.

What Should Be on Your Fall Home Maintenance Checklist?

1. Clear the eavestroughs and downspouts

Wait until most of the leaves are down, then clean the troughs and flush each downspout with a hose. Under mature trees, plan on doing this twice: once in late October and again after the last big drop. Make sure downspout extensions carry water at least a metre or two away from the foundation, and that the soil slopes away from the house. A clogged trough in November becomes an ice dam in January.

2. Walk the roof line and exterior

From the ground, look for lifted or missing shingles, loose flashing around the chimney, and gaps in the caulking around windows and doors. Check that the chimney cap is in place. Small gaps are cheap to seal now and expensive to repair after a winter of freeze and thaw.

3. Handle leaves the London way

The City of London collects yard waste during your "green weeks" from late March through early December. A few rules worth knowing:

• Use paper yard waste bags, certified compostable bags, or reusable containers between 30 and 125 litres. Plastic bags are not accepted.
• Keep each bag or bundle under 20 kilograms.
• Set it out by 7 a.m. on the Monday of your green week, and no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before.
• Missed your week? Any City EnviroDepot takes yard waste free of charge.

You can also mow lighter leaf cover straight into the lawn, where it breaks down and feeds the soil. And once Halloween is over, your jack-o'-lantern goes out with the next green week, candle removed.

4. Shut off and drain outdoor water

This is the step that causes the most expensive surprises. Close the indoor shutoff valve for each outside tap, then open the tap outside so the line drains. Disconnect every hose, even on frost-free taps, since a connected hose traps water in the line. If you have an irrigation system, book the blowout. Aim to finish by early November.

5. Service your heating system

Book an annual furnace service with a licensed technician before the first cold snap, when schedules fill up. Swap the furnace filter, and keep spares on hand for the winter. Clear leaves away from exterior vents, and have a wood-burning fireplace or chimney swept before its first fire.

6. Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

Ontario's Fire Code changed on January 1, 2026. Homes with a fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage now need carbon monoxide alarms on every storey, in addition to next to sleeping areas (HCRA). That covers most houses in London. Test every alarm, replace batteries, and check the manufacture date. CO alarms generally need replacing every seven to ten years.

7. Seal drafts and check the inside

Replace worn weatherstripping and door sweeps, and re-caulk drafty window frames. Take a flashlight into the attic to check insulation and make sure vents are not blocked. Test the sump pump by pouring a bucket of water into the pit, and look for damp spots in the basement before winter hides them.

8. Put the yard to bed

Give the lawn a final short mow, store patio furniture and hoses, and run the mower's fuel down. Trim branches that hang over the roof. If an overhanging branch belongs to a City boulevard tree, contact Service London instead of cutting it yourself. Then get the shovel and ice melt where you can reach them on the first snowy morning.

Quick checklist

• ☐ Eavestroughs cleaned and downspouts flowing away from the house
• ☐ Roof, flashing and caulking checked
• ☐ Leaves bagged for green week or taken to an EnviroDepot
• ☐ Outdoor taps shut off, drained and hoses disconnected
• ☐ Furnace serviced and filter changed
• ☐ Smoke and CO alarms tested on every storey
• ☐ Drafts sealed, attic and sump pump checked
• ☐ Yard put away and snow gear ready

How Do You Fit It All in Before Winter?

None of these jobs is difficult on its own. The value comes from doing them every year, in roughly this order, before the weather makes the decision for you. Print the quick checklist above, stick it on the fridge, and tick things off as you go.

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