Winter home maintenance checklist: what to check in fall

A few checks in the fall prevent bad surprises in January: a heating breakdown during a cold snap, a frozen pipe, a ceiling leak. Here is a simple checklist, in the order most people do it, with the municipal rules worth knowing in Greater Montréal and the point where a licensed company is the better call.

1. Heating

Have your system (furnace, heat pump, boiler, baseboards) inspected and serviced before the cold sets in, and change the filter. A heat pump also needs an eye on the outdoor unit, which must stay clear of snow: see heat pumps in winter. For a repair or a replacement, the contractor must hold a licence that covers the work: check it before booking.

2. Chimney sweeping and wood stoves

If you heat with wood, have the chimney swept at least once a year, and more often if you use it a lot: creosote build-up causes chimney fires. Our guide on wood stoves and chimney sweeping has the details.

3. Outdoor faucets

Shut off the water to outdoor faucets from inside, drain them and disconnect the hoses. A forgotten faucet is a common cause of frozen pipes, often found only in spring: see our guide on frozen pipes.

4. Gutters and roof

Clear the gutters once the leaves are down, check that the downspouts carry water away from the foundation, and look at the shingles from the ground, with binoculars if needed. Stay off the roof: if in doubt, call a roofer. The details are in gutter maintenance, and winter risks in roof snow and ice dams.

5. Doors and windows

Check the weatherstripping and caulking. A cold draft, condensation between two panes or frost on the inside can mean a door or window needs repair or replacement. Also clear the air exchanger and dryer vents, which will soon be under snow.

6. Alarms

Test the smoke alarms (in French) and, if you have a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage, the carbon monoxide alarm (in French). Change the batteries, and replace units that are too old.

7. Carports and wood heating: winter rules in Montréal and Laval

• Temporary carport in Montréal: no permit is needed, but rules apply. The most common period runs from October 15 to April 15, and the frame must be fully taken down outside that period; dates vary by borough, though, and a few boroughs ban these shelters (installing a temporary car shelter, in French, updated September 29, 2026).
• Winter car shelter in Laval: the frame and cover are allowed from October 15 to April 30 of the following year, with no permit. The shelter must be on the same lot as a residential building, on a driveway or parking space, not on the lawn (winter shelters for vehicles, in French).
• Wood stove or fireplace in Montréal: a solid-fuel appliance may be used only if it emits less than 2.5 grams of particles per hour, a rate certified by the U.S. EPA or meeting CSA/B415.1-10. During smog, no solid-fuel appliance may be used, even a certified one; during a power outage of more than 3 hours, use is allowed (solid-fuel stoves and fireplaces, in French).

Think about snow clearing too: if you sign a contract this fall, read snow removal contracts before paying anything.

8. If you go away

For a winter absence, keep the house heated, shut off the main water valve if you leave for a long time and ask someone to drop by regularly. Your insurer may have specific requirements for long absences: read your policy.

For heating maintenance, browse heating and cooling in Montréal or in Repentigny; for the roof, roofers in Montréal. You can also ask for quotes for heating maintenance.