Home Maintenance Through the Seasons
A practical, season-by-season guide to looking after a house in Lethbridge: what our chinooks, wind, hail, dry air and cold do to a home, what to check each season and each month, where your water, gas and power shut-offs are, and when to call a licensed pro. Checked against official sources, with a checklist you can print.
On this page
Why our climate is hard on houses
A house in Lethbridge has to put up with a lot. None of it is dramatic most days, but it adds up, and small problems that start in one season tend to show up as bigger ones in the next.
Chinook freeze-thaw
In Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1981–2010 normals, an average January has about 19 days when the temperature climbs above freezing, and about 28 nights when it drops below. Snow melts by day and refreezes by night, so water finds its way into cracks, eavestroughs and the edges of the roof, then expands as it freezes.
Wind
Lethbridge is one of the windiest cities in Canada, with gusts of 40 km/h or more on about 116 days a year. Wind lifts shingles, works fences and gates loose, and drives cold air through every gap around doors and windows.
Hail
Summer thunderstorms bring hail, mostly from June to August. Hail can bruise shingles, dent siding and eavestroughs and crack skylights, and the damage isn’t always obvious from the ground.
Dry air
We’re semi-arid, with well under 400 mm of precipitation a year. Indoors in winter, heated air gets very dry. Health Canada suggests keeping indoor humidity around 30% in winter, which is drier than many people expect, to help prevent mould. CMHC adds that in very cold weather, 30% or lower may be needed to keep windows from fogging up.
Cold
January nights average a low of about −12°C, and arctic air can push well below that for days. Cold snaps find the weak spots: pipes on outside walls, a furnace that’s overdue for service, or a vent buried in a drift.
What it means for you: regular, simple checks beat big repairs. Most of the jobs on this page take a few minutes and no special tools. The ones that involve ladders, roofs, gas, wiring or anything behind a wall are jobs to hire out, and we say so each time.
From Gary
Here’s how Gary looks after his own house, in his words.
“Always been very handy… As I’ve gotten older, there’s a bunch of things I could probably still do, I just don’t want to anymore. Between my son and occasionally hiring out, I maintain most everything.”
He renovated his home a few years ago, using trades for some of it and doing a lot of the work himself.
The same idea works at any age: know your house, do the easy checks yourself, and get help or hire out the jobs you’d rather not do, especially anything on a ladder or roof.
The whole section
Heating and air
Furnace filters and servicing, outside vents, the HRV, humidifiers, window condensation and indoor humidity, air-conditioner start-up and fall shut-down, chimneys and fireplaces, and testing for radon.
Water and plumbing
Your main shut-off, the water heater and scald safety, the sump pump, backwater valves, finding hidden leaks with the water meter, running toilets, slow drains without harsh chemicals, and when to call a plumber.
Roof and outside
Checking the roof from the ground, what to do after a hailstorm, eavestroughs and downspouts, grading and spring melt, caulking, attics and ice dams, decks, fences, the garage door and ladders.
Safety systems
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, GFCI and AFCI protection, the electrical panel, dryer vents, the range hood, fire extinguishers and your emergency shut-offs.
Related pages: Winterizing your home (the detailed November to March list), Power outages, Home emergency kit, and in the yard, the spring and fall yard checklists and hoses and outdoor taps. Everything for the house and garden is under Home and Yard.
Spring checklist (March to May)
Most of these come from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) home maintenance schedule. Spring is about the thaw: making sure meltwater goes away from the house, and finding what winter broke.
Indoors
- Sump pump: make sure it works before the thaw, and that its discharge drains away from the foundation.
- Foundation walls: look for cracks, leaks or damp patches in the basement.
- Water heater: test the temperature and pressure relief valve as the owner’s manual describes. CMHC warns this can release scalding water. See the water heater.
- Furnace humidifier: shut it down, drain and clean it. If you have central air, close its damper.
- Fireplace, wood stove and chimney: have them cleaned and serviced as needed.
- Air conditioner: switch its power back on, and clean or replace its filter. CMHC suggests having it serviced every two or three years.
- Smoke and CO alarms: test them when the clocks change.
Outdoors
- Eavestroughs and downspouts: check for loose joints and blockages, and make sure water drains away from the foundation.
- Steps and decks: re-level any that shifted over the winter.
- Outdoor taps: turn the inside valve back on only once the danger of frost has passed. Our hoses and outdoor taps page has the details.
- Roof: look from the ground for shingles lifted or lost to winter winds. See checking the roof.
Summer checklist (June to August)
Summer is the season for outside repairs while the weather is dry, and for keeping the basement from getting damp.
Indoors
- Basement humidity: CMHC suggests keeping it below 60%, using a dehumidifier if needed.
- Cold water pipes: check basement pipes for condensation or drips.
- Floor drain: check that the trap still holds water. Run water in fixtures you rarely use, like a laundry tub or spare shower, to keep their traps full.
- Dryer duct: disconnect it and vacuum out the lint, then clean around the dryer and the outside vent hood. See dryer vents.
- Railings: check guardrails and handrails, inside and out.
Outdoors
- Roof: check from the ground for sagging, shingle condition and cracked flashing, and look at the chimney cap. After every hailstorm, see after a hailstorm.
- Caulking and weatherstripping: replace damaged caulking and weatherstripping around windows, doors, pipes and wires that go through the walls.
- Garage door: lubricate its hardware and the opener, and make sure the auto-reverse works.
Fall checklist (September to November)
Fall is the busiest season, because everything has to be ready before freeze-up. Our Winterizing your home page covers these jobs in more detail.
Indoors
- Furnace: have it serviced (gas or propane at least every two years, oil every year, or as the manufacturer says), test that it runs, and start checking the filter monthly, cleaning or replacing it as needed.
- Chimney: check for obstructions, such as nests, before you light the furnace or fireplace.
- HRV: if it was off for the summer, clean the filters and core and test the condensate drain. See HRV care.
- Alarms: test smoke and CO alarms and change the batteries.
- Sump pump: test it and its discharge line.
- Radon: fall is a good time to start a three-month radon test. See radon.
Outdoors
- Eavestroughs: clean out leaves and test the downspouts (hire out the ladder work if in doubt).
- Grading: make sure the ground still slopes away from the foundation.
- Hoses and taps: drain and store hoses, close the inside valve and drain the outdoor tap unless it’s frost-proof. See freeze protection.
- Air conditioner: shut off its power and cover the outdoor unit.
- Windows and doors: make sure windows close tightly, repair weatherstripping, and check that the door from the garage into the house closes by itself.
Winter checklist (December to February)
Winter is mostly about watching: keeping vents clear, catching moisture problems early and making notes for spring.
Indoors
- Furnace filter: check it every month; HRV filters every two months.
- Window condensation: watch for moisture on windows. A lot of it means the air is too humid. See humidity and condensation.
- Humidifiers: CMHC suggests cleaning them two or three times over the season.
- Water heater: CMHC suggests draining a dishpan of water from the clean-out valve, following the owner’s manual.
- Shut-off valves: turn plumbing shut-off valves off and on again so they don’t seize.
- Cords and lights: check electrical cords, plugs and seasonal lights, and replace any that are worn or feel warm.
- Fire safety: check fire extinguisher gauges, escape routes, and door and window locks.
Outdoors
- Vents and the gas meter: keep snow clear of the gas meter, furnace and water heater vents, the dryer vent and basement windows after every snowfall or blizzard. Use a broom near the meter and vent pipes, not a metal shovel.
- Roof edge: check for ice dams and large icicles, from the ground.
- Drafts: on cold, windy days, note windows and doors that leak cold air or ice up, for spring repairs.
Check the forecast for the overnight low and the wind gusts. A ground blizzard can bury a side-wall furnace vent in an hour, and a chinook followed by a hard freeze is when eavestroughs and walks ice up. When the forecast shows a cold snap or a blizzard, check the outside vents before bed.
Every month
A handful of jobs are worth doing on the same day each month. The first of the month is easy to remember.
| Job | How often | Who says so |
|---|---|---|
| Press the test button on every smoke alarm | Monthly | Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services |
| Test CO alarms | Regularly; the City suggests monthly | City of Lethbridge |
| Check and clean or replace the furnace filter | Monthly in the heating season | CMHC |
| Check and clean the range hood filter | Monthly | CMHC |
| Test GFCI outlets with the test button (the reset button should pop out) | Monthly | CMHC |
| Check the fire extinguisher for damage and a full charge | Monthly | Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services |
What it means for you: if reaching a ceiling alarm means standing on a chair, that’s a fall waiting to happen. Ask family or a neighbour, or use the free smoke alarm check that Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services offers on request (see alarms).
Emergency shut-offs: water, gas and power
When something goes wrong, the first few minutes matter. Find these three before you need them, and show everyone in the house, including teenagers and anyone who house-sits for you.
| Where to find it | When to use it | |
|---|---|---|
| Water | The City of Lethbridge says your water meter sits just above the main water shut-off valve in your home. The City of Calgary describes it as usually in the basement near the floor, on the pipe where the water line enters the house. | A burst or leaking pipe, a pipe you think has frozen, or a fixture you can’t stop. Turn the valve off fully, then call a plumber. CMHC suggests turning shut-off valves off and on each winter so they don’t seize. More on the water and plumbing page. |
| Gas | The gas meter, outside the house. CMHC says to keep snow clear of it all winter. | If you smell gas, don’t stop to shut anything off. Follow ATCO’s steps in the box below. |
| Power | The electrical panel. It holds the main breaker, which turns off power to the whole house, and a breaker for each circuit. | When an electrician or the fire department tells you to, or to make an area safe before work. The Government of Alberta says don’t shut off electricity if any water is present, and don’t touch the panel or use appliances after a flood until a qualified electrician has inspected them. Never step into water to reach the panel; ask the electric utility to disconnect the power instead. For an outage, see the first ten minutes. |
If you smell gas (ATCO adds a smell to natural gas that it describes as similar to rotten eggs), ATCO says:
- Leave the area immediately. Take everyone with you.
- Don’t create a spark. Don’t use matches or lighters, light switches, electrical switches, appliances or any phone, including a cell phone, inside.
- Call from outside, from a neighbour’s house: ATCO’s 24-hour emergency line (listed on ATCO’s website), 911 or the fire department.
- Outdoors, keep people away, don’t light any flame and don’t start vehicles near the leak.
Don’t go back inside until ATCO or the fire department says it’s safe.
What it means for you: tie a bright tag on the main water valve and write “MAIN WATER” on it. Label the main breaker and every breaker in the panel (see the electrical panel). Add a note about where the shut-offs are to your family emergency plan.
When to hire a licensed pro
Some jobs are about safety, some are about the law, and some are both. The City of Lethbridge issues the permits for most of this work.
- Gas: new furnaces, boilers, water heaters, fireplaces and gas lines need a gas permit, and the City says only licensed gasfitters can get one. A homeowner can’t install or change gas lines.
- Electrical: new wiring, added or moved outlets, lights or switches, and panel or service upgrades need an electrical permit, usually taken out by a licensed electrical contractor. The City allows some homeowner permits if you own and live in the home and can do the work safely, but the main house service must be done by a licensed electrical contractor or a homeowner who holds an electrical journeyperson certificate.
- Plumbing: installing, extending or changing a plumbing system, adding fixtures or replacing sewer connections needs a plumbing permit. Routine maintenance and like-for-like fixture swaps, such as a new faucet, don’t.
- Building: covered decks, uncovered decks more than about 0.6 m (2 ft) off the ground, and repairs after fire or flood need a building permit. The City says painting, same-size window replacement and re-roofing don’t.
- Heights: roofs, tall ladders and second-storey eavestroughs. These aren’t permit jobs, but they’re the ones most likely to hurt you. Hire them out, especially if you’re older, live alone or have any trouble with balance.
Rules change, so check with the City before you start.
Printable year-round checklist
Every month
- ☐ Smoke and CO alarms tested
- ☐ Furnace filter checked (heating season)
- ☐ Range hood filter cleaned
- ☐ GFCI outlets tested
- ☐ Fire extinguisher checked
Spring
- ☐ Sump pump working; discharge going away from the house
- ☐ Foundation checked for cracks and damp
- ☐ Water heater relief valve tested (per manual)
- ☐ Furnace humidifier drained and cleaned
- ☐ Air conditioner power on; filter cleaned
- ☐ Eavestroughs, downspouts and roof checked (from the ground)
- ☐ Steps and decks levelled; outdoor taps back on after the last frost
Summer
- ☐ Basement humidity below 60%
- ☐ Dryer duct and outside vent cleaned of lint
- ☐ Caulking and weatherstripping repaired
- ☐ Garage door lubricated; auto-reverse tested
- ☐ Roof checked from the ground after every hailstorm
Fall
- ☐ Furnace serviced; chimney checked
- ☐ HRV filters and core cleaned
- ☐ Alarm batteries changed
- ☐ Radon test started
- ☐ Eavestroughs cleaned; grading slopes away
- ☐ Hoses drained; outdoor taps shut off and drained
- ☐ Air conditioner power off; outdoor unit covered
Winter
- ☐ Vents and gas meter cleared after every snowfall
- ☐ Window condensation watched; humidifiers cleaned
- ☐ Shut-off valves turned off and on
- ☐ Roof edge checked for ice dams (from the ground)
Know where they are
- ☐ Main water shut-off (tagged)
- ☐ Gas meter (kept clear)
- ☐ Electrical panel (breakers labelled)
Sources
- Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, About Your House: Home Maintenance Schedule (seasonal and monthly jobs): assets.cmhc-schl.gc.ca
- Health Canada, Cool-mist humidifiers (about 30% humidity in winter): canada.ca
- Natural Resources Canada, ENERGY STAR new homes, Maintenance (furnace servicing intervals): natural-resources.canada.ca
- ATCO, Natural Gas 101 (the rotten-egg odour; what to do if you smell gas): gas.atco.com
- Government of Alberta, Floods (don’t shut off electricity if water is present; have an electrician inspect): alberta.ca
- City of Lethbridge, Water, wastewater and stormwater (meter above the main shut-off): lethbridge.ca
- City of Calgary, Service valves (where the main shut-off usually is): calgary.ca
- City of Lethbridge, Gas permits: lethbridge.ca
- City of Lethbridge, Electrical permits: lethbridge.ca
- City of Lethbridge, Plumbing permits: lethbridge.ca
- City of Lethbridge, Building permits brochure (decks; work that doesn’t need a permit): lethbridge.ca
- City of Lethbridge, Safety education and fire prevention (alarms; free smoke alarm checks): lethbridge.ca
- City of Lethbridge, Check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms as clocks spring forward (test monthly): lethbridge.ca
- Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services, ABC fire extinguisher brochure (check monthly): mississauga.ca
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010, Lethbridge A (January days above and below freezing): climate.weather.gc.ca
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020, Lethbridge (January average low; precipitation; about 116 days a year with gusts of 40 km/h or more).
- Each page in this section lists its own detailed sources.
This section is general information for homeowners and renters in Lethbridge. It isn’t a substitute for a licensed contractor, your appliance manuals or the City’s permit staff. Renters should check with their landlord before doing any maintenance beyond the simple checks.