Fall is officially here and everyone is pulling out their cozy sweaters, seasonal décor and taking in the last of our beautiful weather before the Manitoba winter hits. With the busy fall season, it’s easy to forget about prepping our homes for winter. And while living in a StreetSide condo or townhome helps alleviate a lot of the maintenance you would have to face in a single family home, establishing and following a maintenance schedule is the best way to protect your investment and prevent future issues.

If you live in a condominium:

• Check windows and doors on the exterior for possible air or water leaks – make sure the weep holes are clear at the bottom on the outside.
• Inspect caulking around windows for cracks or separation from the window or building.
• Check CO (Carbon Monoxide) detectors if installed.
• Check all the vents outside your home; the combustion vent intake, the dryer vent and the range hood vent. Make sure they are all clear and functional, and the screens are clean.

If you live in a townhome:

• Have your gas heating system inspected by a certified professional (if applicable)
• Remove the hoses and any diverter manifolds or other attachments from the hose bib itself.
• Remember to turn outside water outlets off and drain exterior faucets of water before winter. There are several kinds of outside water outlets.
• If you have only the frost-free type of hose bib, it shuts off only from the outside of your home. Make sure all hoses and appliances are disconnected to allow water to drain out. You may have the frost-free type that also has an inside water shut-off valve. Shut off the inside valve, then open the outside hose bib to allow it to drain. You may have a non-frost-free type of hose bib with an inside shut-off . Turn off the water at the inside valve and open the outside valve to ensure the water drains. Some new homes have the hose bibs inside the garage or a utility room – these too should have the hoses disconnected and be drained, or have the water supply shut off and drained before freezing.
• Townhome owners with sump pits should switch to their wide diameter winter discharge pipes.

It is important to note that this seasonal schedule of maintenance tasks created by National Home Warranty should not replace the manufacturer’s recommendations. We suggest that you use licensed contractors for any tasks you may feel that you don’t have the technical knowledge or ability to perform.

If you run into any issues, don’t hesitate to contact our Customer Care Department .