Brr-ing on the cold: Get your home winter-ready with these fall maintenance tips

As Mississauga trades summer sunshine for sweater weather, falling leaves and crisp autumn days, now is the time to prepare for what comes next: winter. Before colder temperatures set in, take time to inspect and clean your property to help protect against weather-related challenges. Being proactive before temperatures drop can help prevent costly damage from colder conditions. 

This critical upkeep acts as a preventive measure to protect against fire damage (from heating sources), water damage (from frozen pipes) and structural damage (from wind, ice and snow buildup), while helping ensure your home and property are well maintained. 

What residents can do to prepare 

Start by winterizing your home and yard. Here are a few ways to protect your property and keep it safe, warm and comfortable through the winter months. 

Clear out your eavestroughs and downspouts 

Help protect your home from winter weather by ensuring eavestroughs and downspouts are free of leaves, pine needles, sticks and other debris. Keeping them clear ensures proper drainage and helps prevent leaks and water damage. 

Consider disconnecting roof downspouts from pipes connected to your basement weepers, which help drain water away from your foundation. Instead, direct the runoff onto your lawn or garden using an elbow and downspout extension, ensuring water drains at least three feet away from your home’s foundation. 

Prune shrubs and hedges 

Pruning trees and hedges before winter promotes healthy spring growth, helps prevent damage from heavy snowfall and improves the appearance of your landscape. 

• Trim overgrown bushes, hedges and plants. 
• Place all yard waste in paper bags and put them out for pickup during scheduled waste collection. 
• Remove fallen branches and debris. 

Put away your rain barrels and turn off outdoor faucets 

Storing rain barrels and turning off outdoor faucets helps conserve water, prevent flooding and protect plumbing from freezing. Proper winter storage can also extend the life of your rain barrel. 

• Empty all water and rinse components to remove debris.
• Remove the lid and any attachments, such as hoses and spouts, and disconnect the barrel from the downspout.
• Turn off outdoor water valves and drain the pipes completely to prevent freeze damage. Reattach your downspout extension for winter to divert rainwater and melted snow away from your home.
• Store an empty rain barrel upside down in a shed or garage. If stored outdoors, keep it out of direct sunlight and secure it from wind. 

Close your backyard pool until next summer 

Pool and spa chemicals can harm local waterways. Help protect the environment by properly maintaining and draining your pool. 

• Stop adding chemicals seven to 10 days before closing your pool. Leave the water uncovered so sunlight can break down remaining chlorine. 
• Drain pool water to the curb using a hose.
• Drain saltwater pools and sand-filter backwash slowly to the sanitary sewer through a basement sink or floor drain. Avoid using household plumbing fixtures while the water is draining. 
• For more information, review the City’s online brochure on safely discharging pool water. 

Use leaves to help your grass 

Using leaves as mulch helps recycle nutrients, improve soil health and protect your lawn during colder months. 

• Collect dry leaves and mulch them directly onto your lawn. Leaves contain nutrients that help keep lawns and trees healthy. 
• If safe to do so, trim tree branches that may break during winter. Consider hiring a professional arborist for higher branches. 
• Rake any remaining leaves and consider composting them for next year’s garden. Remaining leaves can also be placed in yard waste bags for disposal. Eligible areas can also rake leaves to the curb for collection as part of the City’s Vacuum Leaf Collection Program.  
• If using a leaf blower, be mindful of your neighbours and only use it between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., as permitted under the City’s Noise Control By-law. 
• Avoid piling leaves on roads or over catch basins, which can cause slippery conditions and localized flooding. 
• When safe to do so, clear leaves and debris from catch basins near your property to help maintain proper drainage. Residents can also contact 311, the City’s customer service line, to report blocked storm drains.  

Check your roof  

Regular roof maintenance can extend your roof’s lifespan, help prevent costly repairs and protect your home. 

• Check for loose or broken shingles.  
• Apply roof repair glue to loose shingles to help prevent leaks and damage. 
• Check chimneys for structural issues, obstructions and buildup. Consider hiring a professional for an annual inspection and cleaning. 
• Do not cover roof vents. Proper ventilation helps prevent ice dams, moisture buildup and damage caused by melting and refreezing snow. 

Seal gaps and cracks 

Sealing gaps and cracks around windows and doors can improve energy efficiency, lower heating costs and keep your home more comfortable. 

• Apply caulking to gaps wider than the width of a nickel between siding and window or door frames. 
• Add weather stripping around windows and doors to help keep cold air out. 
• Consider installing door sweeps, adhesive-backed insulation foam and fresh exterior caulking to improve insulation. 

Indoor winter maintenance 

Keeping up with maintenance indoors can help prevent frozen pipes and mould, improve energy efficiency and keep your home comfortable. 

• Have your HVAC system serviced regularly by a qualified professional to improve performance, efficiency and lifespan. 
• Clean or replace your furnace filter. 
• Clean your humidifier and check humidity levels and condensation. 
• Check your water heater for leaks and consider a professional inspection. 
• Check toilets for leaks by adding food colouring to the tank. If colour appears in the bowl, the toilet may need repair. 
• Repair leaky faucets by replacing worn washers or rubber seals when needed. 

How the City is getting ready for winter  

The City is gearing up for the upcoming winter season by taking proactive measures to ensure that parks, trails, recreational facilities and public spaces are well maintained and safe for residents and visitors.  

When visiting a park or green space, you may see crews doing the following:  

• Mulching and collecting leaves.  
• Moving waste bins to park entrances from their summer locations.  
• Preparing garden beds for the winter.  
• Restoring sports fields so that they are ready for next summer.  
• Cleaning litter and debris.  
• Continuing to inspect playgrounds to make sure they remain safe year-round.  
• Making sure irrigation systems and plumbing are ready for the winter. This includes systems for water fountains and seasonal park washrooms.  
• Resodding and restoring sports fields through the Sports Field Renovation Program. 
• Closing certain facilities for the winter. All natural soccer fields, baseball diamonds and cricket pitches are now closed. Natural turf football fields will close for use on November 1, 2026. Artificial turf fields remain open until further notice (weather dependent). 
• Preparing winter amenities, including outdoor rinks and recreational trails for the upcoming season. 

For more information about Mississauga’s parks and stormwater system, visit the City’s website. 

Tags

• Construction and Maintenance
• Energy and Conservation
• Parks and Forestry
• Stormwater