April home maintenance checklist

• Clean eavestroughs and check downspouts DIY or pro
  Scoop out leaves and grit, then run a hose to make sure water flows to the downspouts. Each downspout should discharge well away from the foundation, onto ground that slopes away. Eavestrough cost guide →
• Turn the outdoor taps back on DIY
  Open the shut-off valve inside, then the outside tap. Check inside the wall for drips: a tap that froze over winter often only leaks once it's used again. Plumbing cost guide →
• Check the grading around the house DIY
  Soil should slope away from the foundation. Low spots where water pools against the wall are worth filling with soil before summer storms.
• Book the AC tune-up Pro
  Air conditioning companies are busiest in June and July. A spring tune-up costs less, and you find out about a dead unit before the first heat wave. AC and heat pump guide →
• Check fence and deck posts DIY
  Frost can heave posts out of the ground. Look for leaning sections and soft or rotting wood at the base of posts and deck supports. Fence cost guide →
• Request a locate before you dig Plan
  Planting a tree, adding a garden bed or replacing fence posts? Ontario law requires a free utility locate from Ontario One Call before digging. Allow at least five business days.

General guidance for typical GTA houses. Follow your equipment manufacturer's instructions, and call a licensed pro for gas, electrical and anything on a roof.