Living in the country changes the meaning of getting ready for winter.
For an urban homeowner, fall maintenance might mean cleaning the gutters and putting away the patio furniture. On a rural property, winter preparation can involve a private well, septic system, gravel driveway, propane or wood heat, tractors, generators, culverts, outbuildings and a lane that still needs to be passable after a major snowstorm.
A little work in September and October can prevent a frozen pipe, flooded basement, dead tractor battery or no-start generator from becoming a much larger problem in January.
This rural property fall checklist covers 25 jobs worth completing before the first serious freeze arrives.
Conditions vary enormously across Canada, so timing will differ between southern Ontario, Atlantic Canada, the Prairies, northern communities and British Columbia. The principle is the same: deal with water, heat, drainage and machinery while the weather is still comfortable enough to work outside.
1. Disconnect and Drain Outdoor Hoses
Start with one of the easiest jobs to forget.
Disconnect garden hoses from outside taps, drain them completely and store them somewhere protected from the weather.
A hose left connected to a faucet can hold water against the valve and plumbing. Once temperatures drop below freezing, that trapped water can freeze and expand.
If your property has frost-free outdoor faucets, they still need the hose removed so the faucet can drain properly.
Older homes may also have an interior shutoff valve for the outdoor tap. If yours does, close the valve and drain the outside section of pipe.
2. Check Your Private Well
If your home relies on a private well, fall is a good time to inspect what you can see before snow covers everything.
Look around the well casing for damage, standing water, soil settlement or anything that could allow surface water to collect around the well.
Check the pressure tank and listen for unusual pump cycling. A pump that starts and stops rapidly may indicate a pressure-tank or plumbing problem worth investigating before winter.
This is also a good time to test your drinking water if it hasn’t been tested recently.
Public Health Ontario says private drinking-water sources are not routinely monitored and recommends regular testing. Testing is particularly important following events such as heavy rainfall, flooding or well maintenance. Ontario residents can have private drinking water tested for bacterial indicators including E. coli and total coliforms at no charge through Public Health Ontario.
Homeowners elsewhere in Canada should check the testing program offered by their provincial or territorial health authority.
3. Inspect the Septic System Area
Winter is not the ideal time to discover a septic problem.
Walk around the tank and leaching or treatment area. Look for unusually wet soil, strong sewage odours, unexpected vegetation growth or other changes.
Make sure you know where the tank lids and access points are. Once they are buried under 40 centimetres of snow, finding them becomes much more difficult.
Keep heavy vehicles and equipment away from the septic bed and avoid directing roof, sump-pump or surface drainage toward it.
If the tank is approaching its normal pumping or inspection interval, dealing with it before frozen ground and deep snow arrive may make everyone’s life easier.
4. Inspect Water Lines to Barns and Outbuildings
Country properties often have water lines that don’t end at the house.
Check hydrants, livestock waterers, workshop plumbing, greenhouse lines and seasonal taps.
Drain any lines that won’t be used through winter.
For systems that remain active, inspect exposed insulation, heat tape and frost protection. A small leak or weak heater that is barely noticeable in October can become a frozen line during a January cold snap.
5. Check the Sump Pump
If your house has a sump pump, test it before the ground freezes.
Pour enough water into the pit to make sure the float activates the pump correctly.
Inspect the discharge line outside. It should be able to drain without creating a frozen blockage immediately beside the foundation.
Rural properties with high groundwater or homes near rivers, creeks and low-lying ground may rely heavily on sump pumps during wet periods and winter thaws.
A battery backup or other emergency pumping plan can also be worth considering if your property experiences frequent power outages.
6. Clean the Gutters and Check Downspouts
Leaves, needles and debris can block gutters just as autumn rain turns to freezing weather.
Clean the gutters and verify that downspouts discharge water away from the foundation.
Also look at where the water actually goes.
Extending a downspout five metres into a low area that drains straight back toward the basement hasn’t solved much.
Good drainage is particularly important when frozen ground prevents water from soaking into the soil during winter thaws.
7. Walk Around the Foundation
Take a slow walk around the house before snow hides everything.
Look for cracks, loose parging, damaged siding, gaps around pipes and wires, missing vent covers and places where animals could enter.
Pay particular attention to the transition between additions and older sections of a farmhouse. Movement and water intrusion often show up where different generations of construction meet.
You don’t need to turn every crack into a major renovation project. The goal is to notice changes before winter makes inspection more difficult.
8. Inspect the Roof From the Ground
You don’t necessarily need to climb onto the roof.
Use binoculars or a camera with a zoom lens to look for missing shingles, lifted flashing, damaged metal roofing, loose ridge caps and damaged vents.
Check barns, garages, sheds and other buildings too.
A minor roof leak in October can become a much larger problem after repeated freeze-thaw cycles, ice and snow accumulation.
9. Service the Furnace or Heating System
Whatever heats your house is about to start its busiest season.
Change or inspect furnace filters, check vents and make sure outdoor intake and exhaust openings are clear.
Ontario fire-safety guidance recommends having heating systems, vents and chimneys inspected and cleaned annually by a qualified service technician.
If you use propane or heating oil, don’t wait until the first cold weekend to discover the furnace won’t start.
10. Inspect the Chimney and Woodstove
Wood heat deserves its own fall inspection.
Check stove pipes, door seals, firebrick and visible chimney components.
If the chimney hasn’t been inspected or cleaned recently, have it serviced by someone qualified to do the work.
The Government of Ontario recommends annual inspection and cleaning of heating systems, vents and chimneys and recommends burning dry, well-seasoned firewood to reduce excessive creosote buildup.
Keep combustible material well away from the stove and store cooled ashes outside in a metal container with a tight-fitting lid.
11. Check Smoke and Carbon-Monoxide Alarms
Testing alarms takes only a few minutes.
Check smoke alarms and carbon-monoxide alarms, replace batteries where necessary and replace expired units according to their manufacturer’s instructions.
This becomes particularly important as furnaces, fireplaces, woodstoves and other fuel-burning appliances return to regular operation.
Never treat a CO alarm as optional simply because you’ve used the same heating system for years.
12. Test the Generator Before You Need It
The best time to discover a generator won’t start isn’t during an ice storm.
Start it while the weather is good. Let it warm up and confirm that it can actually produce power.
Check the engine oil, fuel, air filter, battery and extension cords or permanently installed transfer equipment.
Never run a fuel-burning generator inside a house, garage or shed.
Health Canada advises operating generators outdoors at least 6 metres, or 20 feet, from buildings, with the exhaust directed away from doors and windows.
Never improvise a connection that backfeeds electricity through a household receptacle. Generator connections to home wiring should use properly approved equipment and comply with local electrical requirements.
13. Rotate and Inspect Stored Fuel
Gasoline doesn’t improve with age.
Check the fuel stored for generators, snowblowers, tractors and other equipment.
Use appropriate approved containers, follow the equipment manufacturer’s recommendations for fuel storage and stabilization, and rotate older fuel through equipment where appropriate rather than allowing containers to sit forgotten for years.
Store fuel safely away from ignition sources.
If your generator operates on propane, gasoline or multiple fuels, make sure you actually have enough of the fuel you intend to use during an extended outage.
14. Check Propane or Heating-Oil Levels
There is something particularly unpleasant about discovering an empty fuel tank when it’s -20°C.
Check your propane or heating-oil level before heating demand increases.
If you rely on automatic delivery, make sure the supplier can still reach the tank after heavy snow.
Marking underground obstacles, tanks and access points before snowfall can also make winter deliveries easier.
15. Repair the Gravel Driveway
Fall is an excellent time to fix driveway problems while graders, gravel and compactable material are still easy to work with.
Look for potholes, washboarding, wheel ruts and areas where water crosses the lane instead of draining away from it.
The biggest enemy of many gravel driveways isn’t traffic — it’s water.
Improving drainage and restoring the driveway’s crown before freeze-up may prevent small defects from turning into large spring potholes.
16. Clean Culverts and Roadside Ditches
A plugged culvert can turn into a surprisingly expensive problem.
Remove leaves, branches, sediment and other debris that could restrict water.
Walk the ditches and see whether water has somewhere to go.
This is particularly important on properties where the driveway crosses a ditch or seasonal watercourse.
Frozen debris can create a dam, and winter thaws or spring runoff can then send water over the driveway instead of through the culvert.
17. Trim Dangerous Branches
Look upward before winter storms arrive.
Dead branches hanging over the house, barn, driveway, hydro service, vehicles or animal enclosures deserve attention.
Snow, freezing rain and strong winter winds can turn a marginal branch into a serious hazard.
Large trees near power lines or buildings should be handled by qualified professionals rather than treated as a weekend chainsaw project.
18. Check Fences and Gates
A dragging gate is annoying in October.
A dragging gate buried in snow is much worse.
Repair broken hinges, sagging posts, damaged latches and loose fence sections while the ground is still workable.
If gates need to remain usable through winter, think about where plowed snow will go.
Many perfectly functional gates become inaccessible because the snow-clearing plan leaves a frozen pile directly in front of them.
19. Prepare Barns and Outbuildings
Check doors, windows, roofing, lighting and ventilation.
Secure anything that could blow around in a winter storm.
Make sure frequently used buildings have clear paths and functioning exterior lights.
If animals are housed inside, inspect ventilation without simply sealing every opening in an effort to retain heat. Moisture and poor air quality can create their own winter problems.
20. Get the Snowblower or Plow Ready Now
Every year, someone waits until the first snowfall to discover the snowblower has a dead battery, flat tire or carburetor full of old fuel.
Don’t be that person.
Start the snowblower. Check the belts, shear pins, oil, tires and controls.
If you use a truck or tractor-mounted plow, inspect the cutting edge, hydraulic hoses, electrical connections, lights, pins and mounting hardware.
Put spare shear pins and commonly needed parts somewhere you can find them in February.
21. Service the Tractor, ATV or Utility Vehicle
Rural equipment tends to become more important as the weather gets worse.
Check engine oil, coolant, hydraulic fluid, tires, lights and batteries.
Inspect the block heater if equipped and make sure the extension cord you’re planning to use is appropriate and in good condition.
Grease equipment now rather than crawling around underneath it on frozen gravel later.
If the tractor will be doing snow removal, install or prepare the required attachment before you need it.
22. Winterize Seasonal Equipment
Lawnmowers, tillers, pressure washers, pumps, sprayers and other seasonal equipment shouldn’t simply be pushed into the corner of a shed.
Follow the manufacturer’s winter-storage instructions.
Drain equipment that contains water, service engines where required and deal with batteries before prolonged storage.
Pressure washers and water pumps are particularly easy to damage if trapped water freezes inside them.
23. Prepare Firewood Before the Snow Arrives
If you heat with wood, get the working supply close to where you’ll need it.
That doesn’t mean stacking an entire winter’s supply against the house.
It means thinking about winter access.
Wood that is easy to reach in October can be considerably less convenient after a metre of snow.
Keep firewood dry and allow proper airflow so it can continue seasoning.
24. Deal With Mice Before They Move In
As temperatures fall, mice begin looking for warmer quarters.
Inspect door sweeps, foundation openings, garage doors, siding gaps and openings around pipes or wiring.
Store livestock feed, bird seed and pet food in secure containers.
Check tractors, ATVs, stored vehicles and equipment periodically. Rodents can damage wiring, insulation, air filters and upholstery long before anyone notices.
A little prevention in autumn can save a surprising amount of repair work in spring.
25. Build a Rural Winter Emergency Plan
Finally, imagine your property without electricity for 24 to 72 hours.
What stops working?
For many rural homes, a power outage can mean no well pump, no furnace blower, no sump pump, no internet and possibly no way to operate electrically controlled heating equipment.
Think about drinking water, food, heat, medications, lighting, phone charging, generator fuel and access to the road.
If your lane is long, decide how it will be kept clear if you’re sick, away from home or the tractor won’t start.
Make sure emergency vehicles could find the property in bad weather. Rural address signs should remain visible after snowfall.
The goal isn’t to prepare for an apocalypse.
It’s to make an ordinary Canadian winter storm considerably less stressful.
A Few Hours in Fall Can Save Days of Trouble in Winter
Country living involves a lot of systems that suburban homeowners may never have to think about.
The same independence that comes from having your own well, septic system, wood heat, generator, tractor and long gravel driveway also means you’re responsible when one of those systems stops working.
Most rural winter problems aren’t particularly mysterious.
They’re often small problems that were already there in October.
The hose was still connected.
The culvert was half plugged.
The generator battery was weak.
The driveway wasn’t draining properly.
The furnace filter hadn’t been changed.
The snowblower hadn’t been started since March.
A good fall inspection gives you a chance to discover those problems while they’re still easy to fix.
Print this checklist, walk the property on a decent fall afternoon and deal with what you find.
Your future self may be very grateful when January arrives.
Verified primary sources
Public Health Ontario’s current well-water guidance confirms that regular bacterial testing is important and that Ontario provides free testing for private drinking-water sources.
Public Health Ontario — Well Water Testing
Ontario’s rural-well guidance provides additional information specifically for farmers and rural residents.
Ontario — Testing and Treating Private Water Wells
Ontario recommends annual inspection and cleaning of heating systems, vents and chimneys by a qualified technician.
Ontario — Fire Safety at Home
Health Canada says fuel-burning generators should never be operated indoors and should be at least 6 metres (20 feet) from buildings.
Health Canada — Carbon Monoxide: Preventing Exposure
Always follow manufacturer instructions and applicable provincial, territorial and municipal regulations. Requirements for wells, septic systems, electrical work, heating equipment and other rural-property systems can vary across Canada.
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