7 Places to Check Before You Rake the Leaves

Fall home maintenance Edmonton homeowners can do before winter starts with a few simple checks around the outside and inside of the home. In Edmonton, leaves, rain, freezing temperatures, and snow can expose small drainage or foundation problems that may not have been obvious during the summer.

A little fall home maintenance can help you spot problems early—especially around your foundation, basement, gutters, and drainage areas.

You do not need to be a contractor to do a basic inspection. Take a walk around your home after the next rainfall and look for anything that seems different from normal.

Here are 7 places Edmonton homeowners should check before the leaves start piling up.

1. Check Your Gutters

Your gutters have one important job: move rainwater away from your home.

Leaves and small branches can quickly collect inside gutters during the fall. When gutters become blocked, rainwater may overflow close to your exterior walls and foundation.

Look for:

• Leaves or debris blocking the gutter
• Water overflowing over the sides
• Sagging sections
• Loose or damaged gutter connections
• Water marks on the exterior wall

Cleaning your gutters before they become heavily blocked can help keep water moving in the right direction.

2. Look at Your Downspouts

Cleaning the gutter is only part of the job.

Walk around your home and check where each downspout releases water. The water should be directed away from your foundation, rather than collecting beside the house.

After a rainfall, look for:

• Water pooling near the foundation
• Soil that stays wet for a long time
• Downspouts that are disconnected
• Extensions that have moved or become blocked
• Erosion underneath the downspout

If water repeatedly collects beside your foundation, it is worth finding out why rather than simply waiting for the next season.

3. Take a Look Inside Your Window Wells

Window wells are easy to forget about—until they fill with water.

Leaves and other debris can collect inside the well and interfere with drainage. During heavy rain, that water may have nowhere to go.

Check that your window wells are:

• Free of leaves and debris
• Not filled with standing water
• Draining properly
• Not showing signs of soil or gravel movement
• Not showing water stains around the basement window

If you have basement windows below ground level, keeping the window wells clear is a simple part of fall home maintenance that should not be overlooked.

4. Walk Along Your Foundation

You do not need special equipment to check the outside of your foundation.

Simply walk around your home and look closely at the foundation walls.

Keep an eye out for:

• New or widening cracks
• Horizontal cracks
• Stair-step cracks in masonry
• Areas where the soil has settled
• Damp or unusually dark areas
• Water stains
• Gaps where the ground meets the foundation

Not every crack means there is a serious structural problem. However, new or changing cracks should not be ignored, especially if you are also noticing water entering your basement or changes inside the home.

Taking a photo now can also give you something to compare with later.

5. Check the Grading Around Your Home

Here is something many homeowners do not think about when doing fall cleanup: where does the rainwater go?

The soil around your home should generally direct surface water away from the foundation.

Over time, soil can settle. Landscaping can change. Garden beds may be added. Even years of rainfall can gradually change how water moves around the property.

After rainfall, look around the foundation and ask yourself:

Does the water move away from my house, or does it collect beside it?

If you consistently see pooling near the foundation, the problem may be related to grading or drainage and deserves further attention.

6. Check Your Basement for Early Warning Signs

You can also find clues from inside your home.

Before fall turns into winter, take a few minutes to walk through your basement.

Look for:

• Damp spots on walls or floors
• Water stains
• Musty smells
• Peeling paint
• Efflorescence or white powdery deposits
• Cracks that appear to be changing
• Moisture around basement windows
• Areas that feel unusually damp

A basement does not have to be flooded for moisture to be a concern.

Sometimes the first sign is simply a musty smell or a small water stain that was not there before.

7. Do Not Forget Your Weeping Tile and Drainage System

Your home’s exterior drainage system plays an important role in managing water around the foundation.

Depending on the home, this may include a weeping tile system, sump pump, window wells, downspouts, and surface grading.

Homeowners cannot always see what is happening underground, but you can still watch for warning signs.

For example, if you regularly notice:

• Water collecting near the foundation
• Basement moisture after rainfall
• A sump pump running unusually often
• Water entering through basement walls
• Persistent dampness around the foundation

…it may be time to have the drainage system properly assessed.

Do not assume that a problem is simply caused by “too much rain.” Sometimes repeated water problems point to an underlying drainage or foundation issue.

Why Fall Home Maintenance Edmonton Matters Before Winter?

Fall home maintenance Edmonton homeowners can do is not just about cleaning leaves.

It is also an opportunity to notice small changes around your home before winter arrives.

Edmonton’s weather can change quickly. Rain in the fall can be followed by freezing temperatures, snow, and spring melt. If water is already finding its way toward your foundation, the problem may become more noticeable as the seasons change.

The goal is not to panic over every crack or puddle.

The goal is to notice changes early and understand what they could mean.

A Simple 10-Minute Fall Check

Before you finish your fall cleanup, walk around your home and ask:

• Are my gutters clear?
• Are my downspouts directing water away?
• Are my window wells clean?
• Is water pooling near my foundation?
• Do I see any new foundation cracks?
• Has the soil settled around the house?
• Is my basement dry and free of unusual smells?
• Is my sump pump working properly?
• Have I noticed any new water stains?
• Is there anything around my foundation that looks different from last year?

You do not need to fix everything during one afternoon.

First, notice the change. Then find out what is causing it.

When Should You Call Abarent Construction?

Some seasonal maintenance can easily be handled by homeowners. But if you notice repeated basement water, significant foundation cracks, wall movement, ongoing moisture, or drainage problems, it is a good idea to have the issue properly assessed.

A professional inspection can help determine whether the problem is related to surface drainage, foundation waterproofing, weeping tile, or structural movement.

The goal is to understand what is causing the problem before deciding how it should be repaired.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

1. When should I start fall home maintenance Edmonton homeowners should consider?

Late summer or early fall is a good time to check your home before heavy leaves, rain, and colder weather arrive.

2. Can leaves cause foundation problems?

Yes. Leaves can block gutters, downspouts, and window wells, causing water to collect closer to your foundation.

3. Should I worry about a foundation crack?

Not every crack is serious, but new, widening, or leaking cracks should be checked.

4. Why is water pooling near my foundation?

Poor grading, blocked drainage, or damaged downspouts can cause water to collect near the foundation.

5. What should I check before winter?

Check your gutters, downspouts, window wells, foundation, grading, and basement for signs of water or damage.

Final Thought for Edmonton Homeowners

Before you rake the last pile of leaves, take one extra walk around your home.

Look up at your gutters. Look down at your window wells. Walk along your foundation. Check your basement. Watch where the water goes.

Those few extra minutes could help you notice a small problem before it becomes a much bigger one.

If you notice foundation cracks, basement moisture, water pooling, or drainage problems, Abarent Construction can help assess the issue and determine what may be causing it.

Don’t wait for the first major leak to investigate a warning sign.

Book Your Foundation or Basement Inspection Today

Call Abarent Construction Group Ltd. at 780-448-2592 or visit www.abarent.net to discuss your foundation or basement concerns.

Whether you are dealing with foundation repair, basement waterproofing, weeping tile, basement lowering, or foundation wall concerns, getting the problem assessed early can help you make a more informed decision.

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Don’t wait for the next heavy rain or winter freeze to reveal a problem. Check your home now and address warning signs early with help from Abarent Construction.