As the leaves change and colder weather sets in, there are plenty of small tasks you can do around the house that will make a big impact during the winter months. (Yes, even if you don’t necessarily think of yourself as “handy.”) From fall home maintenance to simple ways to improve your indoor air quality, all you need to tackle these jobs – and more – is a little know-how, the right tools, and a can-do attitude.
With that in mind, here are five quick and easy home improvement projects you can take care of this fall to help get both you and your home ready for winter.
Fall is the ideal time to inspect your home for any potential heating inefficiencies, so you can take care of them well before winter weather hits. To do so, move your hand across the bottom of your door frame. Do you feel any air leaks? Consider it a sign you need to add weathstripping. Not only will this keep cold air out and warm air in, reducing household heat loss, it’ll also help your furnace run more efficiently, lowering your energy bill in the process—not only during the winter months, but year-round.
You’ll want to start by measuring the width of your door, then using a hacksaw like this 12-inch option from Mastercraft to cut your door sweep to fit. Finally, use a drill to secure your weatherstripping in place. (Pro tip: Drill pilot holes into your door first.) Once attached, double-check the seal to make sure your new sweep is properly secured, then say goodbye to cold drafts and hello to a warmer, toastier and more comfortable home.
Uncovered drafty windows during your inspection as well? Try a self-stick option from Frost King to quickly and easily seal any gaps, with zero drilling required.
The last thing you want is for snow and ice to build in your gutters, creating ice dams, which can ultimately lead to roof damage and a pricey repair bill. That’s why it’s always a wise idea to thoroughly clean your gutters of leaves and debris well before the first snowfall of the year.
To do the job right, grab a pair of gloves, your garden hose and a sturdy ladder. The Mastercraft Grade 1A Multi-Task Ladder is a versatile 17-foot option that features a wide base for added stability, even on unstable ground, and can be set up in four different positions. (Even so, always make sure you have a spotter at the bottom to be safe.)
Once you’re up there, clear away any big obstructions, sticks and leaves with your hands. Then use your hose to wash away as much dirt, mud, gunk, and grime as you can. Take your time to ensure you reach every nook and cranny. A little extra work this fall can save you a world of headaches come winter.
The fall air outside may be crisp, but if things are getting stuffy inside, take it as a sign you need to address your home’s air quality. Start with your furnace: forced air furnaces require you to change your filter regularly for optimal performance—so if you can’t remember the last time you changed your filter, you’re probably overdue for a replacement.
First, remove your existing filter to check which size you need, and be sure to note which way the filter was facing. Your unit will have to work harder to pull air through the filter if it’s not properly installed, putting unnecessary strain on your furnace. Then, simply slide your new filter into place, put the cover back on, and take note of the date. For best results, you should replace your filter every three months.
An air purifier is another great solution to help you breathe easier at home. The Shark Air Purifier 4 comes with an anti-allergen HEPA filter to capture 99.97% of dust, pet dander and other allergens. It also comes with an advanced odour guard to protect against common household odours from cooking or cleaning.
If your air’s uncomfortably dry, try a humidifier, like this Honeywell Warm Mist Humidifier, which is ideal for larger rooms and features an easy-to-use top-fill design. Or, better yet, get a machine that can do both. The Germ Guardian Air Purifier and Humidifier Combo will automatically monitor your air and adjust its fan speed to optimize your indoor air quality, while capturing airborne allergens down to 0.3 microns.
It’s much easier to organize around the house before the world freezes over. And the garage (heated or not—but especially if not) is the perfect place to start.
Looking to keep all your tools in one well-organized place? Look no further than this Mastercraft rolling storage cabinet. The drawers are lined with non-slip rubber grips to keep tools in place while protecting from scratches, and the heavy-duty locking wheels make it easy to move the unit around the garage for use as a workstation.
A storage rack can be another great option to help you tidy up, while freeing up floor space. Thanks to adjustable wire shelves, this MAXIMUM Heavy Duty Steel Storage Rack makes it easy to customize your storage space to fit your needs, and your gear.
Taking proper care of your lawn during fall will go a long way towards making winter weather easier to handle. For starters, you’ll need a sturdy rake to help you make quick work of falling leaves. The Yardworks Fibreglass Steel Leaf Rake is extra durable, thanks to a fibreglass construction that makes it 40% stronger than wood-handled options.
If you want something with a little more oomph, consider the Yardworks 48V Brushless AeroForce™ Leaf Blower. The variable speed trigger with turbo boost gives you the power you need right when you need it, while the brushless motor and 48V 4Ah battery give it more than enough power and runtime to stand up to its gas-powered counterparts.
And, of course, don’t forget the yard waste bags. Canadian Tire’s moisture-resistant Paper Yard Waste/Leaf Bags come in convenient packs of 20 and are self-standing, making it easy for you to transfer leaves and debris into them with no fuss or muss.
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Moscow announced Saturday that a truck explosion ignited a huge fire and severely damaged the key Kerch bridge -- built as Russia's sole land link with annexed Crimea -- and vowed to find the perpetrators without immediately blaming Ukraine. Russia said the blast set ablaze seven oil tankers transported by train and collapsed two car lanes of the giant road and rail structure. Dramatic social media footage showed the bridge on fire with parts plunging into the water. "Today at 6:07 am (0307 GMT) on the road traffic side of the Crimean bridge ... a car bomb exploded, setting fire to seven oil tankers being carried by rail to Crimea," Russian news agencies cited the national anti-terrorism committee as saying. The bridge, personally inaugurated by President Vladimir Putin in 2018, is a vital transport link for carrying military equipment to Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine. It is hugely important to the Kremlin and Moscow had maintained the bridge crossing was safe despite the fighting. Ukraine's presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak earlier took to Twitter posting a picture of a long section of the bridge half-submerged. "Crimea, the bridge, the beginning," he wrote. "Everything illegal must be destroyed, everything stolen must be returned to Ukraine, everything occupied by Russia must be expelled." The Ukrainian post office announced it was preparing to print stamps showing the "Crimean bridge -- or more precisely, what remains of it". The Kremlin spokesman said Putin had ordered a commission to be set up to look into the blast, Russian news agencies reported. Russia's powerful investigative committee opened a criminal probe into the explosion and sent detectives to the scene. It said a truck exploded "on the automobile part of the Crimean bridge from the side of the Taman Peninsula". This "caused seven fuel tanks to ignite on a train heading towards the Crimea Peninsula. As a result, two lanes partially collapsed." Officials in Moscow stopped short of blaming Kyiv. But an official in Russian-installed Crimea pointed the finger at "Ukrainian vandals." Another in the neighbouring Kherson region said repairs could "take two months". And the spokeswoman of Russia's foreign ministry said that Kyiv's reaction to the blasts showed its "terrorist nature." - 'Undisguised terrorist war' - "There is an undisguised terrorist war against us," Russian ruling party deputy Oleg Morozov told the RIA Novosti news agency. "If we stay quiet and do not give an adequate response, then such attacks will multiply," he said. There have been several explosions at Russian military installations in the Crimean peninsula. If it is established that Ukraine was behind the latest blast, alarm bells may sound with the bridge so far from the front line. The blasts come after Ukraine's recent lightning territorial gains in the east and south that have undermined the Kremlin's claim that it annexed Donetsk, neighbouring Lugansk and the southern regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. The Moscow-installed head of the peninsula, Sergei Aksyonov, called on Crimeans to remain "calm" as authorities appeared to downplay the blasts. "I call on everyone to clam down and not spread fake information," he said on Telegram. "The situation is being controlled, professionals are working on the ground." He said rail links to Russia had been halted and added that authorities had set up food and heating points to help stranded drivers. Authorities also tried to calm fears of food and fuel shortages in Crimea, which is fully reliant on the Russian mainland since Moscow annexed it in 2014. Russia's transport ministry said a ferry service has been launched. Its energy ministry told agencies that the peninsula is fully provided with fuel. The blasts came a day after President Vladimir Putin's 70th birthday. - Some Russian gains - Russian forces said Friday they had captured ground in Donetsk in east Ukraine, their first claim of new gains since a Kyiv counter-offensive rattled Moscow's war effort. Separatist forces in the war-battered Donetsk region said they had retaken a series of villages near the Ukraine-controlled industrial town of Bakhmut, which has been under Russian shelling for weeks. The Donetsk region, which has been partially controlled by Kremlin-backed separatists for years, is a key prize for Russian forces, which sent troops to Ukraine in February. But Kyiv's forces have in recent weeks been pushing back against Russian soldiers across the front lines in the south and in the east, including in parts of Donetsk. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said late Friday his forces had recaptured nearly 2,500 square kilometres (965 square miles) in the counter-offensive that began late last month. Zelensky has pushed to punish Russia in other areas, urging Brussels to ramp up pressure on its energy sector -- a day after the EU imposed a fresh round of sanctions on Moscow. In the more than seven months since Russia's offensive, Putin has made thinly veiled threats of using nuclear weapons. US President Joe Biden on Thursday warned the world was facing "Armageddon" as Putin may use his atomic arsenal. But by Friday the White House dialled back the alarm, saying the president's comments did not reflect new intelligence. bur/ach
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