So far this Fall we’ve been pretty lucky up here weather wise in Toronto.  With a warmer than usual Fall and being fortunate enough to miss hurricane Sandy’s ugly path, Winter still seems like it’s a ways off from us.  But we all know that Canadian Winter is coming, she’s just taking her time this year.

If you haven’t done so already, be sure to spend a weekend afternoon going through your home and preparing it for the coming cold.  As a waterproofing company here in Toronto, one of the most important steps you can take as far as avoiding water leaks in your basement over the Winter is to examine and clean out your gutters before the snow and ice come.

Some of the things you should check for are making sure the Fall leaves have been removed and won’t clog your downspouts.  If water and ice start to accumulate due to a clogged downspout, you run the risk of water leaking over the top of the gutter (or through cracks and leaks that develop) and that water accumulating around the perimeter of your home.  What happens is that on warmer Winter days, that accumulated water starts to make its way through the tiny cracks in your basement’s foundation.  Also make sure that your downspout extensions are directed far enough away from your home so water doesn’t start to accumulate in the soil around your foundation.

While we are the waterproofing experts here in Toronto, there are other things you should do before the freeze sets in.  Check out this infographic courtesy of elocal.com for a quick and handy checklist of things you should do to Winterize your home.