October is the right month to weatherproof a property in Greater Moncton. By November, the window is closing — temperatures are dropping, contractors are busy, and the work that should have been done in fall becomes emergency work in January. The checklist below covers the four most important areas, with specific guidance for Maritime conditions.
1. Gutter Cleaning and Drainage
Gutters clogged with fall leaves can't drain properly. When water backs up and freezes, it creates ice dams — a leading cause of roof damage and interior water intrusion in Atlantic Canada. Gutter cleaning should be done after the last leaves have fallen, typically late October to early November in the Moncton area.
- Clear all gutters and downspouts of leaves, debris, and sediment
- Check that downspouts are directing water at least 1.5 metres away from the foundation
- Look for sagging sections or separated joints — these need to be refastened before winter
- Consider gutter guards if you're cleaning gutters more than once per year
2. Furnace and Heating System Inspection
A furnace that hasn't been serviced since last winter is a liability. Annual furnace inspections catch heat exchanger cracks, dirty burners, and failing components before they become mid-winter emergencies. In New Brunswick, where temperatures regularly drop below –20°C, a heating system failure isn't just uncomfortable — it can cause pipe damage within hours.
- Schedule a furnace inspection and cleaning before the heating season starts
- Replace the furnace filter — a clogged filter reduces efficiency and strains the blower motor
- Test your thermostat and verify it's calling for heat correctly
- If you have a heat pump, have the refrigerant levels and coils checked
- Ensure your carbon monoxide detectors are working — heating season is when CO incidents spike
3. Weatherstripping and Air Sealing
Air leaks around doors and windows are one of the biggest sources of heat loss in Maritime homes. Weatherstripping degrades over time and should be inspected every fall. A simple test: close a door on a piece of paper. If you can pull the paper out easily, the seal isn't tight enough.
- Inspect weatherstripping on all exterior doors and replace where worn or compressed
- Check window seals for gaps, cracking, or separation
- Apply exterior caulk around window and door frames where the existing caulk has shrunk or cracked
- Check the attic hatch seal — this is often overlooked and can be a significant source of heat loss
4. Snow Removal Preparation
Greater Moncton averages over 250 cm of snow per winter. Being unprepared for the first significant snowfall — which can arrive as early as November — creates real risk for property owners, particularly for commercial properties with accessibility obligations.
- Service your snowblower before the season — change the oil, check the belts, and test the auger
- Stock up on ice melt and sand before the first storm
- Mark your driveway edges with stakes so you know where the pavement ends
- If you use a snow removal service, confirm your contract before November
The cost of fall weatherproofing is almost always less than the cost of a single winter emergency. The math is straightforward.
Getting It Done
Most of the items on this checklist can be completed in a single day with the right trades. CORE handles gutter cleaning, weatherstripping, and outdoor prep as part of our Outdoor Works and Handyman divisions. If you want a single team to work through the full checklist, CORE Pro members get priority scheduling in fall — which matters when every contractor in Moncton is busy in October.
