Fall Energy Checklist for Ontario Homes: Get Ready for Heating Season

A fall energy checklist for an Ontario home comes down to four things: make sure the heating system is safe and serviced, close up the drafts that winter will find, protect plumbing from freezing, and adjust to the winter electricity schedule that starts on 1 November. Doing these in September and October, while the weather is mild, is cheaper and easier than doing them during the first cold snap.

Heating is the largest single energy use in Canadian homes, roughly 62% of the total according to Natural Resources Canada. Small improvements made now pay off every day from November to April.

The fall energy checklist for Ontario homes at a glance

Task	When	Typical cost	Why it matters
Book furnace, boiler or heat pump maintenance	September to mid-October	About $100–$250 per visit (estimate)	Safety, efficiency and fewer winter breakdowns
Replace the furnace filter	Start of heating season, then every 1–3 months	$10–$50	A clogged filter restricts airflow
Test smoke and CO alarms; replace batteries	Before turning on the heat	$0–$60	Required near sleeping areas in homes with fuel-burning appliances
Check high-efficiency furnace vents outside	Before heating season	Free	Blocked intake or exhaust pipes can shut the furnace down
Weatherstrip doors and the attic hatch	Mild days in September or October	$30–$100 per door	Stops the biggest, easiest drafts
Seal the basement rim joist	Fall weekend	$200–$600 DIY	Often one of the leakiest spots in the house
Clean gutters and downspouts	After most leaves fall	Free (DIY)	Helps prevent ice dams and foundation water
Shut off and drain outdoor taps	Before the first hard frost	Free	Prevents burst pipes
Switch thermostat to heat and set a schedule	When nights drop near freezing	Free	Overnight setbacks save roughly 5–10% on gas heating
Replace humidifier pad and open bypass damper	Start of heating season	$15–$40	Comfortable winter humidity
Reverse ceiling fans to clockwise on low	October	Free	Moves warm air down from high ceilings
Review your electricity price plan	Before 1 November	Free	Winter TOU hours differ from summer

Service the heating system

Gas furnaces and boilers

Annual maintenance should be done by a contractor registered with the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA), with gas work performed by a licensed G2 or G1 technician. A proper service includes checking the burner and flame, heat exchanger, venting, safety controls, condensate drain and blower. Ask the technician to measure and record combustion readings so you have a baseline from year to year.

Between visits:

• Keep the area around the furnace clear of storage, paint and cleaning products.
• Make sure the outside intake and exhaust pipes of a high-efficiency furnace are clear of leaves, nests and, later, snow.
• Keep supply registers and cold-air returns free of furniture and rugs.

Heat pumps

Heat pumps need a slightly different fall routine:

• Check that the outdoor unit sits on a stand high enough to stay above typical snow depth, with room for defrost water to drain and freeze away from the unit.
• Clear leaves and plants from around it. Never cover a heat pump for winter.
• Confirm the thermostat's backup heat settings with your installer, especially if you saw high bills last winter.
• Ask a technician to check refrigerant charge, the defrost controls and any backup heat strips.

Our HVAC maintenance checklist lists what a technician should check for each system type.

Caution: If your home has a fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage, Ontario requires working carbon monoxide alarms adjacent to sleeping areas. CO is odourless. If an alarm sounds, get everyone outside and call 911 or your gas utility's emergency line.

Close up drafts before the cold arrives

Caulk and canned foam work best above about 5–10 °C, so early fall is the right time. Focus on the leaks that move the most air.

1. Exterior doors: replace worn weatherstripping and door sweeps. Close the door on a sheet of paper; if it slides out easily, the seal is weak.
2. Attic hatch: add weatherstripping and glue rigid foam insulation to the top of the hatch. Warm air rises straight out of an unsealed hatch.
3. Basement rim joist: seal the gaps with canned foam and cover with rigid foam board.
4. Plumbing and wiring penetrations: seal where pipes, vents and cables pass through exterior walls and into the attic.
5. Exterior wall outlets: install foam gaskets behind cover plates, with the power off.
6. Unused fireplaces: close the damper firmly, or use a chimney balloon.
7. Window air conditioners: remove them, or insulate and cover them tightly if they stay in.

For a deeper dive, including what a blower door test reveals, see our air sealing guide.

Protect plumbing and the building

• Shut off outdoor taps from the inside valve, then open the outside tap to drain the line. Disconnect and drain garden hoses. Frost-free hose bibs still need the hose removed.
• Insulate exposed pipes in crawlspaces, garages and along exterior walls.
• Clean gutters and downspouts, and make sure downspouts discharge at least 1–2 m from the foundation.
• Check the attic for adequate insulation. Many older Ontario homes have R-12 to R-20; the recommended retrofit target is R-50 to R-60. Signs of trouble include icicles, ice dams and roof snow that melts much faster than on neighbouring houses.
• Keep the gas meter and regulator accessible. Note where it is so you can clear it gently by hand after storms.

Get ready for the 1 November electricity changes

Three things change on 1 November:

Change	What it means
Winter TOU schedule starts	Weekday on-peak (18.9¢) moves to 7–11 a.m. and 5–7 p.m.; mid-peak (14.6¢) is 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; off-peak (9.1¢) is 7 p.m.–7 a.m. and weekends
Tiered threshold rises	From 600 to 1,000 kWh a month for residential customers
New prices for 2026–27	RPP prices reset for 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2027, and the Ontario Electricity Rebate falls from 23.5% to 15.7%

Ultra-Low Overnight hours do not change by season. If your household uses a lot of electricity on weekday evenings in winter, such as electric heat, a heat pump or an electric range, check whether ULO still suits you. We explain the November 2026 changes in what the new prices mean for your bill.

Watch program deadlines

If you are partway through the Home Renovation Savings Program assessment stream, note the reported 2026 deadlines: the post-retrofit assessment must be scheduled by 30 November 2026, and work must be complete within 180 days of the pre-assessment or by 31 December 2026, whichever comes first. Heat pump contractors must submit post-installation documents within 30 days of the install. These details were published in 2026; confirm current terms at saveonenergy.ca (opens in a new tab) before relying on them.

Households that need help with energy costs should apply early in the season. The Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) provides a monthly bill credit, LEAP offers emergency help with arrears, and income-eligible Enbridge customers may qualify for the Home Winterproofing Program.

For the next stage, see our winter energy savings guide, and if you are just finishing summer projects, our spring energy checklist covers the reverse transition.

Frequently asked questions

When should I turn the heat on in Ontario?

Most homes start heating when overnight lows fall to around 5 °C and indoor temperatures drop below about 18–19 °C. There is no required date for homeowners. Running the furnace once on a cool day before the cold arrives is a good way to spot problems while contractors still have openings.

How often should a furnace be serviced?

Once a year is the general recommendation for gas furnaces and boilers, and many manufacturers require regular maintenance to keep warranty coverage. Heat pumps also benefit from an annual check, ideally in the fall, since they work hardest in winter.

Should I put plastic film on my windows?

Window film kits cost about $10–$20 a window and can noticeably reduce drafts and condensation on older or single-glazed windows. On good double- or triple-glazed windows, the benefit is small. Fix weatherstripping and caulking first.

Is it worth replacing my furnace in the fall?

If your furnace is old or unreliable, planning a replacement in late summer or fall gives you time to compare quotes and consider a heat pump or hybrid system, rather than making a rushed decision during a January breakdown.