Preventative maintenance
A property-care routine you can actually keep
Seasonal checks catch the small things while they are still small. This page separates what you can safely do yourself from what should be left to a professional.
Seasonal checklist
Four seasons, four short routines
Tick items off as you work through them. The list resets when you leave — it is a planning aid, not a service record.
The highest-value season in Manitoba. Outdoor plumbing and freeze-prone runs need attention before the first hard frost.
Safe homeowner checks
0 / 4 doneLeave these to a professional
These items involve pressure, gas, sewage or equipment that can be damaged by well-meant DIY.
- Service or replace a hose bib that drips after shut-off
- Assess insulation or heat trace for chronically cold pipe runs
Checklist state is kept in this browser session only — it is a planning aid, not a service record.
Focus areas
Where maintenance earns its keep
Six areas that account for most of the avoidable emergency calls we see described.
- 01
Winter preparation
Outdoor taps drained, vulnerable runs identified, heat continuity confirmed before the first hard freeze.
Winter guide - 02
Sump pump checks
A controlled fill test, float inspection and a look at where the discharge actually goes.
Sump pump service - 03
Water heater maintenance
Condition review, relief provisions, connections and a realistic view of remaining service life.
Water heater guide - 04
Leak inspections
Meter behaviour, cabinet interiors, ceiling staining and the places moisture tends to hide.
Leak service - 05
Shutoff valve checks
Confirming the valves you would need in an emergency actually close — and replacing the ones that do not.
Shutoff guide - 06
Drain care
Simple habits and, where a line has a known condition, a planned interval instead of an emergency call.
Drain services
Safe to do yourself
Homeowner checks
Low-risk, genuinely useful, and mostly a matter of looking carefully once a season.
- Visual checks under sinks and around appliances
- Testing a sump pump by pouring water into the pit
- Draining hoses and closing outdoor tap shutoffs
- Cleaning aerators and shower heads
- Reading the water meter with everything off
- Noting where the main shutoff is and telling everyone
Leave to a professional
Work that carries real risk
Gas, sewage, pressure and equipment that can be damaged by a well-intentioned attempt.
- Anything involving gas appliances or venting
- Clearing main sanitary lines or handling sewage
- Water heater repairs and relief valve work
- Backwater valve inspection and installation
- Replacing valves that no longer seal
- Thawing pipes that are inaccessible or already split
Commercial maintenance
Planned intervals for working buildings
Commercial maintenance is mostly a documentation problem. An inventory, sensible intervals and a record that survives staff turnover.
- Fixture, equipment and isolation point inventory
- Intervals set by risk and usage, not a standard package
- Scheduled visits agreed against your operating calendar
- Findings recorded and compared visit to visit
- Prioritised follow-up list for budget planning
- Tenant notice text prepared in advance
Maintenance plan enquiry
Ask about a maintenance interval
Tell us about the property and how it is used. We will suggest an interval and explain the reasoning rather than selling a package.
Next step
Plan the work instead of reacting to it
A short seasonal routine, or a documented interval for a commercial property. Either way, start with a conversation.
Service hours, availability and response times shown are placeholders. Confirm actual coverage and scheduling with the business before publishing.