Browsing: DIY & How-To

A step-by-step guide to stopping frozen pipes this winter, with sourced tips on thermostats, insulation, dripping taps and what to do if one freezes.

Stack it off the ground, cover only the top and give it months to dry: a guide to storing firewood so it is dry, safe and ready to burn this winter.

Test smoke and CO alarms before winter heating season starts. Steps for testing, battery swaps, cleaning, placement and Ontario’s new 2026 CO alarm rule.

How to drain an in-ground sprinkler system before Canada’s first hard freeze, from shutting off the water to the compressed-air blow-out, done safely.

Skip the rake. Raise your mower deck, take the bag off and cut fallen leaves into pieces small enough that grass still shows through, then repeat weekly.

Winter burn browns cedars and other evergreens every spring. Here is how Canadian homeowners can water, stake, wrap and mulch to prevent it this fall.

Lint buildup is the leading cause of Canada’s 15,000 dryer fires. Here is how to clean the whole vent run yourself, and when to call a licensed pro.

Winter tires go on when daily temperatures sit below 7 C, not when the first snow falls. Here is how Canadian drivers time the swap and check tread.

Take the unit out before the first hard frost, clean the filter and drain pan, dry it fully and store it upright indoors. Here is the full step-by-step.

Closing a cottage for winter comes down to getting every drop of water out of the plumbing. Here is the full step-by-step checklist, plus the jobs to leave to a pro.