The physical move ends when the last box comes off the truck. But the first few hours in a new home are when a surprising number of avoidable accidents happen — tripping hazards from unpacked boxes, unlevel appliances, unsecured furniture, unverified smoke detectors, utilities that haven’t been properly confirmed. This checklist covers every safety task to complete in the first 48 hours after moving into an Ottawa home, in the order that actually matters.
If you’re still in the planning stage, our Ottawa moving checklist covers what to do before and on moving day. This post picks up where that one ends.
First Two Hours: The Immediate Safety Walk-Through
Do this before you start unpacking anything beyond your open-first box. It takes 20–30 minutes and catches the most likely sources of injury or damage in the first night.
Clear the main walkways first. Before anything else, open a safe path from the entrance through to each living area and to the bathrooms. Boxes stacked in corridors and packing materials left on the floor are the leading cause of post-move injuries — and the easiest to prevent. Dollies, hand trucks, and any equipment left by the moving crew should be moved outside or stacked against walls where they won’t be stepped on.
Test every door and window lock. Moving compresses door frames and can misalign latches. Check every exterior door for a solid close and working lock. Test every ground-floor and accessible window latch. If anything doesn’t lock properly, flag it before nightfall and deal with it the next morning — a temporary wedge or secondary lock is better than leaving it unsecured overnight.
Locate the electrical panel, water shutoff, and gas shutoff. You don’t need to do anything with these — just know exactly where they are before you need them in an emergency. The electrical panel is typically in the basement or utility room. The main water shutoff is usually near where the water line enters the house. In Ottawa homes on Enbridge Gas, the gas shutoff is outside near the meter. If you’re moving into a condo, ask the property manager for the location of the suite shutoffs on day one.
Photograph everything. Walk through every room with your phone before furniture is placed and boxes are fully unpacked. Photograph any existing scuffs, marks, cracks, or damage you didn’t cause. Timestamped photos protect you in disputes with landlords or building managers, and document pre-existing conditions for your insurance. Do this the same day — ideally within the first hour.
Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors — Ontario Requirements
Testing the detectors is the single most important safety task you can complete in a new home. It takes five minutes. Skipping it is one of the most common and avoidable post-move risks.
What Ontario law requires in your home: Under the Ontario Fire Code, smoke alarms must be installed on every storey of your home (including the basement) and outside every sleeping area. If your home has more than one smoke alarm, they must be interconnected — when one sounds, all sound simultaneously.
Carbon monoxide alarms have a new requirement as of January 1, 2026: Ontario’s updated Fire Code now requires a working CO alarm on every level of any home that has a fuel-burning appliance (gas furnace, gas stove, gas water heater, fireplace, or an attached garage). Previously, CO alarms were only required outside sleeping areas — the 2026 rule significantly expands this. If your new home has a gas furnace, this applies to you.
What to do on moving day:
- Press the test button on every smoke alarm and CO detector in the home. Replace batteries on any that fail or are low.
- If any unit is missing, install one before the first night. Combined smoke/CO alarm units are available at Canadian Tire, Home Depot, and hardware stores across Ottawa.
- Check the manufacture date on the back of each alarm. Smoke alarms must be replaced every 10 years; CO detectors every 5–7 years depending on the manufacturer. If the date is missing or the unit is old, replace it.
- If your home was built after January 1, 2015 or is undergoing renovation, Ontario Building Code requires alarms with a built-in strobe light for accessibility compliance.
If you’re a renter, the landlord is responsible under Ontario law for providing and maintaining working smoke and CO alarms. If any are missing or failed the test, notify your landlord in writing and document it. Ottawa Fire Services conducts compliance checks — particularly in rental properties — so landlords have a legal obligation to act promptly.
Utilities and Appliance Setup
Confirm electricity and water. Check that every outlet and switch works, run water from every tap, and flush every toilet. Note anything that doesn’t work correctly and contact your landlord or utility provider the same day.
Gas appliances — do not reconnect yourself. If your move involved disconnecting a gas stove, gas dryer, or gas fireplace, the reconnection must be done by a licensed gas technician — this is not a DIY task under Ontario law. Contact Enbridge Gas or a licensed plumber to reconnect any gas lines. If you smell gas at any point: leave immediately, don’t use any switches or phones inside the home, and call Enbridge’s emergency line at 1-866-763-5427 from outside.
Refrigerator — wait before plugging in. If your fridge was tilted or laid on its side during transport, let it stand upright for at least two to four hours before plugging it in. Turning on the compressor before the oil settles back to its normal position can permanently damage it. If it was kept upright throughout the move, two hours is sufficient. See our kitchen packing and move guide for the full fridge prep and reconnection steps.
Washer and dryer. Remove shipping bolts from the washing machine if it was transported with them in place — a washer run on spin cycle with shipping bolts installed can damage both the machine and the floor. Confirm the dryer vent hose is fully connected and not kinked — a blocked dryer vent is a fire risk.
HVAC and furnace. Turn the thermostat to heat (or cool, depending on the season) and verify the system responds. In Ottawa’s climate, discovering the furnace isn’t working on day one of a January move is a problem you want to catch before the temperature drops overnight. If the furnace doesn’t respond, contact your landlord or an HVAC technician — not Enbridge directly, as the furnace itself is the homeowner’s equipment.
Electronics. Visually inspect all power cords and plugs before connecting TVs, computers, and gaming systems. Transport can loosen connections or crack plastic casing on older cords. If anything looks damaged, replace the cord before plugging in.
Furniture Anchoring and Safe Placement
Tip-over injuries from unsecured tall furniture are one of the most preventable household accidents. Tall bookshelves, dressers, wardrobes, and wall units should all be anchored to wall studs before they’re loaded with books, clothing, or any significant weight.
How to anchor furniture in Ottawa homes:
- Use a stud finder to locate wall studs — particularly important in Ottawa’s older housing stock, where walls are often plaster over lathe rather than standard drywall, and anchors placed in plaster alone won’t hold.
- For most furniture, L-brackets screwed into studs and the back of the unit are reliable and inexpensive. Anti-tip straps designed for furniture are an alternative for lighter pieces.
- For masonry or concrete walls — common in Ottawa condo buildings and older brick homes — use masonry anchors rather than standard drywall screws.
- If you’re renting and don’t want to make permanent holes, removable anchor systems exist. Keep the hardware when you move out for reinstallation at the next place.
If your move involved our furniture assembly and disassembly service, ask the crew to anchor tall items while they’re on site — it’s much easier before the furniture is loaded with contents.
Protecting Children, Pets, and Seniors in the First Days
New environments are disorienting for everyone — and the first few days carry elevated risk for the most vulnerable members of your household.
Children. Set up a “safe room” before you start unpacking the rest of the house — familiar bedding, a nightlight, and known toys make a significant difference for young children adjusting to the new space. Install non-slip mats in bathrooms immediately. Don’t leave boxes with sharp staples or packing strapping accessible to children. Confirm that any stair gates or cabinet locks you use are installed on day one, not when you get around to it.
Pets. Keep pets in a single quiet room with food, water, and their familiar bedding while the move is in progress and during the first few hours of unpacking. A stressed pet in an unfamiliar home with open doors and movers coming and going is a flight risk. Walk through every room with your pet before dark on the first night to let them investigate the space safely. Update your pet’s microchip registry to your new address — this is the single most overlooked post-move task for pet owners, and it matters if your pet gets out in an unfamiliar neighbourhood. Our address update guide covers the microchip registry alongside every other update you need to make.
Seniors. If you’re moving a senior family member, non-slip mats in bathrooms and by the front entrance should go in before anything else. Ensure medications are accessible and not packed in boxes that won’t be opened until later. Keep emergency contact numbers and the address of the nearest walk-in clinic posted visibly — the senior moving considerations vary by neighbourhood in Ottawa but the first-night essentials are consistent.
Locks, Keys, and Home Security
Change or rekey the locks. If you’re moving into a house or ground-floor condo unit, change the locks or have them rekeyed before the first night. You have no way of knowing who has a copy of the previous key — previous tenants, contractors, the landlord’s contacts. A locksmith rekey costs $50–$100 per lock and takes minutes. If you’re in a building where the landlord controls access, request that the building management confirm key control procedures.
Garage door code. If your new home has a garage door opener, change the access code on day one. The default code is often the same across units from the same builder, and previous owners or tenants may have programmed their own remotes that still work.
Smart home and security systems. If the previous residents had a monitored security system, contact the monitoring company to transfer or terminate the account. Systems that aren’t properly transferred may still be monitored under someone else’s account — meaning alerts go to the wrong person.
Inspect for Damage and Storage Safety
Check your belongings for damage within 48 hours. Inspect high-value and fragile items as soon as boxes are unpacked. If anything was damaged in transit, document it with photographs and notify your moving company within 24–48 hours — most movers have a claims window after which they won’t accept damage reports. Keep all packing materials until you’ve confirmed nothing is damaged; they may be relevant to a claim.
Storage units. If you’re using moving and storage services, visit the unit within the first few days to verify climate control is active, access is working correctly, and your inventory matches what was delivered. A brief walkthrough now catches any issues while the move is still fresh and documentation is easier.
Basement and utility areas. In Ottawa’s older housing stock — particularly in the Glebe, Westboro, Old Ottawa South, and Sandy Hill — basements often have uneven floors, exposed pipes, and lower ceilings than modern homes. Walk through the basement and utility areas on day one with a flashlight and note anything that looks like water damage, mould, or structural concerns. These are easier to photograph and document before the space fills with boxes.
Address Updates — Start Within the First Week
The physical move is done. The administrative move is just beginning, and some updates have legal deadlines. Ontario law requires your driver’s licence address to be updated within six days of moving — the fine for non-compliance is up to $85. Your auto insurance must be updated immediately to maintain valid coverage.
Our Ottawa address update guide covers every organization you need to notify — from the CRA and ServiceOntario to utilities, financial institutions, your employer, and your children’s schools — organized by deadline so you can work through it systematically rather than all at once.
Additional Steps for Office and Business Moves
Business relocations have safety and continuity considerations beyond residential moves. For an Ottawa office move, the first-day checklist should include:
- IT systems. Photograph all server rack and workstation cable configurations before disassembly. After setup at the new location, test internet connectivity, phone systems, and access to shared drives before staff arrive.
- Emergency exit routes. Walk the new space and identify fire exits, extinguisher locations, and emergency meeting points before staff begin working. Post the fire escape plan if required by the building.
- Equipment checks. Test printers, photocopiers, and any specialized equipment before assuming they survived transit undamaged. Photograph any transit damage immediately for insurance purposes.
- Building access cards and codes. Confirm which staff have access, update the building security system if applicable, and ensure after-hours access is properly set up before it’s needed.
Post-Move Safety Quick Reference
First two hours:
- Clear all main walkways
- Test all door and window locks
- Locate electrical panel, water shutoff, and gas shutoff
- Photograph all existing damage before unpacking
- Test every smoke alarm and CO detector — replace any that fail
- Let the refrigerator stand 2–4 hours before plugging in
- Set up a safe room for children and a secure space for pets
Day one:
- Confirm all utilities and HVAC are working
- Do not reconnect gas lines — call a licensed technician
- Remove washing machine shipping bolts and check dryer vent
- Anchor all tall furniture to wall studs
- Change or rekey exterior locks and garage door code
- Install non-slip mats in bathrooms
- Install stair gates and cabinet locks if you have young children
Within 48 hours:
- Inspect all belongings for transit damage and photograph anything damaged
- Notify your moving company of any damage claims
- Walk through basement and utility areas for water, mould, or structural issues
- Update pet microchip registry to new address
Within the first week:
- Update driver’s licence address — 6-day legal deadline in Ontario
- Notify auto insurance of address change
- Begin working through the full address update checklist
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon should I inspect my belongings after the movers leave?
Inspect high-value and fragile items immediately and photograph any damage with your phone within 24–48 hours. Most moving companies have a claims window after which damage reports are not accepted — check your contract for the specific timeframe. Keep all packing materials until you’ve confirmed nothing is damaged, as they may be relevant to a claim. If anything is broken, contact the company in writing the same day.
Do I need CO detectors on every floor in my Ottawa home?
As of January 1, 2026, yes — if your home has any fuel-burning appliance (gas furnace, gas stove, water heater, fireplace) or an attached garage. Ontario’s updated Fire Code requires a working CO alarm on every level of any such home. Previously the requirement was only outside sleeping areas. If your new home has a gas furnace, check every floor for a working CO detector and add any that are missing before your first night. The City of Ottawa’s announcement on the 2026 CO alarm changes has the full details.
Can movers reassemble furniture and anchor items to walls?
Many Ottawa moving companies offer furniture reassembly and can anchor items to walls as part of a full-service move or as an add-on. Foosun Moving’s furniture assembly and disassembly service includes anchoring tall pieces where requested — it’s much easier to do before furniture is loaded with contents. Ask when you book rather than on the day, so the crew brings the right hardware.
What if I smell gas after moving into a new Ottawa home?
Leave the property immediately. Do not use any electrical switches, light matches, or use your phone inside the home. Once you are outside, call Enbridge Gas’s emergency line at 1-866-763-5427 and call 911 if you believe there is an immediate risk. Do not re-enter the property until the gas company has inspected and cleared it. Gas lines should only be reconnected by a licensed gas technician — never attempt to reconnect a gas appliance yourself.
Do movers provide insurance for transit damage?
Most reputable Ottawa movers carry basic cargo valuation coverage — typically based on weight rather than replacement value — with the option to purchase additional protection. Confirm the coverage specifics before moving day, not after. Our post on hidden fees Ottawa movers charge covers what insurance questions to ask and what to look for in your contract, including cargo coverage limits and what customer-packed boxes typically mean for liability.
Should I change the locks when moving into a new Ottawa rental?
Yes — or have them rekeyed. Even in a well-managed rental, you have no way of knowing who has a copy of the existing key. Under Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act, tenants have the right to install their own lock on their unit, though you may be required to provide the landlord a copy of the key. A locksmith rekey costs $50–$100 per lock and takes minutes. For the front door of a house or ground-floor unit, do this before your first night.
How long before I can plug in a refrigerator after moving?
At least two hours if the fridge was kept upright throughout the move. Four hours or more if it was tilted or laid on its side at any point. Turning on the compressor before the oil has settled back into its normal position can cause permanent damage. If you’re not sure how the fridge was transported, wait four hours to be safe.
What’s the most commonly forgotten safety task after moving?
Updating the pet microchip registry. It takes five minutes online, most people skip it in the chaos of moving week, and it’s the one that matters most if a pet gets out in an unfamiliar neighbourhood during the first few days. Find your pet’s chip documentation, identify the correct registry for your chip brand, and update the address before anything else gets left behind. See our full Ottawa address update guide for the complete post-move admin checklist.
Planning your Ottawa move?
Foosun Moving handles house moves, condo moves, office relocations, and everything in between across Ottawa and Gatineau. Rated 4.9/5 on Google, recognized by BestinOttawa.com, price match guaranteed.
Ontario Fire Code requirements for smoke alarms and CO detectors are current as of January 1, 2026, per O. Reg. 213/07 and the City of Ottawa’s official announcement. Enbridge Gas emergency line number verified from enbridgegas.com. Always confirm current code requirements with Ottawa Fire Services or your local fire prevention officer.