Clear Snow from Vents

Keep an eye on outdoor vents, gas meters and chimneys for ice or snow buildup. Abnormal snow and ice build-up may block gas appliance exhaust and combustion air vents (especially those side wall vents exiting close to ground level) causing ...

Read more
 

Septic System Maintenance

  • August 27, 2015

Septic system maintenance is often compared to automobile maintenance because only a little time and effort on a regular basis can save a lot of money and significantly prolong the life of the system. The minimal amount of preventative main...

Read more
 

Hiring a Contractor

  • October 21, 2015

Receiving quotes to have a job done is very time consuming, but it is also very important. So plan ahead. Try not to be rushed into having a job done because you waited until it had to be done, and end up going with the first or only compan...

Read more
 

Tankless Water Heaters

Water heating can account for 25 per cent of the energy bill for many Canadian homes – especially those with large families that use lots of hot water. Hot water usage can be reduced by installing low-flow shower heads, faucet aerator...

Read more
 

Don't Forget to Clean and Change Your Filters

Dryer Vents: Clean your outside dryer vents. Check the vent while the dryer is running to ensure air is flowing freely. If lint is allowed to clog the vent the dryer will have to work harder to dry the clothing, raising energy costs and it ...

Read more
 

Service your Heating System

We know this is a busy time of the year for everyone but we just wanted to send out a quick reminder. If you haven’t already, you should be organizing an appointment to have your heating system serviced as well as your fireplaces and ...

Read more
 

Upgrading Insulation

  • January 19, 2015

Older homes not built to today's standards of energy efficiency can often benefit from the addition of more insulation. Upgrading insulation can reduce the amount of energy used for space heating and cooling. It will also help protect y...

Read more
 

Keep Shower Doors Clean

Pick up some automotive rain repellent windshield sealant like Rain.X. After thoroughly cleaning shower doors, apply the sealant to the inside of the glass shower doors to prevent soap scum buildup. Follow the manufactures directions when a...

Read more
 

Bathroom Caulking

If cracks are left unrepaired with the high humidity in your bathroom, it can become an open invitation for mould and mildew to grow, often out of sight. To prevent this, immediately remove any damaged caulking (showing signs of cracking or...

Read more
 

Clothes Dryer Fires

Proper maintenance of your clothes dryer is important to the safety of your home. Along with cleaning the lint filter before every cycle, never put materials that have been used with solvents, oils or wax in dryers; never machine dry foam o...

Read more
 

Snow on the Roof...Take Care

A certain amount of snow accumulation on your roof is normal. However, if there is an excessive accumulation on the roof of your home, particularly if the snow is wet, there is a possibility of damage to the structure of the property.&nb...

Read more
 

Cracks around Bathtubs / Showers

Loose grout or sealant usually causes cracks around the bathtub, shower or bathroom tile joints.  If these cracks are not quickly cleaned out and filled, they can let in water that can damage your walls and the framing behind them. &nb...

Read more
 

Exterior Check Up

Do a quick check of your roofing shingles.  Repairs are more easily completed when the shingles are still soft and pliable in the early fall.  While you’re looking at the roof, check the flashings around the chimney and plum...

Read more
 

Avoiding Power Outages

As we move into storm season, we are concerned with potential power outages. In Canada a loss of power can be serious in freezing temperatures. The heavy overhead power lines coming into our homes carry enough power to run and heat the...

Read more
 

Your Safety - Broken CFL Light Bulbs

More Canadians are replacing regular incandescent light bulbs with more energy-efficient products, such as compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). While CFLs are being promoted because they are energy-efficient, their use has also raised health c...

Read more
 

Let It Snow!

  • January 24, 2013

If you have an outdoor oil tank ensure that the tank and oil lines are protected from the threat of falling snow and ice. The tank’s vent should be clear of all obstructions such as ice, snow, leaves or debris. Any lines coming out of...

Read more
 

Flooding In Your Home

I think it would be safe to say that no one wants to run the risk of flooding in their home. Many of us have heard stories from friends or family or know from personal experience that severe flooding can occur from a burst washing machine h...

Read more
 

Garage Door Maintenance

A good rule of thumb is to inspect and maintain your garage doors once a year. Look for signs of wear or broken parts. If you notice broken parts, consider hiring a qualified service technician since many of the components are under high te...

Read more
 

Cleaning Your Heat Recovery Ventilator

To keep your HRV working at peak performance, it should be cleaned twice a year in spring and fall. Turn off the HRV and unplug it. Open and clean inside the machine. Remove and clean or replace, the filters. Check to see if your HRV has a ...

Read more
 

Fall Heating Check

This is the time of the year when people start thinking about ways to heat their homes more efficiently. If your heating equipment is over 20 years old, consider upgrading it. New equipment is much more efficient than the older versions....

Read more

Home Inspections

Home inspections are a necessity for anyone looking to sell or purchase a home. Choosing someone qualified to perform home inspections will ensure that not only will the results of the home inspection be thorough, but that the risk of futur...

Read more
 

Make Sure Your Home is Child Proof

To protect the child from house fires, smoke alarms should be installed and tested each month to make sure they work. Fire extinguishers should be placed on every floor, with an extra fire extinguisher placed in the kitchen. An emergency ...

Read more
 

Spring Home Maintenance Tip for your Roof

Inspect for wind, snow, or ice damage. Check to see that the roof shingles are secure, tightly fastened and in good condition. If any of the shingles are loose, repair with asphalt roofing cement. If they are damaged or missing, replacement...

Read more
 

Spring Tips for Your Deck

Check that they are securely attached to the house and are level. Check that the support posts under the decks are plumb. Over the winter months the wood and supporting beams may have deteriorated. Check for rotten boards and replace as r...

Read more
 

Dishwasher Hoses

Hoses on dishwashers and washing machines weaken over time and start to break down. This can result in extensive water damage to your home if not replaced. Check the water hoses on these items for signs of deterioration such as cracks and b...

Read more
 

Pellet Stove Maintenance

Now that you have operated your stove all winter with a minimal of cleaning, it’s time to clean it yourself or have it cleaned professionally. Most manufacturers have detailed instructions on how to do yearly pellet stove cleanings ei...

Read more
 

Battling Mosquitoes

Now that the warm weather has arrived – we want to be outside enjoying it! However, mosquitoes can send us running back inside. Mosquitoes breed in standing or stagnant water by laying their eggs on the surface of the water. There are...

Read more
 

Hot Water Tanks Can Explode!

When replacing your Hot Water Tank make sure that it is properly installed by a professional who understands the importance of the "temperature/pressure release valve" TPRV and the "discharge pipe" as well as their funct...

Read more
 

Molds and Mildew Prevention Tips

It is a good idea to remove the inside screens from your windows over the winter months. This allows more air to circulate around the inside of the window trim and sill area, thus reducing the incidence of molds and mildews. Molds tend to g...

Read more
 

With Summer Come the Ants

Ants can cause extensive damage to a home causing thousands of dollars in repairs. Now is the time to walk around the exterior and interior of your home to check for ants and/or ant filings. Ant filings look like very fine sawdust in smal...

Read more
 

Don't Fall Behind, Be Ready for Winter!

When you are outside cleaning your eavestroughs it is also a good time to take a quick look at any trees on your property. Look to see if any limbs are brushing up against your house or are in contact / close proximity with your power or ...

Read more
 

Hot Water Tanks - What You Need to Know

Performing routine checks and maintenance on your hot water tank, whether it is gas, oil or electric, is vital to extending the life and efficiency of the tank and ensuring your safety. The normal life expectancy of a tank is 8 – 12 y...

Read more
 

Fans, Grills and Screens

Winter is a good time to do a little property maintenance on the inside of the home. The grill protectors on your fans need to be kept clear of dust and spider webs in order to function efficiently. Vacuum around the fire / smoke detec...

Read more
 

Ice Dams

Ice dams on the exterior surface of the roof can be a problem, particularly for low-sloped roofs with an overhang. This is the result of snow accumulation on the roof and is more common on poorly insulated homes. After a snowfall, heat es...

Read more
 

Fire Safety and Prevention

• Extension cords – only one extension can be used per appliance or fixture; buy an extension cord that is the proper length and do not connect a series of extension cords as this is a fire hazard. Note that all extension cords...

Read more
 

Spring Yard Check-Up

As you take your first few tentative steps out into the yard searching for crocus and early daffodil shoots, now is also a good time to inspect the exterior of the house as well. While the early spring flowers and plants may well be poking ...

Read more
 

Get A Jump On Spring Lawn Care

By providing water, nutrients and aeration in the Fall, you strengthen the root systems and provide it with the necessary components to support it during our long Canadian winters, so your lawn will be quicker to bounce back in the Spring. ...

Read more
 

Regular Testing of GFCI Outlets

  • May 2, 2012

The GFCI outlets in your home should be checked monthly. The purpose of a GFCI is to protect you from electrical shock. They are usually in areas of the home where electrical current might come in contact with water, such as bathrooms, kitc...

Read more
 

Repair Cracked Concrete-Asphalt

  • March 14, 2012

Inspect your driveway, walks and steps for any cracks or deterioration. Seal your asphalt, if required. Repair all cracked concrete. Concrete or asphalt driveways and walks are extremely expensive to replace. Open, unrepaired cracks allow w...

Read more

The Attic Hatch

  • September 14, 2018

Attic hatches are often under the radar when it comes to eliminating sources of energy loss in your home.  It's not uncommon to find homeowners who have upgraded attic insulation yet neglected this gaping energy hole that al...

Read more

Radon

  • May 24, 2019

Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally when the uranium in soil and rock breaks down. It is invisible, odourless and tasteless. When radon is released from the ground into the outdoor air, it is diluted and is not a concern. How...

Read more

Radon Test Instructions

  • May 24, 2019

(ALPHA TRACK)                                                                &nb...

Read more

Measuring Humidity in Your Home

  • February 12, 2020

Humidity is the amount of moisture or water vapour in the air. You, your family, and your pets produce moisture when you breathe or perspire. Even your indoor plants produce  moisture. We add water vapour to&...

Read more

Grading

  • April 23, 2020

If the land around your foundation is not graded correctly, water won’t drain properly so instead of being channeled away from the building, it could flow toward it. During significant rainfall, water would then accumulate arou...

Read more

Trees on your Property

  • October 29, 2020

Trees planted around the home will eventually have branches that are close to, or overhanging the home, causing abrasion damage when touching the roof and siding and are sources of moisture.  These same branches allow easy access ...

Read more

Wood Stove Maintenance

  • August 30, 2022

Creosote, which is an unavoidable product of wood burning stoves - is a tarry build-up in the chimney / flue which can cause a chimney fire. To avoid excess creosote, only burn dry, seasoned wood. If you are burning greener wood, you shou...

Read more

Cleaning Your Washer

  • November 25, 2021

Cleaning laundry is a dirty job and means your washer should also get a cleaning every so often to maintain your machine and prevent mold, mildew and foul odors. You can purchase a commercially available washing machine cleaning product but...

Read more

Keeping Your Home Cool

  • May 23, 2023

You could consider adding a power vent to your attic. When set up properly, a power vent sucks the hot air out of your attic and replaces it with cooler exterior air. This is extremely effective and cost efficient, costing much less to pu...

Read more

Maintain Your HVAC

  • October 16, 2023

Heating and cooling typically account for the largest share of a building's energy consumption, particularly with the implementation of energy-efficient upgrades such as LED lighting to reduce other energy demands. Therefore, optimizing...

Read more

Direction of your Ceiling Fan

  • November 1, 2023

For most, the trusty ceiling fan is a go-to solution for welcoming breezes during sweltering summer months, providing a cooling effect by circulating the air. Ceiling fans can do more than just cool your living spaces; they can also enhan...

Read more