Winter Home Maintenance Tips
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As winter approaches, your home is susceptible to more hazardous conditions. This includes pipes freezing, damage from the cold weather, and high heating costs. If the home is not prepared properly, the value of the home can decrease due to wear and tear. Staying up-to-date with winter maintenance activities will keep it as good as new.
Here is a checklist of things to do to keep your home safe and maintained in the cold winter months:
- Check the roof. Watch for damage from ice and remove icicles.
- Avoid frozen pipes. Keep cabinet doors open for the heat to reach pipes, such as below sink areas. A slow dripping faucet can help pipes that are vulnerable to extreme weather, such as pipes that run through an unheated or unprotected space.
- Prevent leaks. Check the basement area for leaks and water, especially during a winter thaw.
- Test the electrical system. Check all ground-fault circuit interrupters to make sure they are working properly and offer shock protection. These outlets can cut off power to an electrical device; they should be tested especially after an electrical storm.
- If you are going out of town, prepare the home. Keep the heat turned on, even if you are leaving for an extended period of time.
- Keep heating costs down. Clean and check or replace furnace air filters every month. Install storm windows or use plastic-film sheets from a hardware store on windows for the winter season.
- Prepare for an emergency. Check the pressure gauge on all fire extinguishers and replace if necessary. Also, make sure to have a 72-hour kit on hand in the case of blackouts or snowstorms.
A home that is ready for winter will remain in good condition, keep costs down, and allow you to enjoy a cozy winter without worry.
10 Easy Ways to Save Energy in Your Home
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Most people don’t know how easy it is to make their homes run on less energy, and here at InterNACHI, we want to change that. Drastic reductions in heating, cooling and electricity costs can be accomplished through very simple changes, most of which homeowners can do themselves. Of course, for homeowners who want to take advantage of the most up-to-date knowledge and systems in home energy efficiency, InterNACHI energy auditors can perform in-depth testing to find the best energy solutions for your particular home.
Why make your home more energy efficient? Here are a few good reasons:
- Federal, state, utility and local jurisdictions’ financial incentives, such as tax breaks, are very advantageous for homeowners in most parts of the U.S.
- It saves money. It costs less to power a home that has been converted to be more energy-efficient.
- It increases the comfort level indoors.
- It reduces our impact on climate change. Many scientists now believe that excessive energy consumption contributes significantly to global warming.
- It reduces pollution. Conventional power production introduces pollutants that find their way into the air, soil and water supplies.
1. Find better ways to heat and cool your house.
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Fall Home Maintenance Tips
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Debris in Gutters
It’s important to keep your home in excellent condition for the entire year. Routine maintenance prevents costly repairs and protects the investment of your home. Doing a few things each season gets you in the habit of upkeep and ensures a healthy and safe place to live.
As fall approaches, this is the time to prepare your home for harsh winter weather. You’ll be spending more time indoors for the next part of the year and everything should be in working order, both inside and out. Here are some tips to follow:
Inside the Home
- Inspect the furnace and have it serviced, if necessary.
- Make sure the plumbing system is working properly, including removing hair and debris from all sinks and showers.
- Test the smoke detectors and replace the batteries if needed.
- Test the breakers in the electrical panel, especially after electrical storms.
Outside the Home
- Clean up debris from gutters, window wells, and storm drains.
- Turn off outdoor faucets, and disconnect and store garden hoses.
- Drain in-ground sprinkler systems.
- Check the weather stripping on windows and doors, and make sure windows are closed tightly.
- Check for holes and cracks on windows and doors.
- Check the caulking where two different materials meet, including where windows and doors meet the siding of the home.
- If the chimney has not been cleaned yet this year, clean and inspect.
Keeping your home in good condition in the fall season prevents it from aging and protects it from the elements. This increases its value, keeps costs down, and makes it easier to maintain your home for the entire year!
Home Inspections in Vaughan / Woodbridge
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Residents in Vaughan and Woodbridge who are buying or selling a home should get a certified home inspection that meets the highest standards. At Ampwood Home Inspections, we have over 25 years of experience in the construction and building maintenance industry. This experience gives us a familiarity with home inspection standards that sets us apart.
When you get your home inspection in the Ontario locations of Vaughan and Woodbridge, be sure to work with an inspector who is certified and uses a code of ethics. The typical inspection should take 3 to 4 hours. This depends on the size, condition, and age of the home. If a real estate agent tells you that an inspection takes less time and they refer an inspector who does a job quick, DO NOT take the chance. You might end up with an inspection that misses the mark.
You are encouraged to join Ampwood Home Inspections during the inspection to learn about the home. At the end of the process, you’ll receive a detailed onsite report and pictures will be sent to you electronically.
Read our FAQ to understand the complete process.
If you are ready to hire a home inspector for your Vaughan and Woodbridge property, give us a call.
Home Inspections in Mississauga
By · CommentsIf you need a certified home inspection in Mississauga, Ontario, Ampwood Home Inspections will put your mind at ease. We do inspections on pre-purchase homes, new construction, PDI, and Tarion Warranty Inspections.
The home inspection process is an important one. It is performed to relieve your stress and educate you about the condition of the home. The home inspector focuses on a creating a coherent report—including the condition of all appliances, systems, and the overall scope of the building.
While the inspection does not involve doing repairs, it does identify the exactly what needs to be fixed, or if the home is in prime condition. Remember, many of the repairs on homes are invisible or hard to find without a certified home inspector.
A Mississauga home inspection will ensure you that new construction is complete and that all utilities are turned on. It also serves as a helpful tool for a property management company or Mississauga homebuyers in need of a pre-purchase inspection. Your inspection will give you complete confidence about the state of your property.
Ampwood Home Inspections serves the entire Peel Region, York Region, Halton Region, including the Great Toronto Area.
Brampton Home Inspections
By · CommentsIf you live in Brampton or surrounding neighborhoods, Ampwood Home Inspections will give you a reliable home inspection and peace of mind. This thorough inspection is done during the purchase of a new home to help inform you of the condition of the home. It will also give you a clearer picture of any updates or hazards that must be addressed.
We inspect over 400 items in the home and provide a detailed report immediately after the home inspection. This takes anywhere from 2.5 to 4 hours, and the time spent could potentially save you both costs and headaches. After the inspection, you are then given a detailed report is an uncomplicated review of the conditions of the home. We explain and review with you the complete inventory of the home, both interior and exterior conditions.
This includes all systems in the house, apartment or condo:
- Electrical, heating, and plumbing
- Condition of appliances
- Roof, attic, and insulation
- Floors walls, ceiling, and foundation
- External conditions and surfaces
- Garage, driveway, and outside areas
We know that purchasing a home and moving to a new location are stressful enough. Avoid the unnecessary worries and uncertainty of items in need of repair, as well as potential hazards. An inspection of your Brampton home by a certified home inspector can make all the difference!
Call us today to book your home inspection in Brampton, Mississauga, Vaughan and surrounding areas!
What Happens When You Don’t Get A Home Inspection?
By · CommentsThere are some nightmare scenarios of buyers who skipped the home inspection process and found themselves the owners of a house that is falling apart. If you remember the 1986 movie, “The Money Pit,” a couple falls in love with their dream home, buys it, and then experiences just about every possible problem. One of the most memorable scenes is when Tom Hanks falls through a hole in the floor that is covered by an area rug. This is, of course, an exaggeration of a home that is in severe disarray, but it’s also a symbol of the seriousness of what can happen when you don’t get a home inspection. Let’s look at some of the home inspection nightmares that could be lurking in your dream house.
The website for this old house, provides photos of some home inspection nightmares, many of which are just under the surface. Without a serious examination, some really basic things could be found to be in error. These might include some of the following:
- If the electrical wiring is faulty or was done by an amateur, this could indicate serious fire danger and the need to rewire completely.
- Leaky faucets or pipes that are improperly repaired might pose a problem. Or, worse, the septic system might have a drainage problem and fail. I’m sure you don’t need to know what kind of inconvenience that might mean.
- The heating or cooling system could be inefficient, causing a need to invest in repairs or having higher billing costs as a homeowner.
- You could be buying a home that is a hotspot for moisture and mildew, quickening deterioration of the walls and overall structure.
- The appliances could be in disarray and need to be completely upgraded.
The home inspection process should not be compromised. It is the best and most convenient way to prevent investing in a property that is problematic from the start. Having an assessment of home inspection nightmares will also help you gauge whether the home is worth buying. Remember, you really can’t just rely on your eyes when it comes to buying a home. A home may appear to be wonderful on the surface, but without a thorough inspection, you just don’t know what you’re buying.
Prevent Water Damage and Keep Your Home in Good Repair
By · CommentsA home that has water damage can bring problems to homeowners that go beyond the cost of repair. Water damage is destructive to homes and buildings, causing a loss of value, higher maintenance costs, and even a liability with a loss of proper indoor air quality. These problems can be prevented by properly inspecting your home for damage and taking the steps to fix problems as soon as they occur. If you detect the presence of moisture in your home, be sure to take action right away.
Places to Inspect for Water Damage
There are a number of places in the home where water damage might occur. Some of these are areas you might not regularly notice, so consider keeping a running list of places to check. Some of these less-often-seen areas include: attics, storage areas, pipes, basements areas, and heating and cooling systems.
You might also notice more obvious things inside the home like damaged ceiling tiles, carpet, and water stains on drywall or plaster. Outside the home, make sure to check any cracks in the foundation or exterior walls, as well as the roof and windows. These are all places where water could leak in and should be are checked regularly.
Make Sure Your Home Is in Good Repair
Keep in mind that not all water damage is totally obvious. Sometimes you have to go looking for it to realize you’ve got an ongoing problem. Keep your home in good repair by sealing any cracks or holes in the exterior walls and foundation, making sure you have good ventilation in moisture-prone areas inside the home, and keeping up with inspection and maintenance of your home.
Finally, if water damage does occur for any reason, act quickly to fix the problem. Be sure to remove all standing water and moisture evidence. Consult with a home repair expert, if needed, to correct any leaks or water damage for good.
5 Tips for Dryer Safety
By · CommentsThere is a little-known cause of home fires that results from a clothes dryer that malfunctions and catches on fire. Now, some people like to make jokes that dryers cause pairs of socks or other garments to disappear forever, but this problem is actually quite serious.
When a dryer operates, it blows hot air while spinning at high rate to evaporate the water from the clothing. This makes the vent of the dryer a very important piece of this appliance, both for operation and for safety. Tiny pieces of material from clothing accumulate as lint and are highly flammable. Because of this home fires due to lack of dryer safety are actually quite common. They most often occur as a result of not cleaning out the lint filter and a mechanical failure that can cause the lint to catch on fire.
Proper maintenance of this vent and dryer safety are very important to prevent fires and keep the appliance operating normally. Here are some tips to make sure the your dryer is in good working order:
- The dryer and the vent are fully connected. The dryer can operate without this connection, but this will result in a lot of steam filling the room and there is a high risk of fire and mechanical failure. Make sure these parts are fully connected by checking on the back of the dryer or on the wall behind it.
- 2. There is no restriction of airflow. The dryer vent is flexible and can easily be crushed or kinked when placed against a wall. Any airflow restrictions are a potential fire hazard, so a clean, unobstructed vent is very important.
- 3. The lint from inside the dryer is cleaned out. Cleaning out the lint filter not only helps the dryer work more efficiently, but pieces of lint are highly flammable and if the dryer overheats, this can trigger sparks and cause a serious home fire. Be sure to clean the lint filter after every cycle and put it back into the appliance.
- 4. The area is clean behind the dryer. Since dryers are usually pushed into walls and small spaces, lint and dust tends to build up behind the dryer. This area should be kept free of dust, clothing and other objects as it can get very hot.
- 5. Only clothing items are placed in the dryer. Putting plastic, metal, rubber, or foam pieces can contribute to a dryer safety issues. In addition, if clothes in the washing machine have had flammable substances spilled on them such as gasoline, they should not be placed in the dryer.
Lately, make sure to have a working smoke detector in the laundry room as a precaution. By following these dryer safety tips you’ll greatly reduce any problems that could occur and also have a more efficient appliance.
For more information read the article Dryer Vent Safety.
5 Electrical Safety Hazards
By · CommentsElectricity is an important part of any home, but it can also be a significant hazard. While many electrical fires and injuries are due to appliances or electrical systems malfunctioning, a greater portion of problems are from misuse and poor maintenance or appliances, as well as overloaded circuits and extension cords and incorrect wiring.
Here are some of the top electrical safety hazards:
- Extension cords under carpet: This can pose a big problem if the cord is under the carpet, becomes damaged, and then overheats and catches fire. The da
mage can be caused from foot traffic, furniture, or general wear and tear, and it won’t be readily visible. This can be especially bad in home where the cord is forgotten about and deteriorates, so extension cords under carpet are a major electrical safety hazard. - Electrical appliances: Any appliance you can plug in needs to be treated with care and common sense. Never leave paper or plastic close to a hot appliance or store appliances so they may tip over. Always unplug appliances when not in use and check periodically for corroded wires, cracked insulation, defective parts, and anything else that might not work properly. Also, remember to use caution with space heaters, electric blankets, and be sure to keep plugged in appliances away from water.
- Electrical outlets and cords: Electrical outlets can be especially unsafe for young children and safety plugs should be inserted in unused outlets, as well as electrical safety emphasized to children. Also, the use of electrical cords should be minimal and there should be enough electrical capacity in outlets. It is recommended that all electrical outlets are three-hole grounded outlets. If an outlet is located in the bathroom or outdoors, it should have a GFI or Ground Fault Interrupter outlet.
- Electrical wiring: All electrical wiring in your house should be up to wiring safety code. In addition, if you have had small rodents in your home or the walls, the wires will need to be checked to ensure they are not being damaged.
- Power Lines: Many people aren’t aware of overhead and underground power lines. Unfortunately, there have been electrocutions when people accidently put an object in the way of a power line, such as ladders, antennas, kites, and poles. Tress and bushes can also be a hazard, as well as animals who get caught in trees near power lines. Power lines are dangerous to touch, whether they are standing straight up or fallen down.
Keep electrical safety hazardous in check and be sure to also check out the article for Electrical Safety more information.
