Fall Maintenance
When fall arrives it is time to start to prepare your home for the winter months. Committing a few hours on a Saturday afternoon will reduce the risk of costly repairs in the future. Here are some tips to help you, Test your heating system, I recommend a gas furnace be service every two years by a qualified technician. Atco gas will also come out at a homeowners request and inspect all gas lines and gas appliances and no cost to the home owner. Check, clean or replace your furnace filter. You should repeat this every month during the heating season, this will optimize air flow throughout...
Read MoreHumidifiers
Most homes have a Humidifier built onto the side of the furnace. Recently there is new information that this type of humidifier is affecting both Air Quality and Furnace Life. Furnace mounted Humidifiers put moisture directly into your heating ducts. This moisture needs to be much higher in the ducts in order to control the humidity in your home. Moisture in the ducts, combined with dust and heat, promotes mold growth. Once you have mold in your ducts, that mold is being blown around your home every time your furnace turns on. This same moisture is also blowing across the Heat Exchanger in...
Read MoreSummer Maintenance
Inspecting your home on a regular basis and following good maintenance practices is the best way to protect the investment you have in your home. Here are some tips to maintain your home through the summer. Check your roof, using binoculars look for missing worn or curling shingles, damage to flashing around penetrations or a sag in the roof. If you find these conditions consult a roofer. Check all the exterior wood and repaint as required include your doors, windows, deck and fence. Trim back any trees or shrubs that are approaching the home or its overhead electrical services In...
Read MoreHome Fire Escape Planning
A fire can spread rapidly through your home, leaving you as little as three minutes to escape safely. Your ability to get out depends on advance warning from smoke alarms and advance planning – a home fire escape plan that everyone in your home is familiar with and has practiced. These tips can help you put together and practice an effective home fire escape plan. Fire Facts • Most fire deaths in Alberta happen in homes, especially at night when people are asleep. People, who die in home fires, often die from breathing the smoke and toxic gases from the fire—not from being burned by flames....
Read MoreShedding Water
The way a house “sheds” water is the key to moisture control inside your home. I was called out to many homes this summer due to flooding basements to help find the source of the water or to investigate for mold due to the water. In most cases the water problem was easily preventable. During the fall and winter months, water is rarely an issue due to the lack of rain and the frozen snow. Many people forget to take the steps to get there home ready for the spring thaw and the rain that is very common in spring and early summer. A little work can prevent serious problems later....
Read MoreAsbestos
I have been researching asbestos and recently took a class regarding asbestos detection, management and removal. I felt as a home inspector I should have all the facts about asbestos, since it is a common question asked by my clients during a home inspection. Asbestos is a fiber found in the veins of rock. Its use can be traced back thousands of years. Asbestos became very popular during WW2 due to its strength, resistance to high temperatures, resistance to corrosion and insulating qualities. It was widely used on warships at this time. After the war its useful properties became very...
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