Posts Tagged ‘Home Maintenance’

Fall home maintenance tips from CMHC

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

Courtesy of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation:

Check windows for damage to caulking or the wood finish.

Take a few minutes each week this fall to perform a few simple tasks, which will help you to avoid the most common — and costly — problems before they occur.

Protect Your Home — and Your Investment!

Your house is more than the place where you live, it’s your home and your most important investment. Carrying out a regular program of maintenance and repairs can help you protect that investment, and help keep your family safe and sound in every season.

In Fall, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation suggests you take a few minutes each week to perform the following simple tasks, which will help you to avoid the most common — and costly — problems before they occur. Some of these tasks include:

  • Check and clean or replace your furnace filters on a monthly basis during the heating season.
  • Have your furnace or heating system serviced by a qualified service company (every two years for a gas furnace and every year for an oil furnace).
  • Bleed air from the hot water radiators, and turn the gas furnace pilot light on.
  • Vacuum electric baseboard heaters to remove dust, remove the grilles on forced-air heating systems and vacuum inside the ducts.
  • If you have a heat recovery ventilator (HRV), clean the outside air intake grill, the filters inside the unit, and the core, and pour water down the condensate drain to test it.
  • Have well water tested for quality.
  • Check the sump pump and line to ensure proper operation. There should be no line obstructions or visible leaks.
  • If you have a septic tank, measure the sludge and scum to determine if it needs to be emptied before spring. Tanks should be pumped out at least once every three years.
  • Replace window screens with storm windows, and ensure all windows, doors and skylights shut tightly, including the door between your house and garage.
  • Ensure that the ground around your home slopes away from the foundation wall to prevent water from draining into the basement.
  • Clean leaves from eavestroughs and downspouts to ensure proper drainage from the roof, and check chimneys for nests or other obstructions.
  • Cover the outside of air conditioners, and drain and store outdoor hoses. Close the valve to the outdoor hose connection, and drain the faucet (unless it is frost proof).
  • Winterize landscaping by storing outdoor furniture, preparing gardens and, if necessary, protecting young trees or bushes for winter.

For more information or a free copy of the “About Your House” fact sheet Home Maintenance Schedule or for information on any other aspect of owning, maintaining or buying a home, visit our Web site at www.cmhc.ca or call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is Canada’s national housing agency and a source of objective, reliable housing expertise.

Comments on this story are moderated

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Backyards, Cleaning, Environment, Flowers and Plants, GTA, Gardening, Living in Milton, Maintenance, Renovations, Seasonal | 3 Comments »

Home Maintenance Tips for Summer

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

Courtesy of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation:

Check windows for damage to caulking or the wood finish.

Check windows for damage to caulking or the wood finish.

Protect Your Home — and Your Investment!

If you’re like most Canadians, your home is probably your most important investment. A regular schedule of maintenance and repairs can help you protect that investment — and keep your family healthy and safe and sound — for years to come.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has a checklist of simple inspections and repairs that can help you put a stop to the most common and costly problems before they occur, often in as little as a few minutes a week, including:

  • Check and clean your range hood filters on a monthly basis.
  • Use a dehumidifier if necessary to keep the relative humidity level in your basement at or below 60 per cent.
  • Check basement pipes for condensation or dripping, and take corrective action if needed.
  • Refill the basement floor drain if the trap doesn’t have enough water in it.
  • Run water briefly in fixtures that aren’t used frequently, such as the laundry tub or spare bathroom sink, tub or shower.
  • Deep clean carpets and rugs, and vacuum the bathroom fan grille.
  • Disconnect the duct connected to your clothes dryer and vacuum lint from the duct, the areas surrounding the dryer and the vent hood outside.
  • Check all windows, door hinges and garage door opener hardware for smooth operation, and lubricate as required.
  • Replace damaged caulking and weatherstripping around windows and doorways, including the doorway between the garage and the house.
  • Inspect electrical service lines for secure attachment where they enter the house, and make sure no water is leaking into your home along the electrical conduit.
  • Check the exterior wood siding and clean, replace or refinish it as needed.
  • Seal off any holes in the exterior cladding that could become entry points for pests.
  • Check your roof for sagging or damaged shingles, and examine all roof flashings at chimney and roof joints for signs of cracks or leaks.
  • Inspect and sweep chimneys connected to any woodburning appliance or fireplace.
  • Repair the driveway and walkways if needed, and repair any damaged steps, guardrails or handrails that could pose a safety problem.

For more information or a free copy of the “About Your House” fact sheet Home Maintenance Schedule and other fact sheets on owning, maintaining or renovating your home, ask CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit our Web site at www.cmhc.ca. For over 60 years, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has been Canada’s national housing agency, and a source of objective, reliable housing expertise.

Comments on this story are moderated

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in GTA, Maintenance, Renovations, Seasonal | No Comments »

The push toward reel mowers

Monday, June 15th, 2009

From the Toronto Star:

Scotts Turf Mower is light and affordable.

Scott's Turf Mower is light and affordable.

Low-tech option can mean healthier, greener lawns and less noise pollution

There are few places lovelier than a still, green garden on a weekend morning in the summer. That is, of course, until a chorus of whining gas or electric lawn mowers break the silence.

Switch to a push reel mower, and you’ll do more than strike a blow against noise pollution. You’ll begin seeing a healthier, greener lawn, according to Michelle Bastien, a seasonal sales associate at a Home Depot in Windsor.

“Reel mowers slice the grass, like a guillotine, instead of shredding it like a rotary blade can do,” she explains. “That means the roots don’t get tugged, which can weaken them, and the tops of the blades are less likely to get burned.”

As of this week, Bastien says she was sold out of push models as evidence of their rising popularity.

“I think that’s partly because the quality and performance has improved so much over the last few years – they’re lighter and easier to push. Even at the lower end of the price range, you get a pretty good product.”

She credits changes in design, such as the addition of two smaller wheels behind the reel, for making the machines more stable and easier to push.

Having recently tested several reel mowers, I’ve become a staunch supporter of this low-tech option. I like the fact they’re not noisy and don’t require fussing with gas or cords. Pushing a manual mower can be a bit of a workout, but I count that as a plus. I’d rather be getting some gentle upper-body exercise in the fresh air than in a sweatbox of a gym.

The first machine I tried was Scott’s 14-inch Turf Mower. Available at Home Depot and other retailers for about $100, it’s very affordable. At just 20 pounds, it’s one of the lighter models, which means that even an average-sized 12 year old could use it with ease. It’s simple to put together; not even a wrench is required for assembly. I did, however, find it got stuck on twigs and sticks fairly easily, and that it did not handle uneven patches on the lawn as well as heavier models with a second set of wheels do.

Unlike the other models I tried, this machine had bicycle-style handles, as opposed to a D-shaped handle. That, along with the fact that the rubber grips kept sliding along the handle, meant I had less control over the machine than I would like.

I also tried two larger push reel mowers. One was from Duramax, Lowe’s house brand, and the other a Mark’s Choice product, an exclusive Home Hardware brand endorsed by garden expert Mark Cullen that I’d found in the past to offer good quality and value.

This is the first Duramax product I’ve tried and I’m impressed. This easy-to-assemble mower, which weighs 34 pounds, has a five-blade reel and cuts a path 20-inches wide. It has two 10-inch wheels mounted on the reel, and two six-inch wheels behind the reel. It’s got good manoeuvrability and remained fairly stable over areas of irregular height. Blades can be adjusted to cut the grass at nine different heights between 1 7/10 and 2 7/10 inches. It comes with a large mesh bag that attaches to the back of the mower for collecting grass clippings. It sells for $147 at Lowe’s.

The Mark’s Choice mower, available at Home Hardware for $199, looks similar to Lowe’s offering, although it’s a lovely glossy red and weighs half a pound more. It, too, has five blades, a 20-inch cutting path, identically sized wheels and a grass catcher basket. It has a wider front panel, which may mean that stones or twigs that are thrown up into the reel are less likely to fly out and ding you in the face. The blades can be adjusted to cut at a height of between 1 3/4 and three inches. It seemed to me to offer a slightly smoother ride – perhaps because there are two springs that attach the front panel to the bottom blade.

Like the Scott’s reel mower, the sleekly designed Gardena 4024 push reel mower has just two wheels and, at just 11 pounds, is much lighter. But it’s a much sturdier machine and at $249, it should be. For that price, you get a non-stick hardened steel cutting cylinder and a very quiet cut, as the cutting cylinder and bottom bar don’t actually touch. It cuts a 15-inch path, and the blade can be adjusted between a half and 1.7 inches.

Comments on this story are moderated

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Backyards, Environment, Seasonal, Sustainability | No Comments »

Spring home maintenance tips

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

From Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation:

Your Spring Home Maintenance Checklist from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

Protect your home – and your investment!

If you’re like most Canadians, your home is probably your most important investment. It’s also the place where you and your family tend to spend a great deal of time. A regular schedule of seasonal maintenance can help you protect that investment for years to come, and help keep your home – and your family – healthy, safe and sound all year round.

This spring, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has a short checklist of simple inspections and repairs that can help you put a stop to the most common and costly problems before they occur, in as little as a few minutes a week, including:

– Check your furnace, air exchanger and air conditioner filters, and clean or replace them if needed.

– Check and clean your range hood filters on a monthly basis.

– Make sure all indoor and outdoor air vents (intake, exhaust and forced air) are clear of snow and debris.

– From the ground or any overlooking windows, check your roof for missing or damaged shingles. Have any damaged ones repaired.

– Check the condition of caulking around windows and doors. Replace as necessary.

– Test ground fault circuit interrupter(s) on electrical outlets each month by pushing the test button, which should cause the reset button to pop up.

– Consult your hot water tank owner’s manual and follow its recommendations for testing the temperature and pressure relief valve to ensure it isn’t stuck. If you are unsure, consult a plumber.

– Shut down and clean the furnace humidifier, and close the furnace humidifier damper on units with central air conditioning.

– Have your fireplace or wood-stove and chimney cleaned and serviced as needed.

– Clear all drainage ditches and culverts of debris.

– Check smoke, carbon monoxide and security alarms, and replace their batteries.

– Clean all windows, screens and window hardware. Repair any holes in screens or replace them if necessary.

– Open the valve to the outside hose connection once any danger of frost has passed.

– Examine the foundation walls for cracks, leaks or signs of moisture, and repair them if required.

– Repair and paint fences as needed.

– Make sure your sump pump is operating properly before the spring thaw sets in, and ensure the discharge pipe allows water to drain away from the foundation.

– Re-level any exterior steps or decks which may have moved due to frost or settling.

– Clean any debris from eavestroughs and downspouts, reattach any sections that are loose, and make sure they are securely attached to your home and that the flow of water discharges away from your foundation.

– Have well water tested for quality, and test for bacteria every six months.

– Carry out any spring landscaping and, if necessary, fertilize young trees.

For more information or a free copy of the “About Your House” fact sheet Home Maintenance Schedule and other fact sheets on owning, maintaining or renovating your home, ask CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit our website at www.cmhc.ca. For over 60 years, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has been Canada’s national housing agency, and a source of objective, reliable housing expertise.

Comments on this story are moderated

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Backyards, GTA, Maintenance, Seasonal | No Comments »

Getting down to business

Monday, December 1st, 2008

From YourHome.ca:

By: Colin McAllister & Justin Ryan of Colin and Justin’s Home Heist

Sometimes a small alcove in a home can be turned into a tidy, stylish office like this niche space, which is only about six-foot-square.

Sometimes a small alcove in a home can be turned into a tidy, stylish office like this niche space, which is only about six-foot-square.

Business, darlings, is booming; on the home front, at least. Sure, there’s a global hesitation and house prices have stabilized, but, when it comes to working under one’s own roof, more of us than ever before are doing it. As Canadians we (yes, we know – but permit us this indulgence as our quest for citizenship endures) have more space per household than most Europeans and more square footage than many Americans. So let’s use it properly.

Locating your home office

With a little jiggery pokery, even the most unassuming nook can be successfully commandeered. Space under stairs, or the landing between floors, is potentially perfect fodder. Even your mud room can be cleverly replanned to accommodate a desk, computer link and seating. Hey, one minute you’re unbuckling your outdoor shoes … next thing you’re checking share values!

Out of the closet

Walk-in wardrobes make great compact offices. Build a floating desk to instantly create the perfect work zone. Wire it to provide overhead lighting and install plug points – one above and one below your counter – to take care of standard office equipment.

Choosing furniture

Good home office furniture shouldn’t look like regular office furniture. Instead of selecting a filing cabinet with typically industrial aesthetics, use a regular drawer set to store paperwork. If you already have a small storage chest, make it “do the business” by installing easy-fit compartmentalized filing racks to provide ample stash space for all your requirements.

Bedroom business

Create a visibly “blurred” dual function in your guest room. Opt for a sofa bed (so there’s room for a desk) and allow your home business to blossom. Simply pack up office paraphernalia and unfold comfy overnight sleeping accommodation as required.

The business of dining

Could be that all you need to run an efficient home office is enough space at your dining room table to position a laptop. For best results, set aside a couple of drawers in your hutch to keep paperwork and ancillary home office stationary out of sight.

Planning a home office

Now you’ve decided where your home office is going, let’s look at how it’ll work on a daily basis. How much furniture can you squeeze in without congesting your space? Is there room for a regular-sized desk? Or will space dictate you need to buy one with smaller than standard proportions?

Whichever desk you choose, whether custom or shop-bought, ensure it has good ergonomics. Wrists need around six inches of “rest space” in front of the keyboard and elbows need at least 20 inches either side to articulate properly. Ensure legs can move comfortably underneath without feeling restricted, allow sufficient room for filing cabinets to open properly, and space plan so you can reach shelves or cabinetry without having to overstretch.

Organizing clutter

Don’t let office paraphernalia run away with itself or you’ll ruin productivity. When we’re putting together projects, we always include discreetly positioned baskets and drawers to organize every detail. Remember – a cluttered office reflects clutter in other areas of your life.

The softening effect

Incorporate non-work-related aspects (such as family photos or objects with sentimental value) to ensure you feel “personalized” in your chosen office corner. If everything is too clinical, output will be affected. If possible, try and locate your office near a window. A view toward the garden or a busy street will help you remain alert and focused.

Choosing colour

Dramatic mood can be comfortably added in certain home zones via confident decorating but we’d recommend that in the work-from-home environment you play things at a rather more sedate tempo.

Even public access Internet cafes know what they’re doing by styling venues in a low-key – and never over-the-top – manner. With visitors paying by time, it’s in their best interest to keep you focused on the job and not propelled out the door courtesy of distracting decor. Which means everyone is happy – you get more work done and they get the revenue.

Working on a similar principle to this we’d suggest creating a subtle background for your home office design. Almond shades, soft taupes, subtle yellows and light greens are organic tones that will relax you so your concentration remains fixed on the matter in hand – getting the job done. As is generally the case in compact spaces (whatever their function), it’s best to add colour via accessories.

Keep rooms style-conscious but remember that less is often more. Could be all you need is a lovely piece of art to provide limited distraction or a strategically placed scatter cushion. Or perhaps a brightly coloured ceramic to add a little visual punch in an otherwise corporate (albeit domestic) world.

Lighting

Setting atmosphere via lighting is always important, not least in the home office. Too much glare and you’ll distract a productive mood, too little and your workspace will feel dull.

Throughout our designs (whether TV or private commission) we’re all about a considered combo of “task” and “mood” lighting, and so, with this in mind, add a desktop lamp (preferably one with angle poise construction that can be twisted and directed as required) and sufficient overhead lighting to create perfect balance. And don’t forget to install one of our tried and tested instant mood fixers – the good old Canadian dimmer switch; 20 bucks of hardware for serious light level flexibility.

TIPS

Get rid! Don’t keep every scrap of correspondence that enters your home. Be vigilant about recycling – only retain what you actually need. Wherever possible, try and run a paper free office and consign what you can to (a backup) computer file.

Unify! Unify mismatched office furniture with a coat of paint or spray varnish. Co-ordinating in this way can create wonderfully streamlined effects.

Go wireless – even modest economic outlays can reap serious rewards. Rid yourself of that dangerous tangle of trip-hazard wiring and tidy up.

Hide remaining hardware: Printers, fax and photocopiers can easily hide behind closed doors to free up counter space. A reworked living room hutch or armoire can be compartmentalized to house an astonishing amount of office kit – not to mention all your paperwork – close at hand.

Keep it light: Leave corporate colours to the corporate world. Forget that dreary palette of dark shades and gloomy mahogany. And, while you’re at it, ditch the green and burgundy leather that typifies the ’70s. Choose a scheme that’s light and fresh so your office wakes you up instead of sending you to sleep.

Balance the budget. You DON’T have to employ a master carpenter to create a workable study. Careful selection of budget furniture (Ikea has a great home office department) or second-hand items will help create the perfect space while leaving you with spare funds for accessories.

Remember the comfort factor – if space permits, try and incorporate some elements of soft furnishings and treat yourself to a little relaxation between bouts of productivity. And remember – one good sofa or chaise is generally better than a squashed selection of chairs and stools.

Keep your dramatic predilections in tow and follow fashion – with care. Okay, while certain style mag editors insist you follow the runway trends of Paris and Milan, we – while certainly not shy to include fashion chez nous – counsel caution. It’s simple (and less expensive) to change your clothes on a whim, but just try changing your interior when the same editors announce that “green is the new black.” You’ll feel you’re living in a space that is decidedly last season!

Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan are the hosts of HGTV’s Colin & Justin’s Home Heist (Tuesdays at 10 p.m.). Go to hgtv.ca/homeheist and colinandjustin.tv for more on the Scottish design team.

Comments on this story are moderated

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Home Organization, Interior Design, Living in Milton, Renovations | No Comments »

Winter Home Maintenance Checklist

Monday, November 17th, 2008

From the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC):

During winter months, it is important to follow routine maintenance procedures, by checking your home carefully for any problems arising and taking corrective action as soon as possible.

During winter months, it is important to follow routine maintenance procedures, by checking your home carefully for any problems arising and taking corrective action as soon as possible.

Regular Maintenance is the Key

Inspecting your home on a regular basis and following good maintenance practices is the best way to protect your investment in your home. Whether you take care of a few tasks at a time or several all at once, it is important to get into the habit of doing them. Establish a routine for yourself and you will find the work is easy to accomplish and not very time consuming. A regular schedule of seasonal maintenance can put a stop to the most common — and costly — problems, before they occur. If necessary, use a camera to take pictures of anything you might want to share with an expert for advice or to monitor or remind you of a situation later.

By following the information noted here, you will learn about protecting your investment and how to help keep your home a safe and healthy place to live.

If you do not feel comfortable performing some of the home maintenance tasks listed below, or do not have the necessary equipment, for example a ladder, you may want to consider hiring a qualified handy person to help you.

Seasonal Home Maintenance

Most home maintenance activities are seasonal. Fall is the time to get your home ready for the coming winter, which can be the most grueling season for your home. During winter months, it is important to follow routine maintenance procedures, by checking your home carefully for any problems arising and taking corrective action as soon as possible. Spring is the time to assess winter damage, start repairs and prepare for warmer months. Over the summer, there are a number of indoor and outdoor maintenance tasks to look after, such as repairing walkways and steps, painting and checking your chimney and roof.

While most maintenance is seasonal, there are some things you should do on a frequent basis year round:

• Make sure air vents indoors and outdoors (intake, exhaust and forced air) are not blocked by snow or debris.

• Check and clean range hood filters on a monthly basis.

• Test the ground fault circuit interrupter(s) monthly by pushing the test button, which should then cause the reset button to pop up.

• If there are young children in the house, make sure electrical outlets are equipped with safety plugs.

• Regularly check the house for safety hazards such as a loose handrail, lifting or buckling carpet, etc.

Timing of the seasons varies not only from one area of Canada to another, but also from year to year in a given area. For this reason, we have not identified the months for each season. The maintenance schedule presented here, instead, is a general guide for you to follow. The actual timing is left for you to decide, and you may want to further divide the list of items for each season into months.

Winter Home Maintenance

• Check and clean or replace furnace air filters each month during the heating season. Ventilation system, such as heat recovery ventilator, filters should be checked every two months.

• After consulting your hot water tank owner’s manual, drain off a dishpan full of water from the clean-out valve at the bottom of your hot water tank to control sediment and maintain efficiency.

• Clean humidifier two or three times during the winter season.

• Vacuum bathroom fan grille.

• Vacuum fire and smoke detectors, as dust or spider webs can prevent them from functioning.

• Vacuum radiator grilles on back of refrigerators and freezers, and empty and clean drip trays.

• Check gauge on all fire extinguishers; recharge or replace if necessary.

• Check fire escape routes, door and window locks and hardware, and lighting around outside of house; ensure family has good security habits.

• Check the basement floor drain to ensure the trap contains water. Refill with water if necessary.

• Monitor your home for excessive moisture levels—for example, condensation on your windows, which can cause significant damage over time and pose serious health problems—and take corrective action. Refer to the About Your House fact sheet: Measuring Humidity in Your Home.

• Check all faucets for signs of dripping and change washers as needed. Faucets requiring frequent replacement of washers may be in need of repair.

• If you have a plumbing fixture that is not used frequently, such as a laundry tub or spare bathroom sink, tub or shower stall, run some water briefly to keep water in the trap.

• Clean drains in dishwasher, sinks, bathtubs and shower stalls.

• Test plumbing shut-off valves to ensure they are working and to prevent them from seizing.

• Examine windows and doors for ice accumulation or cold air leaks. If found, make a note to repair or replace in the spring.

• Examine attic for frost accumulation. Check roof for ice dams or icicles. If there is excessive frost or staining of the underside of the roof, or ice dams on the roof surface, consult the CMHC About Your House fact sheet: Attic Venting, Attic Moisture and Ice Dams for advice.

• Check electrical cords, plugs and outlets for all indoor and outdoor seasonal lights to ensure fire safety: if worn, or if plugs or cords feel warm to the touch, replace immediately.

Source: CMHC

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Maintenance, Seasonal | No Comments »

One-stop Fall home maintenance guide

Sunday, September 16th, 2007

One-stop Fall home maintenance

It’s getting into the Fall season and every homeowner knows what this means in the months ahead: heating system check up, caulking, weatherproofing, etc. The following checklist touches on a few of the most obvious areas that should be checked before winter sets in.

Check all window and door locks for proper operation.

Windows that can be opened by breaking the glass and unlocking them, are less effective deterrents to criminals. Check with the hardware store for window lock alternatives. All exterior doors should have deadbolt locks.

Check your home for water leaks.

First of all, know where the main water shut off valve is located in your home and check it frequently to make sure it is operational. Then, check the following areas:

Outside Your Home
Leaking roofs, poor drainage, and clogged gutters and downspouts can lead to significant water damage inside your home.

General Tips
• Disconnect garden hoses from all spigots before the start of winter.
• Fill in any low spots around the house so water drains away from the foundation.
• Inspect caulking around windows and doors and replace as needed where cracked or deteriorated.
• Repaint wood siding as needed.

Roof
• Keep roof, valleys, gutters and downspouts free from buildup of leaves, twigs and other litter preventing proper drainage.
• Proper roof and eave ventilation may help extend the life of the roof by reducing the buildup of heat and moisture in the attic.
• Preservatives available for some types of roofs may help limit weathering effects of moisture and retard growth of molds and mosses.
• Avoid walking on a roof to limit wear and tear. Only necessary repairs or inspections should warrant walking on the roof.
• Keep trees trimmed to prevent them from rubbing against the roof or from providing excessive shade.
• Watch for these warning signs:
• Missing, curling, cupping, broken or cracked shingles.
• Damage or deterioration around the flashing at chimneys, vents and other junctions.
• Damage or deterioration in valley areas of the roof.
• Water stains on your ceiling. If possible, check your attic around flues, plumbing vents, and chimneys.
• Pooling or ponds of water that fail to drain from flat or low sloped roofs may indicate low areas and inadequate drainage.

Gutters/Downspouts
• Clean debris from your gutters and inspect them regularly.
• Consider purchasing gutter shields if your gutters frequently fill with debris.
• Downspouts should extend several feet away from the house to carry water away from the foundation.

Make sure there are working nightlights at the top and bottom of all stairs.
Other safety ideas for stairs:
• Tile and painted wood or concrete stairs can be slippery when wet or when a person’s shoes are wet. Resurface the treads with slip-resistant strips near the stair nosing.
• All stairs of at least three risers should have a handrail.
• Do not store items on the stairs.

Have a heating professional check your heating system every year.
Woodburning stove connector pipes and chimneys should be inspected by a certified chimney sweep at least annually.

Protect your home from frozen pipes.
Many families have their homes ruined and their lives disrupted each winter, all because of water pipes that freeze and burst.
And recovering from frozen pipes is not as simple as calling a plumber. A three millimetre crack in a pipe can spew up to 250 gallons (946 liters) of water a day. Both plastic (PVC) and copper pipes can burst.

By taking a few simple precautions, you can save yourself the mess, money and aggravation frozen pipes cause.

Before the cold hits
• Insulate pipes in your home’s crawl spaces and attic. These exposed pipes are most susceptible to freezing. Remember – the more insulation you use, the better protected your pipes will be.
• Heat tape or thermostatically-controlled heat cables can be used to wrap pipes. Be sure to use products approved by an independent testing organization, such as Underwriters Laboratories Inc., and only for the use intended (exterior or interior). Closely follow all manufacturers’ installation and operation instructions.
• Seal leaks that allow cold air inside near where pipes are located. Look for air leaks around electrical wiring, dryer vents and pipes. Use caulk or insulation to keep the cold out and the heat in. With severe cold, even a tiny opening can let in enough cold air to cause a pipe to freeze.
• Disconnect garden hoses and, if practical, use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. This reduces the chance of freezing in the short span of pipe just inside the house.

Replace your furnace filter.
Furnace filters need to be replaced frequently to allow your heating and cooling systems to operate properly.

Run all gas-powered lawn equipment until the fuel tank is empty.
By doing this, you are removing flammable liquid storage from your garage. At the same time, make sure you aren’t storing dirty, oily rags in a pile. They can ignite spontaneously.

Have a certified chimney sweep inspect and clean the flues and check your fireplace damper.
Soot and creosote, which build up inside the chimney, can ignite when a fire is lit in the fireplace.

Remove bird nests from chimney flues and outdoor electrical fixtures.
Bird nests on top of light fixtures are a fire hazard. Bird nests in chimney flues can prevent a proper venting of combustion gases and can catch fire from sparks. You should exercise great caution when working on your roof or consider hiring a qualified professional to take care of any work that needs to be done.

Inspect and clean dust from the covers of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
Remember, only WORKING smoke alarms save lives.

Make sure the caulking around doors and windows is adequate to reduce heat/cooling loss.
Check glazing for loose or missing putty or glazing compound. This will also help reduce water damage to the windows and door frames.

Make sure that the caulking around your bathroom fixtures is adequate to prevent water from seeping into the sub-flooring.
Check for cracked or missing caulk around the base of your toilet, bath tub, and bathroom cabinets. Properly sealing gaps between your bathroom fixtures and flooring material can prevent damage.

Insulation
A well-insulated house literally can provide hundreds of dollars of energy savings throughout the year by keeping you warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
Look:
• In your attic — is it secure, insulation side down, within the studs
• In the walls (if not you may need to have it blown in)
• The unfinished basement or crawl space (you may need to staple it to rafters).
• Attached garage, primarily against any exterior wall or roof
• Underneath a room that does not sit on a concrete foundation

Once you’ve done these few maintenance chores, they should become second-hand next season, and, consequently, easier and easier to finish. Preparing your home for winter in the fall can make life so much easier for you in the cold, dark winter weeks ahead. And you’ll rest easier knowing that you won’t have to fight the elements when the inevitable emergency or problem crops up, as it always does. You can sit back in front of your fireplace with your family and enjoy those cold months secure in your well-protected home!

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Maintenance, Renovations, Seasonal | 1 Comment »