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...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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 ...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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