Home Maintenance

When and How to Check your Furnace - With temperatures starting to drop, we recommend you test your furnace NOW. There are several reasons to do so:  Ensure you are prepared when the cold weather hits  It’s easier to get an appointment if you need one now than later in October  Gives you ample time if any replacement parts are required  Catching any problems now could help save money in the long run Testing is simple: 1. Turn your thermostat to heat setting Turn your thermostat to the heating function and set the temperature to 5 degrees warmer than the current temperature in your home. 2. Check to see if the furnace and furnace fan respond It should turn on and start blowing air. 3. Listen for any unusual sounds coming from your furnace It’s not uncommon to hear faint hums and some small pinging sounds from the ducts. 4. Move from room to room and place your hand over the vents in different areas of your home: With older, single-stage furnaces, you should feel warm air coming from the vent shortly after turning…

2022 Summer Season Checklist - Your 2022 Summer Season Checklist is here!  Get your home summer-ready with this checklist that tackles your home inside and out.   1. Wash windows inside and out Keep that summer sunshine streaming in by giving windows a quick rinse with glass cleaner or a vinegar solution, then squeegee them dry or wipe with a clean microfiber cloth. If you want to avoid using a ladder outside, reach exterior windows with a window-washing hose attachment or telescoping window washer, or hire a window-washing service to get the job done.  You’ll be amazed how much more light will stream in and how much clearer your view will be.    2. Power wash and reseal your deck Blast away that dirt and grime buildup from your deck, this will help prevent any wood from splitting, graying or cracking. Before you start, prep the surface by removing debris with a broom or leaf blower. If your deck has started to fade in colour, consider sealing it up with a stain to protect it from the elements.   3. Have…

Everything You Need to Know About Finishing a Base… - Everything You Need to Know About Finishing a Basement With Canadians spending more time at home, opportunities to level-up our living spaces continue to present themselves. You may have spent time pampering your pets, setting a new tone in the bathroom, or even performing some long-overdue home maintenance. If you’ve been considering uncharted home improvement territory, then it could be time to finish your basement. Let’s look at some key considerations to help you plan for this project. Is it worthwhile? Undoubtedly this is one of the biggest projects you can undertake in your home, and it carries some risks as well as a hefty price tag. On the flipside, you’ll not only increase the livable space in your home, your property value could see a substantial boost. Whether you hire a pro to complete the work or execute this epic DIY yourself, the added value alone makes this a worthy endeavour (if approached correctly). Besides general considerations for this project, you’ll…

How to Control the Cost of Your Bathroom Remodel - How to Control the Cost of Your Bathroom Remodel Bathroom designers offer 10 budget-saving tips for layouts, materials, fixtures and more You don’t have to fritter away a fortune on a new bathroom. Our experts reveal their 10 insider tips for getting a beautiful bathing space while keeping expenses in check. After all, solid gold faucets, a walk-in rain shower and a whirlpool tub are optional. 1. Plan a Sensible Layout If you want to avoid expensive mistakes, getting the floor plan right is rule No. 1. “Ask your [bathroom pro] for suggestions and opinions as to what might work before you get your heart set on a layout, product or idea that can’t be realized — either at all or within a sensible budget,” Justin Wedgbury of Flush Fitting says. “I’ve been to houses where people have bought shower enclosures that totally dominate a room and leave tiny spaces to sidestep around, or devised a layout that means the door hits the basin when opened. “When visiting a showroom,…

To-Dos: Your April Home Checklist - Kick spring cleaning into high gear, and troubleshoot cooling and irrigation systems for the warmer months ahead. With lengthening days and milder temperatures in many parts of the country, April is a wonderful time to freshen up the home inside and out. From windows that sparkle to a clutter-free garage, here are 13 tasks to make the most of the first full month of spring. Clean gutters and downspouts. Having your home’s gutters and downspouts cleaned (and repaired if necessary) is one of the first important tasks to schedule this season. Clogged gutters during a rainy spring can cause water to pool, potentially damaging the roof and siding. Wash siding. Using a regular garden hose, attach a siding cleaning kit (available at most home improvement stores) to clear away winter grime from your home’s siding. Spruce up the front porch. Clean the porch floor, exterior windows, windowsills and front door. Wipe cobwebs from the ceiling and high corners. Lay down a fresh doormat and plant…

10 Things to do in March - Simple ways to make the most of the month of March Open those shutters and pack away the long johns -- spring is just around the corner! After months of hiding inside from the cold, it's time to flush out the stale winter blahs and prepare your home for a fresh new season. 1. Get the mould out With increased time indoors and more contact with your furnishings, bacteria and moulds have been multiplying in your carpets and upholstery all winter long. Yikes! It's a time to give all fabrics a good shampoo to nip these nasties in the bud, especially before the weather gets wet and rainy as moisture helps moulds grow faster. Also, take a look around your windowpanes for fuzzy black growth, scrub with an unscented detergent then dry quickly. And don't forget the fridge -- give it a good wipe-down, throw away spoiled foods and clean up any sign of mildew along the seals.  2. A breath of fresh air After blasting heated air through your home all winter it's time to clean out…

Furnaces to shower heads: Which home upgrades qual… - Ontario homeowners making environmentally friendly renovations to their properties can qualify for provincial rebates on upgrades ranging from furnaces and windows to faucets and shower heads, CTV News has learned. Details of the rebates were obtained by CTV Toronto more than a month after the initiative wasreported exclusively by Queen's Park Bureau Chief Paul Bliss. Earlier this year, the government announced the start of a $100 million program meant to help the province reach its aggressive greenhouse gas reduction goals. Homes and buildings are among the top emitters. RELATED STORIES Province offering rebates for eco-friendly renovations PHOTOS   Ontario homeowners making environmentally-friendly renovations to their properties can qualify for provincial rebates on upgrades ranging from furnaces and windows to faucets and shower heads, CTV News has learned. In an effort to encourage green upgrades, the government announced it would provide rebates to homeowners making environmentally…

Spring is just around the corner! What Every Home… - Preparing your lawn for spring is easy with these five no-sweat steps. Start with a clear workspace. Pick up sticks and rake away dead leaves so you can get a good look at your lawn. In recent winter months, snowmen were the only detectable “life” in your yard. But now that Frosty has succumbed to puddlehood, it’s time to get ready for spring! Jumpstart your lawn resurrection as soon as the ground defrosts, and you’ll avoid a muddy disaster zone come April — not to mention ignite your neighbors’ envy. Here’s what to do: 1.  Assess the mess “As soon as you can stand being outdoors for an extended period of time, see what hand you’ve been dealt by Mother Nature,” says Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for the National Association of Landscape Professionals. Case your property for thrown branches, dead leaves, and other debris. Clear it away so you’re able to do a general inspection of your soil, lawn, trees, shrubs, and garden structures. See what…