How is your Chimney?

Look up, look way up, how is your chimney? Maybe use a pair of binoculars to examine the condition of your chimney.

Some chimneys are clad with stucco over wood framing with a flue insert, others are traditional brick and mortar. No matter which type you have they need to be visually inspected once a year.

The following picture is of my neighbor's chimney. We noticed that some bricks were in our front yard. We couldn't figure out where the bricks came from until I looked up.

Our neighbor's chimney was disintegrating. The mortar between the bricks was old and turning into powder. The bricks were falling down daily.  The chimney had to be taken down completely.

Check your chimney before it starts to fall down and injure someone. Also don't climb on the roof to inspect your chimney unless you know you can do it safely, hiring a professional is a safer bet.

Sweater Day

Hey guys sweater day is this February 9th. The whole gist is that if you wear a sweater and turn your thermostat down just 2 degrees you could save $150 on your heating bill.
Not a bad idea. Check out www.sweaterday.ca

Rain Rain Everywhere

If you live in the pacific west coast you have been inundated with rain this winter. Just looking outside my window this afternoon the rain is just pouring down. This reminds me to do a quick walk around my house and check what the rain is doing to my house and my yard.

First thing I do is look at the grounds around the house.
-Is water collecting anywhere?
-Is there water pooling around the area of the foundation?
-Is water collecting on the lawn area? If it is collecting then you might have to address lawn drainage later in the year.
-How are your gutters handling the heavy rain downpour? If they are overflowing then maybe they're clogged.
-How are the gutter's downspouts coping with the rain. Are they still properly connected? Are they draining into a proper city drainage system or at least draining 3 or more feet away from the foundation of the house.

Winter rain storms can cause havoc with gutters and downspouts. Keeping an eye on them will help prevent leaks in the future.

Cost of roofing

With everyone counting their pennies these days a re-roofing could just break the budget and the bank account. But what to do when you've got a leaky roof? Well the best interim measure is to tarp it. I've seen roofs that were tarpped for 3 years before the roof was done. With advent of colored tarps you might even be able to match your homes colour! if you can't install the tarp yourself hire someone to do it. It may cost you hundreds of dollars but it is cheaper than a re-roof and will buy you time until you have funds to do it properly.

Fertilize Now

This spring buy the appropriate fertilizers and fertilize your flower beds; shrubs; vegetable garden and grass. Do it now and you'll be rewarded later.

Pre Spring Gardening

On the westcoast of Canada close to the 49th parallel we are experiencing a mild winter. Take this opportunity to get a jump on gardening and cleanup. While your garden is dormant, now is the time to do some cleanup. Rake out those garden beds and turn over the compost. Check around the perimeter of your house to see if any rodents are burrowing holes. If you find rodents that close get rid of them! If you have stuff or just junk leaning against your house clean it up or you'll attract pests who'll nest there. When they are so close to your house they'll find a way to get in so be vigilant. Pruning shrubs and trees when the chance of frost has past is a good thing to get done now. Remember to check if any tree beaches are touching your house, trim them back if they are.

Sump Pump Backup Systems

It's raining outside and a strong wind blows a tree down and takes out power in your neighborhood. The ground water is rising in your sump and with no power to operate the pump a flooded basement is inevitable. What can you do to prevent a flooded basement during a power outage? A sump pump backup system can save the day. I'm going to cover two options that a do it yourself (diy) homeowner can tackle.

FIRST OPTION: Buy a backup generator. You can purchase a small unit for under $200 which can be brought out of storage to run the pump. If you wanted to go more elaborate a large generator can be permanently installed. This generator can be operated by an automatic switch. When the power goes off this switch turns on the generator. When the power comes on again the switch turns off the generator. This type of installation will cost approximately $4000. This type of installation would require a professional electrician.

SECOND OPTION: Install a water powered sump pump. This is a very low cost effective solution. This option uses no electricity but the water pressure from your water pipes. When this pump comes on the water pressure runs the pump and discharges the water and the sump water out the drainage hose. When installed the float switch on this system will have to be set higher than the float on your main pump. Otherwise this backup system will come on before the main electrical pump. If your water line is broken during a storm this system obviously won't work. But then a flooded basement may be the least of your worries.

Sump Pump Maintenance

Does your home have a sump pump? Most are located in the basement close to the laundry room. A float switch on the sump pump senses the level of the ground water as it rises and activates the pump. The pump discharges the water to keep the basement from flooding. It's a good idea to check the operation of the sump pump annually, especially before the rainy season. Take the lid off the sump and do a visual inspection. Scoop out any floating debris. Make sure the discharge hose or pipe is securely fastened to the pump. Move the float switch up to activate the pump. See how high the switch has to be lifted to activate the pump. The switch should turn the pump on when the sump is approximately two thirds full of water. Check the electrical connection to make sure it is not frayed. If everything seems OK replace the lid. Your sump pump should be ready for another season. A flooded basement could be a disastrous situation so keep an eye on your sump. When it is raining heavily listen to see if it comes on automatically. If you have concerns or doubts about your sump pump call in a qualified plumber to check it.

Your Crawl Space

If your home doesn't have an in ground basement then it may have a crawl space. Have you ever taken a look in there? Today's new homes with crawl spaces will have the floor of the crawl space skim coated with concrete over plastic to keep the moisture down. If your home is older you may only have gravel on the floor of the crawl space and nothing else. With only gravel, the moisture coming up from the ground could be quite high and this moisture will eventually penetrate the rest of your home. Mold could also develop and cause serious health problems. An inexpensive fix would be to cover the gravel with thick construction plastic. Make sure that the plastic is well taped on any overlaps, joints and against the concrete foundation. Doing this will dramatically reduce moisture and give you a healthier home to live in. If you already have concrete in your crawl space it is wise to inspect it yearly. Look for signs of pests and find out how they got there. Check for pooling water which may be a sign of a clogged perimeter drainage system. Remember it's often the hidden places of your home that bring the most headaches. Keep a yearly check on it and you'll be ahead of the game.

HRV - Heat Recovery Ventilation

Heat Recovery Ventilation systems are an excellent way of bringing in fresh air and removing stale humid air. HRV systems rated for 1500 square feet cost about $700 - $1000 (not installed). HRV systems operate by replacing the exhausted air with fresh outside air. The outside air is warmed up by going through an heat exchanger which is heated by the warm air being exhausted. HRV's can be installed in any home.