affordable home inspections southern ontarios choice since 1997: What You Can Do...Checking your private wells - 02/17/10 06:25 AM
What You Can Do...
Private, individual wells are the responsibility of the homeowner. To help protect your well, here are some steps you can take:
Have your water tested periodically. It is recommended that water be tested every year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH levels. If you suspect other contaminants, test for those. Always use a state certified laboratory that conducts drinking water tests. Since these can be expensive, spend some time identifying potential problems.
Identify potential problems as the first step to safeguarding your drinking water. The best way to start is … (2 comments)
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affordable home inspections southern ontarios choice since 1997: Drilled Wells - Basic Info - 02/17/10 06:20 AM
Drilled Wells
Drilled wells penetrate about 100-400 feet into the bedrock. Where you find bedrock at the surface, it is commonly called ledge. To serve as a water supply, a drilled well must intersect bedrock fractures containing ground water.
Drilled Well Construction Features
The casing is usually metal or plastic pipe, six inches in diameter that extends into the bedrock to prevent shallow ground water from entering the well. By law, the casing has to extend at least 18 feet into the ground, with at least five feet extending into the bedrock. The casing should also extend a foot or two … (2 comments)
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affordable home inspections southern ontarios choice since 1997: So thats why theres water stain in my bedroom! - 02/01/10 06:37 AM
This is the adjoining wall between two row houses that is in need of immediate repair. Masonary needs repaired, cap added to finished wall, new step flashing and (Can't exactly see from picture) but roof needs replaces (30+ years old)
Courtesy of: Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca
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affordable home inspections southern ontarios choice since 1997: Why is my floor not level? - 01/29/10 07:21 AM
Wood should be kept at least 8" above grade to help prevent moisture damaging and rotting the wood. This extension on a 100 year old farmhouse was built on a stone foundation with what appears to be railroads ties used as the sill plate. It has deteriorated to the point the inside has sloped. Further investigation through the crawlspace found also that the span of the 2x4 floor joists was over 3' apart
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affordable home inspections southern ontarios choice since 1997: Ladybugs bite - 01/24/10 10:14 AM
I was performing an inspection yesterday in an old farmhouse. I noticed some daylight coming through a hole in the wall and when I investigated further I found 2 nests of ladybugs in dormant state. When showing my client I advised them that ladybugs can and will bite. Though they look harmless they can bite, even though the bite usually doesn't lead to much, I'm not sure what a nest full could do.
Courtesy of: Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca
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affordable home inspections southern ontarios choice since 1997: R-Value in Wood - 01/18/10 07:00 AM
In a log home, the wood helps provide some insulation. Wood's thermal resistance or resistance to heat flow is measured by its R-value. The higher the R-value, the more thermal resistance.
The R-value for wood ranges between 1.41 per inch (2.54 cm) for most softwoods and 0.71 for most hardwoods. Ignoring the benefits of the thermal mass, a 6-inch (15.24 cm) thick log wall would have a clear-wall (a wall without windows or doors) R-value of just over 8.
Compared to a conventional wood stud wall [31 D2 inches (8.89 cm) insulation, sheathing, wallboard, a total of about R-14] the … (0 comments)
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affordable home inspections southern ontarios choice since 1997: House Components - Life Expectancy - 01/18/10 06:58 AM
LIFE EXPECTANCY
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affordable home inspections southern ontarios choice since 1997: Are You Planning to Buy or Rent a Home Built Before 1978? - 01/18/10 06:17 AM
Many houses and apartments built before 1978 have paint that contains lead (called lead-based paint). Lead from paint, chips, and dust can pose serious health hazards if not taken care of properly.
Federal law requires that individuals receive certain information before renting or buying a pre-1978 housing:
Residential Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Program LANDLORDS have to disclose known information on lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards before leases take effect. Leases must include a disclosure form about lead-based paint. SELLERS have to disclose known information on lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards before selling a house. Sales contracts must include a disclosure … (0 comments)
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affordable home inspections southern ontarios choice since 1997: Home Safety Checklist - 01/17/10 12:07 PM
Home Safety Checklist
Each year, many older Americans are injured in and around their homes. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that in 1981, over 622,000 people over age 65 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries associated with products they live with and use everyday. CPSC believes that many of these injuries result from hazards that are easy to overlook, but also easy to fix. By spotting these hazards and taking some simple steps to correct them, many injuries might be prevented. Use this checklist to spot possible safety problems which may be present in … (0 comments)
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affordable home inspections southern ontarios choice since 1997: Home Insurance Tips - 01/17/10 12:01 PM
Home Insurance Tips
Why You Need Homeowner's Insurance
The largest single investment most consumers make is in their home. The consumer can protect their home, possessions, and liability with a homeowner's insurance policy. The Homeowner's insurance policy is a package policy that combines more than one type of insurance coverage in a single policy. There are four types of coverage's that are contained in the homeowner's policy: dwelling and personal property, personal liability, medical payments, and additional living expenses.
Property Damage Coverage
Property damage coverage helps pay for damage to your home and personal property. Other structures such as a … (0 comments)
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affordable home inspections southern ontarios choice since 1997: HI Humours Part 1 - 01/17/10 11:56 AM
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affordable home inspections southern ontarios choice since 1997: Jokes Part 2 - 01/13/10 07:03 AM
Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca
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affordable home inspections southern ontarios choice since 1997: Local News – Lidia Kreyman (Sales Representative) joins Sutton Group Innovative Realty - 01/05/10 09:08 AM
Affordable Home Inspections would like to send out a hardy congratulation to you on your new appointment
Courtesy of: Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca
(Graduate of Carson Dunlop and Associates Ltd)
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affordable home inspections southern ontarios choice since 1997: Local News – Matthew Hammermeister (Sales Representative) joins Sutton Group Innovative Realty - 01/05/10 08:55 AM
Affordable Home Inspections would like to send out a hardy congratulation to you on your new appointment
Courtesy of: Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca
(Graduate of Carson Dunlop and Associates Ltd)
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affordable home inspections southern ontarios choice since 1997: Monthly Home Maintenance Schedule - 12/31/09 06:56 AM
General Maintenance
Perform every month or as needed
Safety
__ Inspect fire extinguishers to insure they are fully charged.
__ Check automatic garage door opener's safety reverse.
__ Test smoke detectors.
__ Test Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters.
Heating & Cooling
__ Clean or replace air filters when the system is in use for heating or cooling.
__ Vacuum heat registers, vents and radiators .
__ Listen to your system for unusual noises .
Appliances
__ Drain water from bottom of the water heater.
__ Grind ice cubes to clean garbage disposal. Flush with hot water and baking soda.
__ Clean dishwasher … (0 comments)
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affordable home inspections southern ontarios choice since 1997: Common Questions Asked by Homeowners about Insurance - 12/29/09 07:01 AM
If a fire, flood, earthquake, or some other natural disaster were to destroy or damage your home, would you have the right insurance coverage to rebuild your house? Based on the questions consumers most frequently ask, this explains what is covered in a standard homeowner's policy and what is not. Where gaps in coverage exist, it tells you how to fill them. To simplify explanations, assume that you have a policy known as Homeowners-3 (HO-3), the most common homeowner's policy in the United States. Find out what type of homeowners policy you have. If you have a different policy, you should … (3 comments)
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affordable home inspections southern ontarios choice since 1997: Home Buyers Checklist - Can be dowloaded and distributed free - 12/26/09 04:17 PM
You can download the file for free from my website at: www.affordablehomeinspections.ca
Home Buyer Checklist
The Home Buyer Checklist identifies some of the important factors to consider when choosing a home. In addition to an affordable sales price, you will also want to be sure that the neighborhood and house meet the needs of your family. Take this checklist along when you go shopping for your house. It will help you evaluate the neighborhoods and assess the availability and condition of various features of up to three homes in a side-by-side comparison.
Courtesy of: Affordable Home … (2 comments)
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affordable home inspections southern ontarios choice since 1997: What is your New Years Resolution - will reblog in 1 year - 12/26/09 01:01 PM
Great to get everyone to list their New Years resolutions and then have I'll re-blog this post in 1 year to see home many of us kept them :-)
My goal is to get featured at least once per month
http://www.affordablehomeinspections.ca
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affordable home inspections southern ontarios choice since 1997: Anyone have snow? We have Active Rain - 12/25/09 12:21 PM
No white christmas this year just a light drizzle of snow up here in Hamilton, Ontario Canada :-)
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affordable home inspections southern ontarios choice since 1997: Holiday Home Safety Tips - 12/16/09 10:08 AM
Holiday Home Safety Tips
The winter holidays are a time for celebration, and that means more cooking, home decorating, entertaining, and an increased risk of fire and accidents.
Following these guidelines will help make your holiday season safer & more enjoyable...
Holiday entertaining
- Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the North America. When cooking for holiday visitors, remember to keep an eye on the range. - Provide plenty of large, deep ashtrays and check them frequently. Cigarette butts can smolder in the trash and cause a fire, so completely douse … (2 comments)
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