Archive for the ‘Tips’ Category

Home Maintenance Feature: Changing the HVAC Filter

Tuesday, January 14th, 2014

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Changing the filter of the home’s HVAC system is simple and inexpensive, and taking care of it at least every three months can mean the difference between optimum comfort and avoidable repairs.

Your HVAC technician should service your unit once a year.  Because a HVAC unit contains moving parts, it is important that belts are not cracked and dry, ventilation ductwork is not gapped, cracked or rusted, and components, such as coils and fans, are clog-free and adequately lubricated for unimpeded operation.  This sort of evaluation is best left to the professional, unless the homeowner has had the appropriate training. The filter of the unit, especially if it is an HVAC unit that will tend to get nearly year-round use, should be changed by the homeowner at least every three months, but possibly more often. Check your filter’s condition and change it once a month if:

You run your unit six months a year to year-round.

You have pets. Pet dander can become airborne and circulate through the home’s ventilation system just as typical household dust does.

You have a large family. More activity means more household dust, dirt and debris.

You or someone in your household suffers from allergies or a respiratory condition.

You live in a particularly windy area or experience high winds for extended periods, especially if there are no nearby shrubs or trees to provide a natural windbreak.

You live in an area prone to or having recently experienced any wildfires. Airborne ash outdoors will eventually find its way indoors.

You have a fireplace that you occasionally use.

You live on a working farm or ranch. Dust and dirt that gets kicked up by outdoor work activity and/or large animals can be pulled into the home’s ventilation system, especially through open windows.

You have a large garden. Depending on its size and how often you work it, tilling soil, planting, pulling weeds, using herbicides and pesticides, and even watering mean that dirt, chemicals and condensation can be pulled into your home’s ventilation system.

There is construction taking place around or near the home. You may be installing a new roof or a pool, or perhaps a neighbor is building a home or addition. Even if the activity is only temporary, dust and debris from worksites adjacent to or near the home can be sucked into the home’s ventilation system, and this increased activity can tax your HVAC system.
Tips for changing the filter:

Turn off the unit before replacing the filter.

Use the right filter for your unit and make sure it’s not damaged out of the package.

Follow the directions for your unit to make sure you’re installing the filter properly. For example, many filters use different colors for the front and back (or upstream and downstream flow) so that they’re not installed backwards.

Make sure there aren’t any gaps around the filter frame.  If this is the case, you may have the wrong size filter, or the filter itself may be defective or damaged.

Use a rag to clean up any residual dust before and after you replace the filter.

Securely replace any levers, gaskets and/or seals.

Turn the unit on and observe it while it’s operating to make sure the filter stays in place.

Note the date of filter replacement in a convenient location for the next time you inspect it.  A filter that becomes dirty enough to change within a short period may indicate a problem with the unit or ventilation system, so monitoring how often the filter requires changing is important information for your technician to have.

Source: Full Scope Inspections Newsletter

Sustainable Housing: Lungs For Your Home

Friday, January 10th, 2014

A hand held thermographic camera used to test the efficiency of insulation in a house.

Stale air, lingering odours and high humidity can happen in the best of homes and, sometimes, simply opening a window can bring relief. When it’s mild outside and there’s a breeze, opening a window can be beneficial. But in Canada’s hot and cold climate, this is not always practical or possible.

Leaving a window open in mid-winter will add to your space heating costs, cause uncomfortable drafts and the window may freeze open. You also can’t filter the dust out of the air nor can you recover any of the heat that flows out an open window. Sometimes leaving a window open is a security or noise concern. Finally, you can’t control how much air enters through an open window or where it goes once it’s in your house.

Heat Recovery Ventilation

Fortunately, there is another way of bringing fresh air into your home that is energy efficient, secure and highly effective – a heat recovery ventilator (HRV). HRVs are suitcase-sized appliances that typically have one fan to bring in outdoor air and another fan to push out the stale air. Heat is transferred from the outgoing air to the incoming air by passing the two air streams through a heat-exchange core, helping to reduce heating costs. As the two air streams are kept separated, only the heat is transferred to the incoming air. In a sense, an HRV can act as the lungs for your home.

In houses with baseboard or radiant heating, the fresh air from the HRV is delivered directly to the bedrooms and the main living areas through a dedicated duct system. At the same time, the HRV draws stale air from the kitchen and bathrooms and sends it outside.

In houses with furnaces, it’s not uncommon to find HRVs connected to the furnace ductwork system. The furnace then operates continuously to circulate the fresh air around the house, while bathroom fans and kitchen range hoods provide back-up ventilation as needed. HRVs have multi-

speed settings to deal with varying ventilation needs. Automatic controls are available as well to modulate the operation of the HRV as needed.

HRVs are built into energy efficient new houses to reduce air leaks, and heating and cooling costs, and keep your home more comfortable. Cutting down on uncontrolled air leakage also helps protect your roof, walls and basement from moisture damage. The better sealed a house is, however, the more it needs controlled, energy efficient, mechanical ventilation to provide the indoor-outdoor air exchange required to maintain healthy indoor air quality. By eliminating random air leaks in existing houses and adding heat recovery ventilation, you reduce your heating bills while maintaining as good, or better, indoor air quality.

Installation

Although you can buy an HRV at some home improvement stores, it may be preferable to have it designed and installed by a qualified contractor certified by the Heating, Refrigeration, Air Conditioning Institute of Canada or other training organizations in accordance with current building codes and standards. It’s very important to measure and balance the supply and exhaust airflows to ensure the HRV does not potentially create dangerous house depressurization or pressurization problems. This should be carried out when the HRV is first installed and should be checked regularly afterwards by a qualified contractor in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Look for units with lower energy usage and high energy efficiency in the heating season, preferably choosing from those with an ENERGY STAR® rating.

 

Source: Dominion Lending Centres Newsletter

Collateral Versus Standard Charge Mortgages

Thursday, January 9th, 2014

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With some lenders moving towards collateral charge mortgages, it’s important to understand the differences between a collateral and a standard charge mortgage.

The primary difference is that a collateral charge mortgage registers the mortgage for more money than you require at closing. For instance, up to 125% of the value of the home at closing with TD Canada Trust or 100% through many credit unions, instead of the amount you need to close your transaction (as is the case with a standard charge mortgage).

The major downside to a collateral mortgage becomes evident at your mortgage renewal date. For borrowers who want to keep their options open at maturity and have negotiating power with their lender, this isn’t the best product feature because collateral charge mortgages are difficult to transfer from one lender to another.

In other words, if you want to change lenders in order to seek a better product or rate in the future, you have to start from the beginning and pay new legal fees, which range from $500 to $1,000. With a standard charge mortgage, in most cases, the new lender will cover the charges under a “straight switch” in order to earn your business.

In addition, with a collateral charge, it could be difficult to obtain a second mortgage or a home

equity line of credit (HELOC) unless your home significantly appreciates in value.

Lenders offering collateral charge mortgages promote the benefit that it makes it easier and more cost effective to tap into your equity for such things as debt consolidation, renovations or property investment. There’s no need to visit a lawyer and pay legal fees – the money is available as your mortgage is paid down. Yet, if you read the fine print, you may still have to re-qualify at renewal.

A standard charge mortgage gives you the ability to move to another lender at renewal should you want to without incurring legal fees, and many borrowers find it more beneficial to keep their options open. If you need to borrow more with a standard charge mortgage, you have the option of a second mortgage or a HELOC, which also enables you to take money out as your mortgage is paid down.

Navigating through the mortgage process alone can be tricky. Working with a mortgage professional who has access to multiple lenders will help ensure you receive the product and rate catered to your specific needs.

As always, if you have any questions about the information above or your mortgage in general, I’m here to help!

 

Source: Dominion Lending Centres Newsletter

Humidity, Home Health and Comfort

Tuesday, January 7th, 2014

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Homeowners concerned about the quality of the air they’re breathing, as well as the cost of heating, would do well to have a close look at their home’s humidity levels. In the winter, in addition to causing dry conditions and breathing discomforts, lower humidity levels can increase the need for additional heating to make us feel warm. We feel colder when artificially heated air is too dry and removes moisture from our bodies, just as in the summer we feel warmer when there is too much humidity in the air. So watch your humidity this winter: low levels can cause itchy, flaky skin, dry sinuses, cracked wood furniture, static electricity and a higher heating bill. To make your home more comfortable and less costly to heat, consider installing a humidifier, set at approximately 50%, and adjust it as required throughout the cold season.

How to Create a Built-In Home Bar

Monday, January 6th, 2014

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You may have just finished draining your champagne glass on New Year’s Eve, but it’s not too soon to resolve to make your next home gathering more stylish, more sophisticated and easier by adding a home bar in 2014. Here’s what to know if you’d like to get it done.

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Project: Building a home bar into a nook or wall.

Why: “Home bars create a special place to store and serve drinks closer to the living space,” says New York architect James Wagman. “If the bar is near the action, the host can create wonderful drinks while socializing with guests and family.”

Built-in bars don’t need to be limited to homes blessed with abundant square footage. A built-in bar can be the width of a single cabinet. Wagman installed this diminutive but mighty bar at the entrance to an apartment’s living room. Pocket doors come out of the wall to hide the unit when it’s not in use.

Who to hire: More bells and whistles require more pros. A well-stocked bar, such as this crisp blue entertaining space by South Park Design Build in Toronto, would require an architect or interior designer to design the space and a contractor to build it. The building crew might include a carpenter to construct custom cabinetry, a plumber for a sink and an ice maker, an electrician to add outlets for a refrigerator and other appliances, a tile setter to install a backsplash and a painter to provide the finishing touches after the hammering is done.
Project length: Most professionals interviewed for this article — including the creator of this bar, San Francisco interior designer Tineke Triggs of Artistic Designs for Living — say you should allow a little more than a month to add a built-in bar. However, David Miller of David Michael Miller and Associates in Scottsdale, Arizona, cautions that the more customized the project is, the longer it will take. “There’s a wide range,” he says, “but if you are building it from scratch, it may take six to eight months due to custom millwork.”

Cost: As with every home improvement project, the cost will depend on the scope of your project, your choice of materials and finishes, and the price of labor where you live. Luly Melarti, a designer and architect at TerraCotta Properties in Decatur, Georgia, estimates that adding a bar similar to this one she did for entertaining-loving clients could cost around $9,200 — and that’s if there’s an existing niche where it could be placed and walls don’t need to be moved. She breaks it down this way:

    • Design fees and labor: $4,000
    • Cabinets: $3,000
    • Refrigerator: $1,200
    • Countertop: $600
    • Mirror backsplash: $400

“Obviously, there’s a wide range in costs, depending on how much work needs to be done,” she says. “If you don’t move walls and you don’t add plumbing, you are going to save money.”

Melarti notes that this client opted for no sink and installed a tough Corian countertop. “If you choose a more expensive stone, you will need to babysit it. With this material you don’t need to worry about etching from wine, lemons or limes,” she says.

San Francisco interior designer Anastasia Faiella created this bar for coffee and stronger drinks with her architect husband Andre Rothblatt, and says a similar feature could cost between $13,000 and $15,000, not including design fees. “This example is a very high-end, customized project, and the homeowner wanted things to be extra special,” she says. “The design included a wine refrigerator and an espresso maker that needed plumbing.” She estimates costs this way:

  • Custom cabinets (materials, labor, installation): $5,000
  • Labor for appliance installation: $3,000
  • Miele coffee system: $2,999
  • ULine Echelon series wine refrigerator: $2,899
  • Countertop (wood with a decorative finish): $1,000

Permit needed: If you are adding plumbing or electricity or moving walls, you will need a permit.

Best time of year to do it: Eric Adelman of South Park Design Build says building a bar is a seasonless project. “Anytime is the right time for this project,” he says. “Especially if you are thirsty!”

Architect Nico van der Meulen in Randburg, South Africa, says if you are staging a major remodel or building a new home, plan for a bar early in the process. “Begin right at the start of the planning and building to ensure there is ample space for it,” he says.

First step: Miller suggests doing your homework. “To start the brainstorming process, look at sites like Houzz or design magazines to see what other people, designers and architects are doing,” he says.

Jason Urrutia of Urrutia Design in Sausalito, California, suggests starting small with a bar cart or tray. “You can move it around and see where it works best before investing thousands of dollars,” he says.

Once you’ve decided to make it more permanent, “if you want a professional look, hire a professional,” Miller advises.

 

Source: Houzz.com

Keep Your Refrigerator/Freezer In Good Working Order

Friday, January 3rd, 2014

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The latest refrigerator/freezers are great at saving energy and offering convenience, but many new features require sophisticated programming and circuitry that simply isn’t built to last as long as the energy hogs of previous generations. To help you extend serviceability over time, be mindful of a few small maintenance recommendations.

Two of the most important ways to keep your fridge/freezer running efficiently is to ensure all door seals are intact, and to keep the condenser coils free of dust, debris and clutter. The fragile coils are usually situated above, below or behind the unit, often protected by a screen or grill, to provide undisrupted access to cooler air. They should be carefully (gently) dusted at least once a year. The third maintenance step is to

make sure any water or ice dispensers are clear and free-flowing.

Edmonton Water Damage: Causes and Prevention

Wednesday, December 11th, 2013

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Water damage can result from many different causes: storms, flooding, broken water pipes and lines, leaking washing machines, and more. This can lead to mold and odor problems, and worse. If left unmitigated, water damage can eventually cause structural damage, which can entail significant costs to repair and can even affect a home’s value.

Prevention is the first defense against water damage. Here are some basics on preventing water damage and its effects:

Water supply lines to and from washing machines and dishwashers should be regularly checked for leaks. Both the hoses themselves and the connections should be examined. Even a small leak can cause water damage over time, so any leaks should be repaired immediately. If the laundry room is located on the main floor or above, damage to the floor and ceiling below can be especially problematic.
Tank-style water heaters are prone to leaks, especially after several years of use. Over time, the bottom of the tank can rust out, causing a serious leak. Ideally, an overflow valve should be installed that will conduct leaking water to a pipe that drains either outside or to an appropriate interior drain.
Another common source of water leaks is the icemaker supply line; this should be checked as well.
Be aware that pipe leakage can occur inside the walls or ceiling and may be impossible to detect visually before damage has already occurred. Proper equipment such as an infrared scanner can be used to detect signs of moisture.
Gutters and downspouts should be checked to ensure that water is flowing away from the home’s foundation. Make any adjustments, and check the flow again using water from a garden hose.
Water leak detectors can be installed at floor level near water heaters and interior air conditioning units. Simple, inexpensive wireless models are widely available and will sound an alarm when water is detected on the floor near these appliances.

 

Source: PillarToPost Home Inspectors Newsletter

The Value of Advice

Monday, December 9th, 2013

In a study of over 1,000 Canadian households, Ipsos Reid findings show that advised households have substantially higher investable assets than non-advised households. For example, advised households with income levels between $35,000 and $55,000 had nearly 5 times the level of investable assets compared to non-advised households. Further, these observations are consistent across all income levels and age groups. Advisors provide a wide range of valuable services to clients, including the planning and maintenance of targets, helping them to choose the right vehicles and the right asset mix to achieve those targets. And these results show that good advice adds value.

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Feel free to contact me or visit my website for more information.

Douglas J. Bodtcher  
Investors Group Financial Services Inc.
780-448-1988 ext. 284
Douglas.Bodtcher@investorsgroup.com

10 Bold Ideas for Modern House Numbers

Sunday, December 8th, 2013

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Plain house numbers not cutting it? There’s no reason to settle when there are so many inventive options out there. From unique techniques and materials (like lit-from-within neon, laser-cut steel and customized concrete) to clever placement (on hanging pub signs, on the garage), these 10 examples from around Houzz are packed with creativity. See if one sparks a new idea for your own house.

1. Statement sign. Not for the faint of heart, to be sure, but on the right house (which would probably be a modern one), a large address sign like this one can look stunning. No one will have any trouble finding your house with this in the front yard.

2. On the garage. If your garage is the first thing visitors see, take advantage of it. Position bold house numbers or a custom address sign like this one right on your garage. The designers who crafted this address used marine-grade wood, which can withstand the elements.

3. Laser-cut door. Cool and industrial without being over-the-top, this home’s address was laser cut into a rusted steel door. Perfect for an urban residence. (Just be sure emergency personnel can see it.)

4. Neon glow. Surprisingly subtle from a distance, these house numbers reveal themselves to be crafted from neon tubes up close. With numbers lit from within, evening visitors will have no trouble finding their way to your door.

5. Hanging post. Like a modern twist on a Ye Olde Pub sign, this would make a nice complement to standard house numbers on the front of a modern home. With a bright background and positioned on the side of the house, a hanging address sign like this would be easy to spot even from down the street.

6. Set in concrete. Having some concrete work done around your home’s exterior? Consider having your house numbers set right in. The size of these house numbers is ample, but because they are set into the concrete, the look overall is subtle.

7. Supersized. If you have a single or double-digit address, smaller house numbers can get lost on the facade. Make short addresses stand out by going with extra-large (8-inch-plus) house numbers. Choose high contrast for the best visibility, such as dark numbers on a light facade.

8. Etched glass. Have a beautiful but plain glass door? Customize it with etched house numbers. Framing the numbers in a circle, as shown here, is a great way to make the numbers stand out even more.

9. Quirky and painted. If you want something totally different, hire an artist to paint your numbers directly onto a feature in front of your house or on the porch. Here the house numbers were painted onto a rainwater cistern, but you could choose to have them painted on a fence, sculpture or sign.

10. Double address for a corner lot. When visitors can approach from either side, why choose only one to place your house numbers on? Build in a landscape feature, like the one shown here, and you can display your address on both sides.

 

Source: Houzz.com

Reducing Volatility…Not Returns

Friday, December 6th, 2013

In a concentrated portfolio, market volatility can be very pronounced. However, when investors “diversify” their holdings and invest for the long term, they can offset this volatility without significantly reducing returns. As shown in the chart, in any one-year period, the returns of the S&P/TSX Composite Index have been as high as 86.9% and as low as –39.2%; a range of over 126%. This is extreme volatility. However, if investors extend their time horizon, this volatility decreases significantly. For example, in any ten-year period the returns of the S&P/TSX have been as high as 19.5% and as low as 2.8%; a range of only 16.7%. This volatility is offset even further with a more diversified portfolio as shown.

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Feel free to contact me or visit my website for more information.

Douglas J. Bodtcher  
Investors Group Financial Services Inc.
780-448-1988 ext. 284
Douglas.Bodtcher@investorsgroup.com

 

The data included on this website is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate by the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton. The trademarks REALTOR®, REALTORS® and the REALTOR® logo are controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify real estate professionals who are members of CREA. Used under license.