Are You Safe?

You should be aware of and checking for hidden electrical hazards in and around your home.

Damaged wires or deterioration to exposed wire sheath can present shock or fire hazard in your home if not repaired.

If you have overheated plugs or outlets, fuses that blow, or circuits that trip frequently, it may indicate an overload of the circuit, or possibly faulty electrical wiring or equipment.

You should test your GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlets every month to make sure they are operating properly. Defective GFCI outlets can be identified by pushing the red test button. If the power stays on after you have pushed the button, your GFCI is defective. These defects are more common with older GFCI products.

Dim or flickering lights can also be a warning sign. Often, they can indicate a loose connection in a lighting circuit, fixture or in your electrical service.

Don't forget to look for power lines running through or between trees. Call your local Hydro office. Do not climb or try to trim trees yourself.

You should also avoid problems by making sure your home has no frayed or damaged extension cords or cord ends with exposed wires. Extension cords used incorrectly or as permanent wiring can also create potential shock and fire hazards. Be on the look-out for damaged cords, undersized cords, cords under carpeting or furniture, and interior-rated cords being used outside.

Overloading outlets is also a big no no since it can often cause overheating and could cause a fire. You should contact a licensed electrical contractor if you're not certain of the load rating for your home's wiring. General purpose circuits are rated at 15 amps in most homes. As well, while covre plates are a quick fix, damaged outlets should be repaired to prevent fire and shock.

Incorrect grounding can cause shocks. Look for missing third prongs, or 2- to- 3-prong adapters. Consult an electrician for help in updating.

For more information, contact the Electrical Safety Authority at www.esasafe.com.

Do You Have A Mold Problem?

Molds are found in the air outside and in all buildings. They come into the home in many ways -- through open windows and doors, on clothing, pets, food or furniture. The problem actually begins when mold starts to grow inside the home.

Some mold growing, for instance, on the window sill, but not anywhere else, is not a cause for concern. You should take a look at your home to find out the presence and extent of mold.

One way to figure out the extent of mold in your home is to estimate the area of mold.

Mold is considered to cover a small area if the area is no larger than a square metre. There should be no more than three patches, and each patch needs to be smaller than a square metre. You can clean these areas up yourself using a detergent solution, rubber gloves and a dust mask. You need to clean these small areas up because they could grow into larger areas over time if ignored.

Bleach is not recommended as a cleaning agent for mold because the presence of organic materials, the pH (acidity/alkalinity) of the water, the surface material and contact time affect the effectiveness of the bleach for disinfection. Since these factors are not controlled, bleach can't be relied upon for disinfection. As well, cancer-causing substances can be formed by the reaction of bleach with organic materials. In addition, the fumes created are harmful.

The area is considered moderate if there are more than three patches, each patch is smaller than a square metre, or there is one or more patches larger than a square metre, but smaller than three square metres. In this case, you should hire a professional to assess the situation. You can clean it by yourself, but you have to follow proper procedures and use the proper protective equipment.

A mold area is considered extensive is a single patch of mold is larger in area than a sheet of plywood, or three square metres. Being exposed to this much mold is not a good idea, so don't try and clean this up on your own. You need professional help to both determine WHY the mold is there, and how to clean it up.

Seek professional help if there's a lot of mold, the home is very damp or moist, mold keeps returning after repeated clean-ups, or someone has asthma or other health problems that seem to be aggravated inside the home.

To get professional help, contact the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) for a list of people who have completed the CMHC Residential Indoor Air Quality Investigator Program. The investigator will examine the indoor air quality and document your concerns. As well, he will identify the problems, find the source, and suggest solutions.

Mold -- What Is It and Why Do We Care?

Why do we care about mold in the house? What's the big deal, you may ask?

Damage to materials is one concern. Materials can get stained or discoloured, and over time they are ruined. Moldy paper and cardboard disintegrate over time. Fabrics are damaged. Continued mold growth can indicate moisture conditions in the house that are favourable for the growth of fungi that cause wood rot and structural damage.

When molds are growing inside the home, you have health concerns about which to worry because molds release chemicals and spores.

Health experts say that, depending on the type of mold in the home, the amount and the degree of exposure, and the health condition of the occupant, the health effects of mold can range from being insignificant to causing allergic reactions and illness. Pregnant women, infants, the elderly and those with health problems, such as respiratory disease or a weakened immune system, are more at risk with exposure to mold. Consult your doctor if you believe there is someone at risk.

How Can You Tell If It's Mold?

Discoloration is a sign of mold. However, all discoloration is not due to mold. Carpeting near baseboards, for example, can be stained by outdoor pollutions entering the home. Stains or soot may also be caused by the smoke from burning candles or cigarettes.

Mold may be any colour: black, white, red, orange, yellow, blue or violet. Dab a drop of household bleach onto a suspected spot. If the stain loses its colour or disappears entirely, it may be mold. If there is no change, it probably isn't mold.

Sometimes molds are hidden and can't be seen. However, a musty or earthy smell often indicates the presence of molds. However, a smell may not be present for all molds. Even when you don't notice a smell, wet spots, dampness or evidence of a water leak are indications of moisture problems and mold may follow, if it isn't already present.

What Are Molds?

Molds are microscopic fungi, a group of organisms which also include mushrooms and yeast. Fungi are highly adapted to grow and reproduce rapidly, producing spores and mycelia in the process.

We encounter mold everyday. Foods spoil because of mold. Leaves decay and pieces of wood lying on the ground rot due to mold. That fuzzy black growth on wet window sills is mold. Paper or fabrics stored in a damp place get a musty smell that is due to the action of molds.

Some molds can be useful to people, such as penicillin and some food (i.e. yogurt). Molds are undesirable when they grow where we don't want them, such as in homes. Over 270 species of mold have been identified in Canadian homes.

Molds will grow if we provide them with the moisture and nutrients. If we keep things dry, mold doesn't grow. High moisture levels can be the result of water coming in from outside, through the floor, walls or roof, plumbing leaks, or even from moisture produced by the people living in the home, from things like bathing, washing clothes or cooking. Water enters the building when there is a weakness or failure in the structure. Moisture accumulates within the home when there isn't enough ventilation to expel it.

Energy Efficient Renovations and Your Return on Investment, Part II

Following Friday's post, here are some important tips to keep in mind when thinking about making any home improvements to your home. These tips are according to the AIC.

* Renovations that add features to a home that other homes in the neighbourhood already have, such as a second bathroom, have a higher recovery rate than features not shared by neighbouring properties.

* Renovations done on a home with a lower market value than the others in the neighbourhood provide a higher recovery rate than renovations done on a home which is worth more than neighbouring properties.

* Poorly done renovations may have no positive effect. In fact, they may actually reduce the value of the home.

* Ensuring that a house is in good repair and well maintained is essential. However, renovations done on a home which has maintenance problems will have much less of a bearing on its resale price.

Here is what homeowners can expect to get back at resale for the most common home improvements, according to the AIC:

Home Upgrade ROI (%)

Kitchen upgrade 75 - 100

Bathroom upgrade 75 - 100

Interior painting 50 - 100

Roof replacement 50 - 80

Replacement of furnace/heat system 50 - 80

Expansion (addition of family room) 50 - 75

Doors and windows 50 - 75

Adding a deck 50 - 75

Install hardwood floor 50 - 75

Adding a garage 50 - 75

A calculator is offered on the Resource Centre page of AIC's RENOVA website (www.aicanada.ca) and it can help you get a better idea of the ROI you can expect for a variety of home improvement projects. The site shows a payback range in dollars and as a percentage of what you plan to pay for the upgrade. Homeowners can choose from among the 20 most popular home improvements.


For more information, give me a call and I'd be happy to help you out (613-725-1171).

Energy Efficient Renovations and Your Return on Investment, Part I

Realtors are often asked to suggest improvements that will make their clients' homes more saleable and provide the biggest return on investment (ROI).

Kitchen and bathroom upgrades still offer some of the best ROI. However, now, according to the 2008 Appraisal Institute of Canada (AIC) RENOVA survey, energy efficiency upgrades are top on the list of highest paybacks. AIC surveys its members every second year and then compiles a list of renovations that yield the highest recovery rate, according to the opinion of professional appraisers. Recovery rate is what is defined as the likely increase in a home's resale value which could be attributed to a renovation as a proportion of the cost of the renovation. For instance, if a $10,000 renovation increases the home's value by $6,000, the recovery rate would be 60 per cent.

For instance, refurbished kitchens and bathrooms can typically bring in between 75 and 100 per cent of the investment at resale, provided the renovations are professional and tastefully done.

Since energy savings are on the minds of most people these days, this year's AIC survey asked respondents to rate five energy-efficient upgrades in terms of their influence on the resale value of a home. 'Green' renovations were cited most frequently as having an average recovery rate of 61 per cent. High efficiency windows received the highest level of agreement among respondents as the energy-saving home improvement that would have a significant positive impact on the appraised value of a home.

The type of heating system, heating system efficiency and insulation were also considered to make a significant difference. Efficient hot water heaters, on the other hand, were judged to have only minimal influence on a home's resale value.

Several other improvements were identified as having higher recovery rates, including using neutral paint colours (67 per cent), the addition of a cooking island in the kitchen (65 per cent), and installing a Jacuzzi or whirlpool bath separate from the shower stall (64 per cent). Spa-style showers were cited as being very popular upgrades. However, while stylish and trendy, their recovery rate is at a low 36 per cent. Not surprisingly, adding a swimming pool also scored very low. In fact, the addition of a pool, hot tub or skylights were not only considered to contribute very little to the resale price of a home, they sometimes had a negative effect.

Tomorrow, I will elaborate on other renovations and upgrades and what they will get you when you sell your home.