New home maintenance tips to preserve your warranty

Household maintenance is an essential part of being a home owner. Not only does it ensure that your internal environment stays healthy, but it is also necessary to maintain your new home warranty if you live in a house or condominium that is less than seven years old.

All new homes in Ontario come with a warranty that lasts seven years from the date of the first possession, and this warranty is guaranteed by Tarion Warranty Corporation. The warranty protects homeowners from things like water penetration through the basement or foundation walls; defects in the electrical, plumbing and heating systems; and major structural damage, among other problems. But in order to ensure your home stays covered, you are advised to perform regular seasonal maintenance. Here are some tips to ensure it remains in good shape:

• Clear eavestroughs of debris regularly and extend downspouts so that water is directed away from your home. Water that flows around the foundation could eventually find its way into the basement.

• Have your roof inspected regularly to ensure shingles, flashing and chimney caps are in place and sealed properly.

• Fix the caulking around windows and doors and on the roof if it becomes cracked or separated.

• Clean or replace your furnace filter.

• Check air ducts, remove covers and vacuum dust from vents.

• Investigate and identify any musty smells and odours. They are often an indicator that there is a hidden moisture problem.

• In the winter, shut off exterior water supply and drain water lines.

• Install winter cover for air conditioning unit.

• Check roofing and flashing for signs of wear or damage.

• Check/clean heat recovery ventilator (HRV); wash or replace filter.

• Clean the mechanisms of the humidifiers.

• Check for condensation and proper humidity levels.

It’s important to remember that ongoing maintenance helps to ensure that your statutory warranty is protected. After you move in, you are advised to follow an annual maintenance routine to help keep your new home in top shape.. Information about warranty coverage is available online at www.tarion.com.

www.newscanada.com

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Guest Post by Rich Brinkley

It’s no secret that a garden takes a lot of time and effort. At the end of the day you want to sit back and look at how beautiful your garden is and look at how your hard work paid off, not laying in bed sore and reaching for the pain killers. The best option for longevity and safety while gardening is using ergonomically designed garden tools.

Ergonomically designed tools are specifically designed to distribute pressure in natural patterns which reduces the amount of pressure applied to one specific area. Not only does an ergonomic tool design distribute pressures, but many designs aim at keeping the hands and feet in the most natural position and form as possible. Up to this point, the idea of ergonomic tools sounds great, but why don’t more people have them?

The fact is many stores, even the ones that have designated home and garden sections, simply do not carry ergonomic gardening tools. Sure they may sell a small hand shovel with a “sponge” grip, but that’s the most basic form of ergonomics and they really aren’t that durable.

I can’t quite tell you the reason why many stores sell the “basic” ergonomic designs or the standard non-ergo designs and not the tools that have made a name for themselves and are proven to enhance your gardening pleasure. Perhaps profits are the bottom line. In any event, your best bet at finding the top of the line ergo designs that have millions of dollars of research into them is online.

Ergonomics For Specific Conditions

There has been an influx of ergonomically designed tools as of late for people who have specific health concerns such as a bad back, arthritis, bad knees and other ailments. The truth is, these tools may cost a bit more (we aren’t talking big bucks here), but they really are worth the investment.

Tools For Gardeners With Arthritis

Gardeners who have severe arthritis can actually get tools that are designed to fit into a special holder that allows the user to use their whole arm and shoulder to move the tool, rather than just the wrist alone.

An automatic hose reel is by far one of the best options for gardeners with arthritis. Winding up a hose can be quite hard on the hands and arms, especially when you have to deal with kinking and coiling the garden hose up to but back into storage. Automatic hose reels are either water or electricity powered. Many of the electric models feature a foot pedal in which you simply press down on with your foot and the hose automatically rewinds.

One product I had seen on the internet just a few days ago was a pair of garden sheers. The main change on them from standard grass sheers is that the handles are extra long. This is great for people who may have knee or back problems and can’t really bend down. The handles are long enough so that you can actually stay in the upright position and do all of your sheering work!

If you have chronic pain or another type of ailment such as arthritis, back pain or knee pain, you should really look into getting the tools that will help you garden without pain. It is a lot easier to find these specialized ergonomic tools on the internet rather than in the corner home department store.

Savvy bathroom-storage solutions

(ARA) – While the bathroom may be one of the smallest rooms in the home, it is also the area where we store a multitude of items, from cosmetics to cleaners, laundry to linens. With this in mind, it’s easy for your bath to feel more like crowded, cluttered chaos than the spa sanctuary we long for it to be.

Luckily, with a few conscious attempts to control the clutter, your bathroom storage woes will cease and you can create a bathing haven to put you at ease.

Shower storage with style and size
Nineteen percent of men and 22 percent of women say leaving items on the bathroom floor is a top annoyance in the bath, according to an online consumer survey by Moen Incorporated. Luckily, freeing the floor can be simple; just use your shower for storage. Adding a Double Curved Shower Rod from Moen creates an excellent place to hang towels, robes and other items. Available at Bed Bath and Beyond in a variety of finishes ($ 59.99), the double-bar design provides an extra bar for bath essentials when the two curtains are hung together on the interior bar. Plus, the curved design provides an extra 5 inches of elbow room for a more enjoyable shower experience.

Getting the “hang” of it
To accompany your new curved shower rod, incorporate shower rod hooks to fully utilize the storage space … with style. These S-shaped hooks ($ 15) are easy to install – simply snap them right onto your shower rod to offer convenient access for a variety of items. Available in the most popular finishes to coordinate with other bathroom accessories, your bath will look great and you can keep items such as pajamas, loofahs or shaving kits off the floor and within arms’ reach.

Drawers of your dreams
Have your bathroom drawers become a catch-all for hotel samples and unused cosmetics? Then it’s time to whip your drawers into shape by weeding out what you don’t need and then finding a spot for everything else. First, categorize items and store like items together. Interlocking drawer organizers ($ 2) from the containerstore.com or the Pop-a-Box compartment drawer organizer ($ 14.99) offer a home for each necessity, so that they stay organized and not free-floating around your drawers.

Vanity sanity
If you don’t seem to have enough drawers or cabinets to house the items you don’t want on display – don’t fret. A variety of movable storage towers feature vertical designs to minimize floor space, while maximizing storage. The Real Simple Solutions Rotating Storage Tower ($ 129.99), swivels 360 degrees offering cabinets with storage trays on one side and a full-length mirror on the other. Both are available at Bed Bath and Beyond in a neutral white finish.

Disguised decor
To create an organized bath you need a designated place for everything. But if your floor or vanity space is limited, where else can you look? Try the walls. Wall shelves can be the perfect solution for storage – and create a beautiful look in your bath. The key is to view the shelves as decor not storage. First, choose a stylish design in a finish that coordinates with the rest of your bath hardware. Then, add decorative baskets or jars to place on the shelves to hold your items. Soon you’ll have storage space disguised as decoration.

With these simple storage solutions, your bath will be an oasis of organization for you to wake up and enjoy each morning.For more information about Moen bath products, visit www.moen.com.

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How to protect your greatest asset – your home – from subterranean termites

(ARA) – When it comes to protecting your home’s value, you have no control over some of the factors that influence real estate values, like nearby retail development or the job market in your area. You can, however, take control over one major factor in your home’s value, its health and the health of your neighborhood – termites.

Termites cause more than $ 2 billion in damage every year to homes in the United States, and statistics show that’s likely more damage than what fire, storms or earthquakes cause.

Subterranean termites are unlike many other problematic insects or rodents in that they forage for food 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They feed on wood and cellulose products, which are part of your home’s construction.

Termites live in colonies underground or above ground in moist areas, according to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). Each colony can contain up to 2 million termites – meaning your home could have several million termites living around the foundation and they are constantly seeking a food source.

It is important to be able to spot the signs of a termite infestation by looking around your home. Termites typically create what are called mud tubes and together they travel through these tubes in search of new food sources. Look for these mud tubes along your home’s exterior. Keep in mind that termites are very small in size – from 1/8 to 3/8 of an inch – so they can travel through small non-cellulose cracks in your home, such as through your foundation.

The NPMA offers several tips to help you reduce the possibility of a termite infestation. These include lowering the humidity in crawl spaces or other areas with reduced ventilation to eliminate a moist atmosphere – the kind that termites seek out. Also, it is very important to keep wood or scraps of lumber away from your home. Never pile firewood against your home; that’s a sound food source for Subterranean termites. By putting lumber against your foundation or wall, you’re in essence inviting termites to feed right next to your home.

The Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System from Dow AgroSciences provides a tough, environmentally responsible solution for protection against termites. The Sentricon System features stations that are strategically placed eight to 10 feet around the perimeter of your home. Bait in each station is highly desirable to termites, so worker termites who are responsible for feeding the colony will feed upon it and bring it back to the colony. Once other termites feed upon it they will start to die off, but even if they don’t feed on it the worker termites already have and once they die off, so does the colony’s food source. Soon the termite colony will be eliminated.

The Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System currently protects more than 2 million homes. For every system that is used, fewer liquid treatments are being applied, so that means fewer liquid termiticides are being injected into the soil. For more information about the Sentricon System, visit www.sentricon.com.

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Even toilets can get friendlier

(NC)—If you’re building or renovating, take a look at this bathroom news: Two of the most advanced eco-friendly toilets have arrived from Saniflo Canada. Both products utilize a dual flush system, which uses approximately 38% less water per flush than a low-flush toilet, which not only contributes to helping the environment, but will also increase a homeowner’s return on investment.

According to Environment Canada, a low-flush toilet uses approximately 6 litres of water per flush. Assuming that each person uses four flushes per day, that translates into nearly 9,000 litres per person per year. For a family of four, that’s nearly 36,000 litres of water Although this amount is considerably lower than that used in a standard toilet, the conservation is now even more impressive with the newest arrivals, the Sanicompact and Sanistar. Both of these toilets use only 4 litres of water per flush, For a family of four, this saves approximately 12,000 litres per year.

“Less water equals lower bills,” says Daniel Cayer, the national sales manager for the manufacturer. “And now, with the arrival of the eco-friendliest toilets to date, a homeowner spends less on water and increases the return on their investment. Since these systems eliminate the need for a rough-in you can install a full bathroom for a fraction of the cost of a conventional toilet system.”

Inspired by European design in bathroom appliances, the Sanicompact and wall-hung Sanistar both add a unique style to any bathroom or spa-inspired environment. Both designs are fully equipped to add sophistication and style to any renovation, while relying on the latest leading edge technology.

More information is available online at www.saniflo.ca or toll-free at 1-800-363-5874.

www.newscanada.com

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Bathroom additions made easy

(NC)—Anyone who’s ever done it knows that adding a bathroom to the home can be quite a challenge. Finding the right plumber and installing the drainage line can take days of construction, not to mention deep pockets.

“We can help with that,” says Daniel Cayer, the national sales manager for Saniflo Canada, an industry leader in macerating toilet systems.

“Not only do our systems provide a cost-effective solution to homeowners and renovators, the macerating toilets also provide an alternative when standard plumbing fixtures are impossible or cost-prohibitive due to the positioning of existing drain lines. With our products, anyone can install a bathroom where needed: a basement, garage, attic, or even under the stairs.”

Cayer says the macerating toilet systems eliminate the need for conventional rough-in with below-floor drainage. Because walls and floors remain intact, these above-floor systems do not require expensive renovations, and installation is quick and easy.

“Whether you are considering adding a spare bathroom to your home or even renovating an existing one, we offer a more simple solution to what can be a complex problem,” Cayer continued. “Our toilets can be installed in as little as half a day.

With macerating systems, he explained, flush water is routed through the toilet into a macerator where a rotating blade reduces waste and toilet paper, so it can be pumped away through 3/4-inch piping to the nearest drain line. This small-diameter pipe means drain lines can run without opening up walls and floors. Macerating systems also feature additional drainage inlets, allowing for the connection of a sink, bath and shower. The result is a desired bathroom installed quickly and cost effectively, anywhere you need.

More information is available online at www.saniflo.ca or toll-free at 1-800-363-5874.

www.newscanada.com

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Bathroom systems advance for building efficiency

(NC)—Here’s the latest news to make bathroom installations much easier.

Leading manufacturer, Saniflo Canada, has introduced a new system that requires less time on the job site for contractors and minimal stress for the do-it-yourselfers. The new Saniaccess 3 is an easy-to-open double-panel macerating unit that provides quick access to the internal components so that periodic maintenance can be seamlessly accomplished in any home or building.

This model incorporates two easy-to-open service panels located atop the unit on either side. One panel allows access to the electrical components as well as the level sensor mechanism of the macerator while the other accesses the basket area around the macerating blades to allow easy removal of any large objects that may have been accidentally flushed.

“Each internal component can be serviced and replaced without disconnecting the entire system, allowing for huge savings in time and money,” says Daniel Cayer, the company’s national sales manager. “This unique product is perfect for any contemporary bathroom and can also be concealed behind the wall, if the owner prefers.”

Industry analysts agree that this newest innovation is a powerful unit since its rotating blade is able to reduce wastewater significantly at a fast rate. In addition, the unit can accommodate a complete bathroom (including a sink, a shower and/or bathtub) and discharges waste up to 15 feet vertically and nearly 150 feet horizontally, while operating quietly with sound-absorbing technology. The unit is a perfect solution for owners of either a residential or commercial building. The product can be utilized in rental properties such as basements, apartment units, offices, restaurants and more.

More information is available online at www.saniflo.ca or toll-free at 1-800-363-5874.

www.newscanada.com

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Guest Post by: Maire

While many people don’t start their lawn and garden maintenance, redesign and care until it really starts warming up, getting a head start can really save you a lot of time and energy. Get ready for spring with these easy steps that can get your lawn in better condition than it was last season.

Clean, Clean, Clean

Clean your yard of debris that will have gathered through winter, get the leaves and twigs out of the garden, and clean off those pavers and stepping stones. A good Dewalt radio playing can make the time slip away while you’re doing this. Once the stones are clean and the garden’s all tidy, then you can move on to the stuff that is going to make your landscape be the envy of the entire neighbourhood.

Get the Snow Under Control

If you live in an area of heavy snowfall or just get some from time to time, you’re going to need to address the snow issues before spring sets in. When soil starts to thaw but there is still snow about, it can lead to disease. Plant disease can affect the lawn and the garden, so you’ll need to spread that snow around to help it melt. Make a nice even layer of snow on warm days so that it melts quickly without harm to the plants underground or your lawn.

Get Tools Ready

Examine tools you haven’t used since last spring. If they are broken or dishevelled, you’re going to need to replace them. The earlier the better, too. That way on those rare days before spring when you can work some in the garden and lawn, you have workable tools to do so. Go ahead and sharpen your pruners and mower blades and get that weed trimmer restrung. This is a great time to do all this so that your spring can be focused on better things. Don’t have your only day off be spent cleaning and getting the lawn tools ready when you could be actually working on the lawn. Spring should be for going forward, not for this type of maintenance.

Spring can be a great time when you are ahead of the game and getting an envy-worthy landscape. On the other hand, it can be a time when you’re frustrated and working twice as hard to get things going. With these simple tips, you can choose to be working smarter instead of working harder.

Maire enjoys decorating inside and out. She blogs on the behalf of Sears and other quality garden products.

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When Jenny and I bought the home we have today here in Moncton it was before we had actually started gardening other than container gardening.

Our first year here we raked up the leaves that blew into our backyard from a big old maple tree in our neighbour’s yard.  By the time the raking was done, more than once actually, we had about 10 or 12 big green garbage bags full of fall leaves.

Not really knowing any better yetIn the past we would put the bags of leaves at the curb for pick up and they would haul them to the dump. What a waste of time and resources but we weren’t yet aware of composting and like I said hadn’t started gardening.

The second year we were living here we used the leaves in our compost bin. I also buried a lot of the leaves under our fist little garden. We even ran the lawn more over the lawn after the second wind storm and then left those leaves there. That was actually are suggestion we heard locally on the radio and gave it a try.

We are happy to say that not a single bag of leaves went to the curb that year.

We have a couple of raised beds in our backyard. I love sitting here in my home office and admiring them. It so relaxes my mind.

Using Fall Leaves As Raised Bed Winter Cover

I was planning to get some bails of straw from our local Co-op but at the last minute decided to use some of those bags of leaves as cover instead. I put at least 2 bags on each raised bed and I think it will do just fine.

Using Fall Leaves To Cover Our Raised Beds

Now they have a covering of snow and I am sure I heard the clematis and strawberry plants we grow in them say thank you and after that I just heard snoring but that could have been Jenny.

Shhhh… our Clematis are sleeping

Now if the snow happens to disappear again the strawberries and clematis won’t be freezing their nodes off. And once the winter chill has passed and it’s Spring once again we should be able to add the remaining leftover leaves into our compost bin.

It sure beats raking them up, bagging them and then putting them to the curb when they can be recycled right here in our own yard.