Your Homes Major Systems. A house is a system of interdependent parts which means that the operation of one part will affect the other. When one of the house parts is not functioning properly it will affect the other parts.
The law of heat flow dictates that heat will always flow towards a region of lower temperature. The greater the temperature difference the faster the movement. Heat travels by convection, conduction and radiation. Conduction is the most common and best known method of heat loss.
Forced convection occurs when the movement of liquid or gas is caused by outside forces. For example, a cold wind blowing across a warm outside wall will cause heat to transfer through the wall more quickly.
Approaching the house as a system of interactive parts, the savings mount and we avoid creating health and safety issues. Air sealing and insulating a home reduces the heating and cooling load. A replacement furnace in a sealed and insulated home can be smaller than the existing furnace. The initial price of the smaller unit is lower, and the long-term operating costs will be less. Air sealing and insulating reduce load on heating and cooling appliances, making it possible to downsize equipment. Smaller equipment costs less to purchase and operate.
One common problem with roof/ceiling systems is condensation and staining on the ceiling surface. This is due to moisture condensing on cold surfaces, which is often caused by recessed lights that leak air or are not well insulated. The solution is to make sure that all penetrations through the ceiling are sealed to prevent air flow and insulated to prevent temperature differentials.
Another installation problem is compressing the insulation, which reduces the insulation’s R-value. This often happens when insulation is stuffed behind electrical wiring or piping. The answer here is to cut it to fit the space properly, and to split the fiberglass batts so they maintain their original thickness – and their rated R-value.
Insulating sheathings are rigid insulation boards, typically to 2 inches thick, that have beneficial thermal properties. They provide a way to increase the overall R-value of the wall system, especially in colder climates.
Products that are available are typically made of expanded or extruded polystyrene or from polyisocyanurate foam insulation boards.
With a properly functioning ventilation system, moisture and other pollutants are kept from entering the home. Any pollutant – and moisture is considered a pollutant for the purposes of this discussion – created in the home is transported safely outside through exhaust ventilation and ductwork. However, in many homes, the fans or ducts are loud, leaky, non-existent or otherwise not up to the job. Moisture created within the home condenses on cool building surfaces, both in the living space and in the attic, and causes mould, mildew, poor IAQ, and structural damage.
Why You Should Consider a Tankless Water Heater. If you are looking to replace your old, out-dated storage tank water heater, you will find any number of benefits to take into account if you’re contemplating transitioning to a tankless water heater. Tankless water heaters, also known as demand-type or instantaneous water heaters, provide hot water only as it is needed. They don’t produce the standby energy losses associated with storage water heaters, which can save you money.
You probably have heard the horror tales of folks who came home from work or vacation trips and discovered their houses flooded because their hot water heaters rusted through or malfunctioned in some other way.
Tankless water heaters work in an entirely different approach as compared to traditional units. Conventional units operate by retaining water in a tank and keeping that water at a relatively high temperature to ensure that it may be piped to the hot water faucet when it is turned on. Gas tankless water heaters, which use high-powered burners to quickly heat water as it runs through a heat exchanger, were 22 percent more energy efficient on average than the gas-fired storage-tank models in our tests. It could take up to 20 years to recoup the extra expense of installing a tankless water heater.
Tankless water heaters, in comparison, have sensors that identify when you’re using hot water and regulate the flow of water through your pipes to provide hot water in as little as two seconds! This means the heating mechanism is not continually working like in a conventional model, thereby saving energy and reducing your utility costs significantly. Finally, as the name implies, these heaters do not have a holding tank. The main advantages of tankless water heaters are a plentiful continuous flow of hot water (as compared to a limited flow of continuously heated hot water from conventional tank water heaters), and potential energy savings under some conditions.
Do you wish to convert that hot water heater closet to needed space? The tankless water heater is a fraction the proportions of a standard unit. It can be easily almost any place. Something to think about when selecting the placement is how long you’re prepared to wait for the hot water to reach your shower, washer, or wherever it is needed and whether or not the unit will be shielded from outside weather. As long as it’s correctly vented and wrapped ( if exposed to cold temperatures), a tankless water heater will perform efficiently in a garage. Just make sure that it’s impossible that a vehicle could contact or cause damage to it.
Hot water tanks, both conventional and tankless are inspected as part of a Barrie Home Inspection. Call the Barrie Home Inspector for a Risk Free home inspection.
Knowing and understanding the importance of smoke alarms in homes is a crucial part of keeping you and your family safe. Smoke detectors are an important part of any modern safe home. There are laws in Ontario that require any house or apartment should have them installed.
When a fire starts it has the ability to spread quickly possibly trapping and killing those inside. The news is filled with stories about fires that happened over night and the occupants were asleep and unable to get out of the burning building before succumbing to smoke inhalation. There are many reasons a fire will start. The cause of most fires is never fully understood until after the fire has been put out and it has been fully investigated. The speed at which a fire can start and spread is faster then anyone can imagine, that is the very reason why they are so deadly and cause so many fatalities every year.
Every home or apartment is required to have a smoke detector on every level and within 5 m of any bedroom. Having one smoke alarm will work for that area of the home but what about the rest of the home and sleeping areas. Buying one and placing it in the attic will do no good if the fire begins in the basement or another lower floor. In order for any fire prevention method using smoke detection as a safety measure to work there have to be adequate smoke alarms installed to provide early detection and warning.
Understanding The Importance Of Smoke Alarms In Homes. Once you have installed the correct number of detectors now you need to make sure they are in good working order. This maintenance is not as difficult or time consuming as it sounds. On the front of the alarm you will see a little button usually recessed and transparent. This is called the self test button, and its job is to make an audible beep telling you that it is operating correctly, this should be done monthly.
The self test is not the only maintenance these units need. Units that are battery powered will need to have those batteries replaced yearly. This is an inexpensive way to ensure that the alarm is adequately powered. Some alarms draw their power from the homes electricity directly. When buying these units make sure they have a battery installed as well as a backup in case the power goes out. These batteries require changing yearly as well.
These alarms are not ageless and will get old. Some home owners overlook this step citing the cost of replacing the old units for newer ones. This cost concern is understandable yet one should not overlook the benefits offered by fire detectors are far more important then their actual replacement costs. Newer combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms have a set amount of years, usually ten, which is measured as soon as you install the battery. After 10 years alarm will function forcing you to replace the detector.
The importance of smoke alarms in homes is a key feature to properly ensure your families safety. It is important that you have the correct number of units to properly cover your home. You will also need to make sure these detectors are in good working order by doing some simple maintenance.
As part of the home inspection process the Barrie Home Inspector tests all smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. In the home inspection report there will be noted any areas in which a smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector is missing.
Real Estate Market in Innisfil. Today’s market for buying and selling homes if very competitive and you will want to ensure you have picked the best possible real estate agent to represent you. Here are some tips we have gleaned from some professionals.
Does your professional Realtor provide a staging service for his or her listings, many do in this competitive market. What information did your agent bring to your home prior to listing? How many agents are in his office, how many listings does he currently have? There are many people who are doing “on the job training” make your agent isn’t one of them.
How is your Realtor intending to market your home. What type of ads and how many open houses will they be having. It is always better to have an understanding on how the process will take place prior to listing, then there is no confusion.
When listing your home ensure you are using the current market conditions and not a two year old appraisal that does not reflect the current market prices. Mortgages rates are low and vacancy rates are declining which is good news for investors and sellers of properties.
Many people try and save money by utilizing the same Realtor and will even use a Home Inspector recommended by the Realtor. This saving can have dire consequences when you don’t have someone whose only duty is too look after your interests. Pay for the services of a professional and they will ensure your interests come first and foremost.
When buying a “used” home or property it is very important to ensure all work was done by qualified trades persons and all permits were taken out. Patio’s and decks are often erected illegally without using the proper building techniques or materials. You could end up paying to remove structure and erecting a new one if your local building authority inspects your property.
Visit Innisfil ‘s Real Estate agents site to find a professional Realtor suited for you.
Buying Older or Century Homes. When buying an older home you are usually buying a home with built in character which has withstood the test of time and is still in habitable condition. There are some inherent problems that you might encounter when purchasing an older home. I have listed a few basic ones just for consideration.
Your older homes foundation is probably constructed of cement and stone. There would have been no waterproofing done to the exterior of the foundation and there will be no weeping tile draining into sump. This inspection area is one of the most important and expensive to repair if faulty.
Knob and tube wiring was usually installed in all older homes and there is usually still porcelain insulators present even if it was all removed. You have to have a home inspector or electrician check to ensure all the knob and tube wiring was replaced. The knob and tube was usually replaced with older two wire which has no ground and unless a total rehab was done on building you will still find two wire at outlets on upper floors and other hard to access areas.
Asbestos and vermiculite can be found in many older homes. Some older homes had hot water boilers with cast iron radiators. This systems were typically insulated with asbestos insulation. Vermiculite insulation may contain asbestos and was frequently added to attics in older homes. Asbestos requires professional removal which is very expensive.
Lead plumbing pipes and galvanized plumbing lines can be very expensive to replace and were used on most older homes. Most insurance companies in Ontario will not insure a home with galvanized plumbing pipes. Galvanized pipes tend to corrode from the inside out so that there is no warning that a pipe is about to burst.
Older homes may have many layers of lead paint which has built up over the years. Lead-based paint is a major source of lead poisoning for children and can also affect adults. In children, lead poisoning can cause irreversible brain damage and can impair mental functioning. It can retard mental and physical development and reduce attention span. It can also retard fetal development even at extremely low levels of lead. Thus, young children, fetuses, infants, and adults with high blood pressure are the most vulnerable to the effects of lead.
Your house is old and gorgeous, as are those wonderfully ornate cast-iron radiators, but these days, energy prices are anything but old-fashioned. Older homes have radiators sized for a time when open-window ventilation was popular and insulation was uncommon. If you’ve insulated and updated your windows, your radiators are most likely larger than they need to be. You should have your home assessed by a heating expert to evaluate the expense and available options if required to upgrade your heating system.
The Barrie Home Inspector has many years of experience in inspecting Century Homes and is also a Certified Building Code Official with the Ontario Building Officials Association. Commercial Building inspections also entail the same problems as residential and buyers have to be aware of the risks and hazards involved in purchasing older properties. Visit the Barrie Home Inspector’s site a www.barriehomeinspector.com to obtain more information and advice when dealing with older homes.
Local Angus Real Estate Agents. People who own property are typically 26% wealthier than non-home owners. When house values increase the home owner benefits even though they may only have a small equity position in the home. Just imagine if you owned a $150,000 house with 5% down ($7500) and house values increased by just 3%. In one year you would have had an increase in equity of over $5,000
Many people who have been turned down by traditional mortgage lenders are turning to the Rent to Own method of home buying. For many, the rent-to-own home may be the best option. Also called a lease-to-own house, the process works similarly to a car lease : Renters pay a certain amount each month to live in the house, and at the end of a set period — generally within three years — they have the option to buy the house. Each month of rent they pay is income for the seller, while a portion of it goes toward a down payment to eventually buy the home.
In many Rent to Own agreements the renters also have to pay an option fee and then a rent premium. The option fee is a set amount that the renter pays the seller. If, at the end of the lease period, the renter buys the house, the option fee becomes part of the down payment. If the renter doesn’t buy the house, the option fee becomes income for the seller. Rent premiums are an amount slightly above the typical rent, with a portion of that money going toward a down payment.
The finances of the Rent to Own property are usually based this example situation. The average house is worth $300,000, and typical rent would be $1,500 a month. Someone who’s renting to own might pay $1,700 a month in rent and then receive a $200 rent credit each month. Add the option fee, in this case $5,000. On a three-year lease, the renter would earn $7,200 in rent credits. Adding the earned rental credits to the option fee, the renter has accumulated $12,200 for a down payment.
Rent to Own properties will require a deposit, the same as if you were buying your own home. Most companies will require a minimum of $15,000 as a deposit. The monthly payment for a rent-to-own agreement will depend on your budget. The larger your payments, and the longer you make them for, the larger the accumulated downpayment will be when you exercise your purchase option and get a mortgage in your own name.
At the end of your rent-to-own agreement, the sum of your initial deposit and your monthly payments will count as a downpayment for your own mortgage. To know exactly how much of a downpayment you will need to consult with a mortgage broker to discuss getting the best possible rate.
Your local Angus Real Estate agent can help you find a property that will fit your budget. Choosing a Professional agent with local knowledge and experience will greatly enhance your real estate shopping experience. Choose from our Best Angus Real Estate Agents to ensure your receive the best possible advice when making your next property investment.
