|
|
|
April 2014 - Hammer Home News
|
|
Dear Friends,
What a long beautiful weekend we experienced this past Easter holiday!!!
I am sure many of you enjoyed working outdoors around the house. I have decided to focus this month’s issue on with what I believe are the most important Spring maintenance items to review to keep your house in the best condition. The Canadian Mortgage Housing Corporation offers a list below that helps keep track of the important components of our homes to review, maintain and replace during this time of year. Take a look and see if there is anything you missed completing during the long weekend.
Have a great April!
Spring Checklist:
- After consulting your hot water tank owner’s manual, carefully test the temperature and pressure relief valve to ensure it is not stuck. Caution: This test may release hot water that can cause burns.
- Check and clean or replace furnace air filters each month during the heating season. Ventilation system, such as heat recovery ventilator, filters should be checked every two months.
- Have fireplace or wood stove and chimney cleaned and serviced as needed.
- Shut down, drain and clean furnace humidifier, and close the furnace humidifier damper on units with central air conditioning.
- Switch on power to air conditioning and check system. Have it serviced every two or three years
- Clean or replace air-conditioning filter, if applicabl
- Check dehumidifier and drain — clean if necessary
- Turn OFF gas furnace and fireplace pilot lights where possible
- Have well water tested for quality. It is recommended that you test for bacteria every six months
- Check smoke, carbon monoxide and security alarms, and replace batteries
- Clean windows, screens and hardware, and replace storm windows with screens. Check screens first and repair or replace if needed
- Open valve to outside hose connection after all danger of frost has passed
- Examine the foundation walls for cracks, leaks or signs of moisture, and repair as required
- Ensure sump pump is operating properly before the spring thaw sets in. Ensure discharge pipe is connected and allows water to drain away from the foundation
- Re-level any exterior steps or decks that moved as a result of frost or settling
- Check for and seal off any holes in exterior cladding that could be an entry point for small pests, such as bats and squirrels
- Check eavestroughs and downspouts for loose joints and secure attachment to your home, clear any obstructions, and ensure water flows away from your foundation
- Clear all drainage ditches and culverts of debris.
- Repair and paint fences as necessary — allow wood fences to dry adequately before tackling this tas
- Undertake spring landscape maintenance and, if necessary, fertilize young trees.
Sincerely,
Rachel Hammer
|
|
|
|
|
BMO's mortgage rate cut won't have big impact on housing market
By Kazi Stastna, CBC News
The 2.99 per cent mortgage is not here to stay, say some analysts, and is in large part a marketing gimmick aimed at attracting new business ahead of the traditional spring uptick in sales in the housing industry. (Aaron Harris/Reuters)
Read More...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
