by Robert Wright

Radon Gas

There are a few changes coming in the next building revision. One of the changes will affect how some renovations are completed and all new homes are built.

Its all about radon gas.

You may not know you have a radon gas problem unless you test for it. Radon is an odourless, radio active, invisible, slightly heavier than air gas. It is naturally occurring in the ground. It is more pronounced in rock and rocky soils.

Health Canada has a great deal of information about what are safe levels of radon, how to test for it, and the health affects of radon gas.

The only way to confirm you have it is to test for it. Health Canada has approved various pieces of equipment for this purpose. The important part is, the test must run for a period of time. This is because you could have a low amount of radon one day and the next day it could be very high. Therefore to get a true understanding of how much you have is to account for these variations.

Radon can be removed from your home fairly easily. All you have to do create a negative pressure under the basement concrete slab. Unfortunately, this can get expensive to do after the slab is in place and no under slab piping is in place. Usually what is done after the fact; is to drill a hole in the slab, install a fan and ducts, seal all the slab to wall joints and floor cracks, and then hook up the equipment and ducts. The simple addition of pipe under the slab and ensuring that enough clear stone is under the slab makes the creation of negative pressure much easier and more effective.

Because of the growing awareness of radon and how common it is, the building code is changing. These changes are inexpensive to put in place as you build, but can be very expensive if they are after the fact installs. Once these parts are in place; at any time in the future, the remaining fan and hook ups can be installed to ensure radon is kept to a safe level.

This code change is cost effective and was brought into place with all of the involved parties coming to a solution that works – for all.

by Health Canada

Radon is a radioactive gas that is a part of our natural environment. But too much exposure to it can cause lung cancer. It’s actually the second-leading cause after smoking!

As naturally occurring substances in the ground break down, radon gas is released. Outside, it dissipates harmlessly. But in enclosed places like your home, it can seep in through holes and cracks in the foundation and accumulate to higher levels over time. It can then circulate throughout your home and you and your family are then exposed to radon without knowing it.

But there’s no need to panic. Almost every home in Canada has some radon, but concentrations vary from one house to another, even if they are next door to each other.

You can easily protect yourself and your family from radon by finding out if it is present in your home, and taking action to reduce it if the level is high.

Just follow these three steps:

1. Measure the radon level in your home
You can’t see, smell or taste radon, but there are radon detectors that can sense its presence and measure the level in your home. Buy a do-it-yourself kit at a hardware store or hire a measurement professional to do a long term test for a minimum of three months. Radon levels vary over time so long-term testing is more accurate.

2. Compare your level to the Canadian Guideline for Radon
If the radon level in your home is above 200 Becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m³) then take steps to reduce it. If the radon level is between 200 and 600 Bq/m³ take action within two years; if the level is over 600 Bq/m³ take action within 12 months. Find out more here.

3. Reduce the radon level in your home
There are many ways to reduce your home’s radon level, including sealing the entry points where radon is getting in, such as cracks in the foundation and sump holes and increasing ventilation. The most common and effective method is active sub-slab depressurization, which is typically performed by a contractor.

To learn more about this and other environmental health risks, please visit Hazardcheck

To order Health Canada publications, please visit Health Canada or call 1 800 O-Canada.

by Health Canada

Mould is a type of fungus that is a natural part of the environment. It can also grow in damp areas inside your home where there is too much moisture from leaks or floods, and in areas of high humidity, such as where you shower or cook. It can grow on wood, paper, fabrics, drywall, insulation, inside walls or above ceiling tiles.

When mould finds a damp place to grow, it can contribute to poor indoor air quality and respiratory irritation or illness. But you probably already knew that.

Here are four less commonly known facts about mould in your home that you will want to share:

1. Steam from cooking and showering can encourage mould growth in your kitchen and bathroom. Always use fans that ventilate outside when doing anything that creates steam.
2. Basement clutter creates a home for hidden mould growth. Tidy it up, and recycle or throw away whatever you don’t need.
3. Increases in allergy or asthma symptoms may be caused by mould in your home. Don’t forget that it can also grow inside walls, floors and ceilings if water damage has occurred!
4. You don’t need bleach to clean up mould! Scrubbing with water and dish detergent should kill surface growth. For hidden or large affected areas, you may want to contact a professional.

To learn more about this and other environmental health risks, please visit Hazardcheck

To order Health Canada publications, please visit Health Canada or call 1 800 O-Canada.

Hazardcheck is a new initiative by Health Canada to help spread the word about home safety from common indoor pollutants. The Hazardcheck campaign aims to provide Canadians with information on how to make their homes a safe and healthy environment.

Starting tomorrow, we’ll be featuring weekly articles from Health Canada on the Home Renovation Guide blog to help do our part in providing people with important information on how to protect the health and well-being of their homes and families. As “Canadians spend over 90% of their time indoors” and “children come into closer contact with the hazards in their environment than adults” it’s important for us to all know about the potential health impacts of common health hazards we all have a chance to come into contact with, on a regular basis. These common harmful elements are: mould, lead, radon, carbon monoxide, household chemical products and second-hand smoke.

As well as an online resource for families – a new section of the Health Canada website has been designed that includes informative articles and videos – there will also be live Hazardcheck events this fall, held at 121 Home Depot stores across Canada. Harzardcheck representatives will be on hand to answer questions and offer useful info as well as checklists that outline simple steps to ensure your home’s health. Rebates from the Home Depot will also be available on featured safety products such as: carbon monoxide monitors and radon test kits.

Keep an eye on the dates:  October 29th to the 30th and November 5th and 6th for events in your neighbourhood.

by Mr. Appliance

Everyday you take precautions to keep your family safe. You keep flammable materials in a safe environment, make sure all smoke alarms are working properly and teach your kids what to do in case of a fire, but what about the potential fire hazard lurking in your laundry room. Take a proactive step this National Fire Prevention week (Oct. 9-Oct. 15, 2011) by looking beyond chimney and into your dryer system to keep your family safe.

Mr. Appliance® recommends these tips to keep your dryer operating properly:

• Keep the dryer as lint-free as possible by cleaning the lint screen or filter before or after each load of clothes. Hire a licensed appliance professional to clean the interior of the dryer chassis and inspect the rollers, belt, motor and heating system every one or two years.

• Keep the exhaust duct in good condition by disconnecting, cleaning and inspecting the duct on a regular basis. If the exhaust duct opening outside the house is low to the ground, make sure to check it monthly for leaves, birds’ nests and other debris. If needed, have your licensed appliance expert to check it out for you and remove any potential fire hazard.

• Use semi-rigid or flexible aluminum ducting behind the dryer and smooth rigid metallic ducting through the wall to the outside vent. The exhaust should only vent to the outside of the house – never to the attic or crawlspace. It’s best to use a flap vent that will open when the dryer is in use and close when it is off. This will keep birds and other animals out of the vent and will keep the vent from getting clogged with lint as easily as it might with a mesh or grate vent covering.

• The vents should be as straight as possible, with all excess venting trimmed off. Twisting or crushing exhaust piping restricts the airflow.

• Try not to use screws to put your vent pipe together, because the screw shafts inside the piping collect lint and cause additional friction.

• Lint and debris in and around your dryer could be putting your home at risk for a dryer fire. The National Fire Protection Association estimates that in 2006, there were 17,700 home fires involving clothes dryers or washing machines resulting in 360 civilian injuries and 15 civilian deaths. The leading cause of dryer fires was failure to clean the appliance.

“Dryer fires are preventable with periodic maintenance to remove lint buildup inside the unit and the venting hose,” said Doug Rogers, president of Mr. Appliance Corp. “Following these tips and staying proactive will help prevent fires and potentially protect homes and save lives.”

To learn more about dryer maintenance, visit www.mrappliance.com.

About Mr. Appliance:
Mr. Appliance is North America’s leading appliance repair franchise system. Established in 1996, its franchises provide full-service residential and light commercial appliance repair. Mr. Appliance has more than 150 locations throughout the United States and Canada and is consistently ranked among the top home service franchises by Entrepreneur magazine and other industry experts. Mr. Appliance is a subsidiary of The Dwyer Group, Inc. For more information, visit www.mrappliance.com.

by Guest

Salespeople in general have been criticized for their pushiness in closing the deal. However, salespeople selling alarm systems have been under much scrutiny lately. In fact, some of the ‘techniques’ are quite questionable. Listed below are ten common complaints that are received about alarm system sales tactics.

• Claiming to be working with the police or local government. Salespeople have claimed to be working hand in hand with the local police department to cover the installation fee. When the claim was checked it was discovered to be false. Don’t be afraid to check on their claims, after all if they are legitimate they won’t have a problem with you verifying the information.

• Claiming to be with your current company. One tactic that has been used is to make you believe that they are working for your current alarm company to get in the door and then once inside they will use aggressive tactics to get you to sign a long term contract with their company. Most legitimate alarm companies do not send someone over to your house without an appointment first.

• Following you into your home. Some salespeople have been known to follow you into your home without being invited in. Remember it is not impolite or rude to say that you are not interested and then close the door; it’s for your personal safety.

• Limited time offer. Many different salespeople use this tactic, but for alarm system salespeople it is very useful. Since security systems tend to be an expensive purchase the salespeople will hook you with a limited time offer such as this is for today only, or I’m leaving town tonight, and I am the only one authorized to make this deal.

• Scare tactics. It is unfortunate that this is a popular one, but many of the salespeople will lie about recent burglaries or break-ins in your neighborhood to try and scare you into purchasing an alarm system.

• It’s free. Have you ever heard the term “nothing is free”? Well it usually is true. Companies wouldn’t stay in business if they gave their products away. If a salesperson tries to tell you that you can get the alarm system for free there is usually going to be strings attached. They may give you the equipment for free, but then lock you into a long term expensive contract. Make sure you get all the information and read the fine print before signing up for anything.

• Went out of business. Some salespeople will go around to homes that currently have an alarm system sign on their property and tell them that their current company went out of business, or that they have merged with a new company, and then try to get them to sign new contracts by scaring them into believing that their current alarm no longer works. Some have gone as far as cutting the phone lines so when you try to set it off it won’t work, and then reconnect them when installing your new alarm.

• Insurance discounts. While it is true that most homeowners insurance providers will give you a discount if you have an alarm system, many sale people will use this to give you false hopes of how much you will save. Many will claim that you will save enough on your insurance to cover the cost of the system. When in actuality the savings generally runs from around 5-12% which in no way would cover the alarm system. If your policy has a $1,000.00 a year premium, your savings are only going to be $50.00- $ 120.00.

• Offering a better discount. Sometimes they will try anything to get you to sign their contract prior to reading it. They may tell you that they have another appointment to get to and that if you go ahead and make the deal right now they will give you a better deal. Watch out for this and again, do not sign anything without reading it first. Tell them that they can go to their other appointment and come back so that you have time to read the fine print. A legitimate salesperson will have no problem with that, after all they want to make a sale.

• Breaking into your home. There have been instances of alarm salespeople being arrested because they broke into someone’s home just to prove to them that it could be done, and that they needed an alarm to prevent a ‘real’ intruder from doing the same.

Some states now have laws to protect homeowners from door to door salespeople making cold calls, and they are required to properly identify themselves. The federal government has also enacted a law that allows you 3 days to change your mind and get out of a contract signed through door to door sales. If the company is reputable they will allow you the time to compare bids and review their material without trying to pressure you.

This article was provided by http://www.homealarmmonitoring.org.

More people are killed or injured in fires than all the burglaries of homes or businesses combined. Smoke & soot damage will consume every square inch of your home. I had a neighbour who had a fire and clothes packed in suitcases still got damaged with soot. They were far removed from the actual fire. So it is important to add fire protection to your security system.

Most smoke detectors security alarm companies use is different than the ones sold in hardware stores. They measure the quality of the air electronically. They usually can detect a fire as opposed to fumes using this method is much better. When a fire is detected, the fire department is notified even sometimes before you the home owner know you have a fire. The internal siren in the home alerts your family of the fire. Most alarm systems give intermittent short blasts if there is a fire as opposed to a steady sound of the siren. This also lets you know even in a deep sleep that when the siren goes off, you know it’s a fire instead of a break-in.

It is important where you place these devices. Some cities have codes stating you have to have one for each bedroom. Most of the time they are installed in a common hallway outside of the bedrooms.

Another device is called a heat rise or heat sensor. Most of these devices operate sensing the heat of the air surrounding them. There are two kinds. The first device will detect a fire if the heat rises to a certain temperature. The other device will activate if there is a sudden change of temperature from a certain degree to another.

These devices are placed in areas like kitchens, garages, attics, basements near the furnace, utility rooms, and any where you have a heater or flammable materials.

Every family should have a fire drill every so often. Each member of the family should know all exits. Have a place where you meet outside, like at the mail box, so you know everyone has gotten out. Many people have lost their lives going back into a burning home thinking that someone is still in the home when actually they were out but on the other side of the home.

Keep in mind that most insurance companies give discounts if you have a security system installed in your home or business. The more levels of protection could mean a greater discount on your insurance. So an investment in a complete security system could mean a substantial savings over the years plus the “peace of mind” knowing you’re protected.

Get a FREE* ADT Alarm System worth over $850, with a $99* installation fee, and $ 0 activation fee, 24/7 Immediate Emergency Medical, Police and Fire Response, 2 Way Voice Enabled Control Centre and much more. Please visit: http://www.apexdirect.ca/promos/3 to get a FREE, no obligation Life Safety System quote or call us at 1 888 496 9488

Have you noticed that people are obsessed with windows? They want more of them and they want them wider, taller (two-storey perhaps?), and shapelier (round tops, elliptical, oblique). The problem arrives when you decide to dress this sea of glass. What to do?

Don’t despair. Firstly, determine your budget. Quality window treatments are not inexpensive but if chosen properly they will serve you well for many years to come. Secondly, decide how much light filtering and privacy you need for each room. Next, determine the style of window coverings that will best suit the design of the room and home. Here are some options to consider.

Great View
Do your windows have a beautiful view? If so, you won’t want to cover this feature. Instead flank the view with side panels only, leaving the window portion untreated, particularly for windows that are north facing. The panels should coordinate in colour and pattern with the other elements in the room.

Light Filtering
If the windows face any direction other than north, consider a shade/blind mounted on the inside of the window that can be positioned to filter the light, or pulled up/down entirely. A layered treatment with sheers for light control and fabric panels on either side is another option.

Alternatively, professionally installed window films can filter UV rays while offering a clear view outside. Couple this with a fabric treatment that dresses the window such as a roman or box pleat valance and side panels.

Security
Some films allow you to look out while passers-by are unable to look in due to the mirroring effect that occurs from the outside. This is a great option for rooms where security is of the utmost importance, such as home offices and family rooms.

Undesirable View
If your window faces your neighbour’s brick wall/window consider cellular or pleated shades with different opacities that allow the light to come through while obscuring or blocking the view entirely.

Privacy
Bedrooms necessitate the most privacy so do make sure the treatment has complete light control. Use shutters, blinds or shades that specify complete light control for privacy. In addition, have a fabric treatment that flanks the window with perhaps a valance above it.

Finally, if you’re still unclear as to which treatments you should be entertaining for your home contact Margarida Oliveira, designer and owner of Chic Décor, for a consultation.You may reach her at: 905-337-8463, or visit her website at: www.chicdecordesign.com

Safeguard Your Home and Business against Lock Bumping

Videos on lock bumping are all over the Internet and on local news stations throughout the country. It is becoming common knowledge that locks can be bypassed using a method called lock bumping. The spread of this information is causing great concern for individual safety and security for homes and businesses. As a security professional, I am often asked, “Can people really open locks that easily?” “Should I be concerned?” “What can I do about it?” and “What do you recommend?”

The method of lock bumping using bump keys has been around for many years. The recent spread of this information has increased the use of this technique for illegal purposes, and now requires individuals to take precautionary action to protect themselves and their property. In addition to the security concern, there is an insurance issue. If your home or businesses is burglarized and there are no signs of forced entry, does your insurance cover the loss? If the method used to break into your home or business was lock bumping, the signs of forced entry would likely be minimal and might not even be visible.

Installing bump-proof locks will provide better safety and security. One of the best bump-proof locks on the market is the BiLock cylinder. Most locks have both top and bottom pins, and locks with the top pins are susceptible to lock bumping. BiLock is a 12pin locking system with no top pins. The BiLock cylinder also has two sidebars and a trigger mechanism within the key. BiLock is also a restricted key high security system which allows you to have greater key control. These lock cylinders can be purchased as part of the deadbolt or door knob lock. They can be added to most commercial locks and some residential locks without having to replace the entire deadbolt or door knob.

For homeowners, the easiest solution is to purchase the deadbolt with the BiLock cylinder and replace your existing deadbolt. This is normally a simple installation and usually fits within the existing holes currently on the door. The BiLock lock system with its patented U-shaped key design and trigger mechanism within the key requires two proprietary key machines to produce a key. These key machines are only available to authorized BiLock dealers, and helps eliminate unauthorized key duplication. This provides another layer of security, knowing that no one has copied the key to your home or business. All keys are numbered at the time they are issued. Simply keep an accurate record of the distribution of your keys – as long as all keys can be accounted for, there is no need to change the locks.

The cost to upgrade your locks to prevent lock bumping is more than your average lock, but it is a worthwhile investment to maintain the security of your home or business. The cost is small when compared to a denied claim for loss from your insurance company! When the BiLock lock system is installed on your home or business, you can rest assured knowing that you have bump-proof locks on your door.

Dave Jabas is a lock expert with 30 years experience, specializing in door hardware, door locks and bump-proof locks for residential and commercial applications. http://www.wholesalelocks.com/ Copyright 2006 Wholesale Locks

Lock bumping has been around since the early 1950s. Burglars use a filed-down key, which works on almost ANY lock. It can be slid into any tumbler lock, because it has no grooves, and the lock is bumped to allow the key to catch and open the lock. An experienced burglar can gain entry into your house in seconds! After the thief inserts the key, he bumps the door repeatedly while trying to turn the key, the tumblers fall into place quickly and allow the key to turn and the lock to open.

When considering door locks for your home, you need to do some research. Less expensive locks tend to be break when a burglar ‘bumps’ them and will not allow a key to turn them at all – meaning you won’t be able to get in either. The higher-end locks have been found to be more vulnerable because they have been manufactured to higher standards, allowing keys to slide in and out more easily.

A consideration is purchasing Bump Proof locks. I recently went to Home Depot and I was able to find about 30 different kinds, but be warned, they are not cheap! You could also consider adding a deadbolt to your door, which is harder to crack. Also consider having a locksmith visit your home and assess your current lock. He or she will be able to help and offer any recommendations that are required.

Having a home security system will also help deter any would-be thieves. I had my house broken into two years ago — they smashed my back door window and gained entry from there. It was a good thing that I had home insurance, so please make sure that you have that taken care of too.