Posts Tagged ‘Seasonal’
Water-Cooled Air Conditioners to be Illegal in Montreal as of January 2018
As of January 2018, running an air-conditioner connected to the aqueduct that does not have a water recycling system will be prohibited and fined, according to Montreal By-law 13-023. All air conditioning units that use a drinkable water cooling system need to be retired by December 31st, 2017. The purpose of the law is to get devices…
Read MoreWinter Preparation: Let’s Go Nuts!
All the squirrels and chipmunks are running around, busy collecting nuts, making sure their homes are well stocked… and you? What exactly are you doing to get ready for winter? Before settling into hibernation mode, it’s a good idea to do a thorough walk around your home and see what may benefit from a little…
Read MoreCarpenter Ants are NOT the Problem, They are the Symptom
Sure, as carpenter ants burrow into wood to create their nests, your home is slowly getting destroyed from the inside out. But carpenter ants don’t generally nest in nice dry areas free of food stuffs. They prefer moist, rotting wood. Carpenter ants indicate a bigger problem in the home. Carpenter Ants Like High Moisture Carpenter ants…
Read MoreIce on the Roof: Remove or Leave Alone?
Deep freeze at -26 Celcius. Next day, a balmy 2 degrees and everything melts. Then it rains. Then freezes again. Then snow. What’s a homeowner to do? Be prepared. Freezing and melting water can be your home’s biggest enemy. Ice, especially, can cause a lot of damage. But the fact is, removing thick ice from…
Read MoreWhy is Montreal Moving Day on July 1st?
7 per cent of Montrealers move on July 1st, according to 2013 estimates – that’s about 116,000 people. Moving Day causes stress, blocks up streets, and a lot of sweaty people drinking beer and eating pizza with a sore back and a wet paint roller in their hands. Keep in mind, if you’re not moving —…
Read MoreSpring Brought you a Leak in the Basement?
Smell something mouldy, mildew-y or sour coming from your basement or crawl space? Make no mistake: you’ve likely sprung a leak in the basement. Spring is a likely time of year for moisture problems to arise, and a good time to pay attention to how your basement is weathering the thaw. As snow melts, air…
Read MoreWhy Water is your Home’s Biggest Enemy and Caulking is Your Best Friend
I went to visit my mother last week. We sipped tea and talked about the latest news and events. My mom likes to express her opinions by using proverbs. Her inventory is quite astounding. If people are not barking up the wrong tree or making mountains out of molehills, they are putting carts before horses…
Read MoreThe 5 Minute Sump Pump Test Every Homeowner Should Know
Tulips still underground? Can’t smell the crocuses yet? Good! Because you want to make sure your sump pump works before spring showers are in full flood! This is a good week to check your sump pump. It’ll only take 5 minutes, and if there’s any problem, you’ll prevent water damage or flooding during the rainy…
Read MoreEffective Ventilation System Maintenance Stops Ice Damming
Without a working ventilation system on your roof, your home could thaw out snow and ice on the roof, turning it to water. The water pools, then freezes and melts again causing roof damage and leaks. – And for home owners who haven’t done regular maintenance on their roof, that means water damage from ice…
Read MoreFixing a Drippy Window Mount Air Conditioner
Today, central air conditioning is common in most modern homes. – But in urban centres, we often still see the drippy window units. Why do they drip? Why are they so noisy? They are supposed to drip as humidity leaves the building! The reason air conditioners drip is because they work in part by extracting…
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