Radon Lungs

Reducing Radon In Your Home & Mitigation Techniques

Loucas Loucaides Radon Leave a Comment

You can take steps to reduce and control the amount of radon in your home. Testing is the only way to determine radon levels. Have your home tested by a professional.  EPA guidance suggests mitigating if levels are at or above 148 Becquerels/meter3 (4 picocuries/liter).  The effectiveness of any one radon-reduction method will depend upon the unique characteristics of your …

Crawlspaces

Are crawlspaces good or bad?

Loucas Loucaides Crawlspaces Leave a Comment

Well, crawlspaces like any other home component are there for a reason. The typical reason is that a basement was not required, a basement was not allowed due to high water tables or just because it saved someone money. It is rare to see crawlspaces in new construction now just because a finished basement adds living space and value to …

HVAC Maintenance Tips for Winter

Loucas Loucaides Energy Effeciency, HVAC 1 Comment

As Canadians, one of the largest expenses comes from heating our homes in the winter months. In older homes which are poorly insulated this may come at an even larger expense. That is why it is imperative that we maintain our HVAC systems. Most furnaces are going to be fuelled by natural gas; fewer are fueled by oil and electricity …

WETT Inspection

How to Maintain Wood Burning Systems

Loucas Loucaides Home Inspection Tips Leave a Comment

Wood has been used as a primary heating source by humans for eons. Now, wood burning systems are mostly used as a secondary heat source or to create a cozy environment.  There are many different types of wood burning systems and each one has its own unique characteristics. In this post, we will concentrate on two types of wood-burning systems, …

Are carpets good or bad?

Loucas Loucaides Allergies Leave a Comment

Fitted carpets have been used in houses for many years as they offer warmth and soft flooring material for family members to walk on.  Carpet is a magnet for allergens like dust mites, pet dander, mold spores and other potentially aggravating proteins. Allergens are antigens, typically proteins, that provoke allergic reactions like coughing and sneezing in people with hypersensitive immune …

Reducing Radon In Your Home & Mitigation Techniques

admin Home Inspection Tips, Ventilation Leave a Comment

What is Radon? Radon is a radioactive gas that is found naturally in the environment. Radon is formed from the breakdown of uranium, found in soil, rock and groundwater.  Radon gas is inert, colorless and odorless, and is found in the atmosphere in trace amounts. Outdoors, radon disperses rapidly and, generally, is not a health issue. Most radon exposure occurs …

Allergies

Allergies and the HVAC system

admin Allergies, Home Inspection Tips, HVAC Leave a Comment

What do allergies have to do with the HVAC system? Allergies are a very common thing with many people of all ages but most are attributed to food and nature. What about the environment in our home? Multiple allergens can be found inside a home. These include mould, dust mites, pet dandruff, cockroaches, mice, etc. All these can play a …

Caution Fully Renovated Home

Caution When Purchasing a “Fully Renovated” Home

admin Home Flipping, Home Inspection Tips, Renovation Leave a Comment

In our industry, we deal first hand with many real estate listings that have the headline “completely renovated from top to bottom”. When you’re dealing with a home that is of some age and has gone through a major renovation you need to ask the following questions: Were structural alterations done on this property? Were the necessary permits pulled. Were …