Spring has finally arrived in most areas of BC. After a harsh winter, the exterior of your home should be given some attention in your ‘spring cleaning’ list. The following checklist targets areas that could need maintenance. Getting these tasks done quickly will allow more time to enjoy the spring weather.

Gutters & Downspouts
Clean out any debris from the gutters and make sure they drain at least three to four feet away from the house. Check for loose or leaky gutters and reattach any that have pulled away from the house.

Roofs
It is recommended that you hire a professional roofer to do repairs, but you can do a visual inspection of the roof from the ground (sometimes with the aid of binoculars) to see if any of the shingles were damaged or lost during the winter. Shingles that are cracked or loose should be replaced. A qualified roofer can check and repair flashing around skylights, vents or chimneys as well.

Chimneys
While you are looking at the roof, check the exterior of the chimney for any signs of repair needed. To reduce the risk of a chimney fire, have your chimney inspected and cleaned regularly.

Furnaces
Change furnace filters regularly. Remember that if you have an air conditioning unit that operates with your furnace, the furnace filters need to be changed during the summer months.

Humidifiers Attached to the Furnace
Turn off the humidifier and shut off the water as extra humidity is not needed during the summer months.

Air Conditioner
Air conditioner coils operate more efficiently when clean. An annual service call from a qualified heating and air conditioning service firm will keep the system working at peak performance by measuring the operating pressures, checking controls and cleaning the condenser coils.

Exterior Concrete
Small cracks are normal, but large horizontal cracks or cracks that are wider at the bottom than at the top are signs that your foundation might need to be repaired. Check concrete stairs and walkways for signs of damage, and check for cracks in driveways and sidewalks. Test the railings that are set in concrete steps to ensure that they are stable.

Decks
It is always a good idea to protect your wood deck by resealing the wood. Before you do this, be sure to check that there aren’t any loose or rotting boards. If any of the wood is soft & spongy, it is a sign of rot, and needs to be replaced.

Garden Hoses and Water Taps
Check all exterior water taps to ensure they are not leaking. Caulk any cracks between the taps and the exterior walls. Make sure that all garden hoses are not leaking.

Lawn Equipment
Clean and service your lawn mower, changing the oil and having the blades sharpened.

Enjoy the sunshine!

 After 23 years of utilizing the strength of the ASHI home inspection Standards of Practice (SOP), the Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors of British Columbia, CAHPI(BC), by the unanimous vote of its membership, brought a truly Canadian home inspection Standard of Practice to life in British Columbia, as have other Provinces recently. “To be aligned with the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), North America’s most revered and trusted home inspection standard, was a critical strength to CAHPI’s goal of raising standards in the home inspection industry from the onset, however, now we have exclusive use in Canada and British Columbia to reflect our uniqueness and start an industry-wide stakeholder dialogue”, pronounced Craig Hostland, RHI and President of CAHPI(BC). “Our relationship with North America’s largest home inspection association will not change, but it was time to make the Standards of Practice, under which each CAHPI(BC) home inspector operates, our own in both word and deed”.

CAHPI (BC) has operated as an association of home inspectors critical of lax laws and non-existent inspection standards since inception in 1991.  Since licensing was enacted in BC in 2009, we continue to work with Consumer Protection BC to close loopholes that allow insufficiently trained inspectors to conduct home inspections, and raise standards to ensure every home buyer gets a comprehensive and accurate home inspection from the industry. With a wholly owned Standards of Practice modelled on the ASHI SOP, the CAHPI SOP supports over 1100 home inspectors all across Canada in delivering consistent inspections from Cornerbrook to Victoria. “CAHPI(BC) is pleased to be a part of this national association of home and property inspectors that represents cross Canada standards that homebuyers can rely on”, noted Helene Barton, Executive Director CAHPI (BC).

Thomas Ottewell, the son of  CAHPI(BC) RHI member Lee Ottewell, helps to save the life of a man and validates the benefits of everyone knowing CPR.

Read the full story here: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/saanich-teen-uses-cpr-to-help-save-life-of-man-whose-heart-had-stopped-1.64007

Great job Thomas!

CAHPI(BC) Booth

Selecting the right home inspector can be as important as finding the right home. Please drop by and visit us at the CAHPI(BC) booth at the BC Home & Garden Show at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver to learn more about home and property inspections in BC. 

Dates & Times for the show are:
Wednesday, February 20      4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Thursday, February 21           Noon – 9:00 PM
Friday, February 22                 Noon – 9:00 PM
Saturday, February 23           10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sunday, February 24              10:00 AM – 6:00 PM  

We look forward to seeing you there!

Before going on an extended winter vacation, we have compiled a few things to do before you leave home. These simple steps will help to take your mind off of your home while you are away, allowing you to enjoy your vacation.

 1)   Adjust Your Thermostat. It is generally recommended that you keep your home’s temperature above 15 degrees Celsius to ensure that water pipes in the coldest area of your home don’t freeze. Leave interior doors open to allow for air and heat circulation.

2)  Turn Off The Main Water Valve. Shutting off the main water valve to your home will prevent serious flooding if your pipes freeze in the event your furnace quits working. If you cannot shut off the main water valve in your home due to it not being used often, turn off the shut off valve to the toilets and washing machine.

3)  Turn Down Your Water Heater. Most new water heaters have a vacation setting. If your water heater does not have this setting, turn the temperature dial to the lowest setting to conserve gas or electricity.

4)  Leave Lights On Timers. Choose different areas of your home to put lamps on electric light timers, setting them for different times. This will make it appear that someone is home, helping to deter anyone who might be targeting your home for a break-in. Do not leave lamps on without a timer as this could be a fire hazard.

5)  Unplug Any Electrical Equipment Not Needed. Most electronic equipment like your computer, TVs and cable box have an instant on feature. Electricity is consumed while they are plugged in, even if they are not in use. It is estimated that the ‘phantom power’ usage in our homes accounts for fifteen per cent of our total power consumption.

6)  Arrange For Mail Pick Up. Cancel newspaper delivery and arrange for a neighbour to pick up your mail.

7)  Check with your home insurance provider. Some insurance companies require your home to be checked regularly while you are gone.