Water leaks in a property need to be fixed as soon as possible, otherwise mould will start growing and turn the property into a fungi nightmare. When property owners deal with a mould problem they might think that a dehumidifier could get rid of the mould. But are dehumidifiers efficient at removing mould? Let's discuss! What is a dehumidifier? Dehumidifiers are portable devices that pull moisture from the air, decreasing the dampness in a room. Ideally, the home should have a relative humidity between 30 and 40%. This improves comfort and decreases health risks. A hygrometer can be used to monitor the humidity in a home. Does a dehumidifier remove mould? Removing ALL mould spores from a home is nearly impossible. Mould stays “dormant” in the air or on surfaces even if there’s no excess moisture to help it grow. If the humidity in a room increases, mould will start growing in patches on walls, clothes, and more. Thus, dehumidifiers do NOT kill mould, but they do help pre...

If you’ve questioned whether your house was insulated well enough before now, you’ll probably get the answer this winter! Time to batten down, cinch up, and insulate to your heart’s content (for the sake of your personal comfort, and to ward off a scary heating bill). Getting your home comfortable for the winter months is DIY at its finest; from weatherstripping your entryways to curing drafty windows, the tips below are need-to-know for homeowners of every skill level. In no particular order: Maintain your furnace and HVAC system Change your HVAC filters monthly, especially when the system is active during the winter. Not only will it help air quality, but you’ll also keep your system running more efficiently than it would if the filters were congested. Clear obstructions like tables and furniture away from vents too, to maximize the flow of air throughout the room. Learn more about maintaining your furnace, and winterizing your water heater too. Assess your heating zones ...

The dew point is the temperature at which moisture in the air will condense on a surface. It fluctuates with the outdoor temperature and relative humidity, which have an inverse relationship to each other.  Because cold air can hold less moisture than warm air, as the temperature falls the relative humidity rises and, when the temperature of a surface falls enough, it reaches the dew point—which is 100% relative humidity—and condensation forms.  The window glass of an air conditioned home will be cooler than the outdoor air on a warm morning and reaches the dew point temperature before other outdoor surfaces.  Occasionally, we get asked the question “Why do I have condensation when my windows are insulated?” An insulated window still has some heat/cold transmission, and the exterior glass surface will still be slightly cooler because of the chilled indoor air. Trying to determine why one window has condensate on it and a nearby one does not can get complicated due...

Some of the most common problems a building inspector might find are the result of amateur renovations. When buying a property that has been renovated the first thing to determine is whether the renovations were done professionally or by an amateur.  If the work was done with permits the vendor will likely provide proof by presenting the building permit or certificate of completion. City Hall also keeps records of all renovation or building permits and copies of these can be obtained. Are all non-permitted renovations problematic? Very often home renovations have been done by the home owner or an amateur contractor without a building permit. Non-permitted renovations mean that no municipal building code inspectors checked the work and some potential, and possibly significant, problems may exist. On the other hand, not all non-permitted renovations are sub-standard. Very often it is the same builders doing permitted and non-permitted work. As home inspectors we find that jobs ...

Each year, Canadians spend millions of dollars on household cleaning products. Even though they are a common sight in homes and properties, most household cleaners and chemicals are dangerously toxic. To avoid serious accidents, any chemical product should be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions and stored safely, especially if there are children or pets living in the home.  Here are a number of common household chemicals that can cause severe health problems: 1. Antifreeze Swallowing antifreeze (ethylene glycol) may cause damage to the heart, brain, kidney and other internal organs. Inhaling antifreeze is not as dangerous, but may cause dizziness. 2. Bleach Being a strong corrosive substance, bleach can affect the respiratory system if inhaled. Bleach can also irritate or burn the skin and eyes. Ingesting bleach can cause pulmonary edema or vomiting and coma. Wearing rubber gloves and a dust mask when using bleach is strongly recommended. 3. Drain Clea...

Your classic spring-cleaning checklist usually involves core tasks like vacuuming, dusting, window washing and de-cluttering, but spring is also an excellent time to tackle some tasks that will make your home safer and more secure. Household safety is especially important when it comes to seniors, who unfortunately experience many of their injuries within the home.  Factors like declining vision, hearing loss and worsening bone  density make injuries from minor trips and falls more likely. Additionally, if injured, it can take seniors longer to heal and recover fully. By making some little changes around the home you can reduce the chance of household injuries for yourself or the senior loved ones in your life. It all comes down to identifying potential hazardous spots and removing or diminishing them as much as possible. There's no better time to get started on the path to a safer household for seniors than right now when you're freshening up your home for spring. Her...

In the winter, the risk for carbon monoxide poisoning is at its highest, because it’s almost always related to the heating systems.  Although some governments in Canada have taken regulatory actions on carbon monoxide, fatal accidents still occur, that is why it is extremely important to understand some facts about carbon monoxide (CO). CO is an odourless, colourless and tasteless gas that can cause sudden illness and death. CO is found in combustion fumes, such as those produced by cars and trucks, small gasoline engines, stoves, lanterns, burning charcoal and wood, and gas ranges and heating systems. CO from these sources can build up in enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces. Breathing it can poison people and animals in these spaces. Because CO is basically undetectable to the human senses, people may not know that they are being exposed. The initial symptoms of low to moderate CO poisoning are similar to the flu (but without the fever).  They include:  headache, fat...

Homeowners renovate to update, add value or prepare their homes for sale. But no one wants to invest in a renovation only to see it cost more money later in revisions or repairs.  A CIBC poll done in 2016 suggested that 37% of Canadian homeowners planned to renovate or improve their home.  If you are considering a renovation to your house, a home inspection can help you prioritize your requirements and actually save you money in the long run. DO YOUR RESEARCH A home renovation can be fun and exciting, but it’s also a time when clear planning and forward thinking are most important. Going over budget, unforeseen mishaps or delays, disputes with builders and contractors – these aren’t what you envisioned as part of your dream renovation process. Careful research, investigation and planning are required in the decision making process. The Canadian Homebuilders Association (CHBA) and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) are excellent resources. According t...

Have you noticed tiny droplets of moisture – otherwise known as condensation – forming on the inside of your windows this winter? If so, you likely have an issue of high indoor humidity. So, why does it happen? New homes in Canada are built to be airtight, limiting the flow of air in and out of the home to reduce heat loss. As a result, it’s difficult for excess moisture to escape during the winter months when windows are constantly closed. High indoor humidity can fog up and eventually rot your windowsills. With excess amounts of condensation, mould will begin to grow on vinyl windows. And that’s mold that you and your family will breathe in every day. Bathrooms and kitchens are moisture monsters – steamy showers and boiling pots build up water vapour in the air that condenses when it touches cold walls and windows. In this environment, mould will eventually start to grow. Excess moisture is a problem you don’t want to ignore, but you’ll be happy to hear that there are many simple w...

You may be tempted to forego a home inspection if you’re buying in a competitive market, especially when multiple offers are a possibility. But before you make a decision on whether to include a home inspection in your contractual offer, be aware that different seasons and weather conditions tell different stories about a home’s condition. While some shortcomings of a home will not be as evident under snow coverage, winter also presents an opportunity to see other things that snow can teach us about the condition of a house. For example, a snow-covered roof may hide the overall state of the shingles and underlay, while large spotty patches of melted snow on a roof and dripping icicles are indicators of insulation deficiency. Likewise, snow piled on the outside of a home can show tell-tale signs about the inside of a home, revealing foundation cracks and basement leakage problems. Every season teaches us something about the condition of a home, but cold weather and snow may prevent a ...

A home is one of life’s most important purchases. Before committing to a purchase it makes sense to learn as much as possible about any property you wish to acquire. Understanding the important differences between an appraisal and a home inspection will help you to obtain detailed information about the home’s value and condition. An Appraisal An appraisal allows the lending institution to determine if the property being purchased is suitable as security for a mortgage. For conventional mortgages, a lender will in most cases require that a professional third party assess the property to ascertain its current market value. In the case of a “high-ratio” mortgage (with a down payment of less than 20 per cent), the mortgage insurer will go through its own internal appraisal process. In particular, lenders and insurers are concerned that the property (in terms of its age, condition, and remaining economic life) constitutes a good match with the borrower and their ability to repay the mort...

Inspect it All uses Thermal Imaging with every inspection that we do for our customers.  Many innovative technologies developed for security, military and space exploration applications later find their way into industry applications that benefit us every day. That is certainly the case with thermal imaging. Breakthroughs in the late 1990s enabled manufacturers of thermal imaging cameras to marry an uncooled detector to earlier TI cameras, so that lower costs of what is technically known as a microbolometer could be brought to market. One of the major advantages of the microbolometer is that it has no moving parts and is therefore less susceptible to breakdowns. It is also less expensive to produce which allowed thermal imaging camera manufacturers to bring the price of their products down considerably.  Since that time, thermal imaging technology has allowed Inspect it All technicians to check for water intrusion without cutting through drywall or tearing up carpet....

If you're concerned about your house then call Inspect it All  to do a Maintenance Inspection! Plumbing System Water damage caused by bursting pipes during cold weather can be devastating. A ruptured pipe will release water and not stop until someone shuts off the water. If no one is home to do this, an enormous quantity of water can flood a house and cause thousands of dollars' worth of damage. Even during very small ruptures or ruptures that are stopped quickly, water leakage can result in mold and property damage. Broken water pipes can be costly to repair. All exposed water pipes in cold areas, such as attics, garages, and crawlspaces, should be insulated. Foam or fiberglass insulation can be purchased at most hardware stores. Insulation should cover the entirety of a pipe.   Plastic is more tolerant of cold expansion than copper or steel. Houses in colder climates might benefit from the exclusive use of approved plastic plumbing.  Water supply for exteri...

Most people don’t know how easy it is to make their homes run on less energy, and here at INSPECT IT ALL , we want to change that. Drastic reductions in heating, cooling and electricity costs can be accomplished through very simple changes, most of which homeowners can do themselves. Of course, for homeowners who want to take advantage of the most up-to-date knowledge and systems in home energy efficiency, INSPECT IT ALL energy auditors can perform in-depth testing to find the best energy solutions for your particular home. Why make your home more energy efficient? Here are a few good reasons: Federal, provincial, utility and local financial incentives, such as tax breaks, are very advantageous for homeowners in most parts of Canada  It saves money. It costs less to power a home that has been converted to be more energy-efficient.  It increases the comfort level indoors.  It reduces our impact on climate change. Many scientists now believe that excessive energy c...