Water Leaks: How To Prevent Them

Water leaks and inconsistent water pressures are challenges that every homeowner has to deal with. And rightfully so, as water damage to a home can cost thousands of dollars in repair costs. How can one prevent water leaks?


Preventing water leaks can be as simple as conducting frequent monitoring of possible culprits of water leaks. The first area of your home that you would need to check is your kitchen. Major appliances such as your sink, refrigerator and dishwasher have all the potential to have water damage. As so, make sure to inspect these appliances thoroughly. Check for leaks, blocked drains or any pipes that would need replacing. Another critical area to check in your home is your washrooms. Check your showers, sinks and toilets for leaky pipes and faucets. If there are any repairs that you are unsure of, don’t hesitate to call the services of a plumbing Toronto company.

Lastly, windows and door seals should also be checked for leakages. They can be detected as peeling paint or water streaks on windows. Inspect both interior and exterior surfaces of windows and doors, making sure that they are in good condition. Replace any damaged sliding or drywall whenever you determine that they have been compromised.

Water leaks can lead to serious damage financially and structurally to any homeowner. Without proper maintenance, these damages can cost thousands of dollars to mend. Make sure you remember some of the points discussed here to ensure that your home is in great condition.

Learn About ICF Construction

ICF construction stands for insulated concrete form structures. They are permanent structures that considered being of high quality and to be more durable than traditional construction materials.

ICF are hollow blocks that are stacked one after the other into the shape of a building. Strong steel reinforcement is then added within the forms then concrete is poured inside the forms. This structural design therefore provides ICF buildings a range of properties not available in other buildings.

For one, concrete forms provide significant energy savings to homeowners. ICF homes have thermal mass property which helps maintain consistent temperature throughout the home. It can therefore save up to 50% on heating and cooling costs as homeowners need not depend on their heating and cooling system as much.

Concrete homes as mentioned are durable structures that on the extreme can withstand severe weather. Where traditional wood-frame homes would be destroyed by tornadoes and earthquakes, a properly engineered ICF home have the sustainability to resist such conditions. ICF structures can withstand fire far longer than wood wood frame walls.

Insulated concrete forms are also environmentally friendly structures whose formation save a minimum of ten trees from being cut down. Furthermore, these structures do not contain any formaldehyde or other toxic gases that can affect the indoor quality of homes. Providing homeowners a healthier and cleaner living environment.

Insulated concrete forms can be a costly investment. But they are investments that pays themselves in the long run. Don’t let its high cost sway you.

Basement Insulation Tips

Proper insulation can make a difference to saving a homeowner hundreds of dollars in energy usage. Insulating basement walls is an easy way to retaining the heat in your basement and reduce your annual utility bills. By insulating your basements, you will also provide a comfortable living environment for your family. Here are some tips.

To start the insulation process, first inspect the condition of you basement. Look for surfaces with signs of moisture. Repair any leaks you find and allow your basement to dry out before you start insulting your basement. This is important as moisture can seep into the insulation material and therefore, promote mold growth. Also, check the edges of your basement window for air leaks and repair them as accordingly.

There are two ways to insulate your basement. You can choose to insulate it externally or internally. Insulating the exterior can take more time and hence, money. However, it is the best choice in better protecting the foundation of your home from moisture and cold weather. If you notice any cracks or leaks in your foundation, make sure you call a contractor to fix it for you. Never try to repair it yourself as it will only cost you more money in the long run if not done right. You can choose to install insulation above-grade or below-grade portion of your home’s foundation.

Comparatively, basement wall insulation done internally is a simpler and less expensive option to home insulation. Make sure you do your installations properly otherwise, your basement will be infested with moisture and mold growth problems. With this in mind, use non-absorbent material for the inner layer of the insulation. Do not use vapor barrier for basement wall insulation as it will prevent your walls from drying out during those hot summer periods.

The Value Of Plumbing Consulting

Buying a new home is possibly one of the biggest investments one can make in a lifetime. It involves a significant amount of money and as so critical steps need to be taken in order to get the most out of your investment. As a new homeowner, you definitely don’t want to be straddled with more expenses to pay due to poor pipes and water leakages. Therefore, it is critical that you receive expert consultation from a professional plumber when conducting your home shopping.

Buying a new home can be a very overwhelming experience. There are so many things to consider, things to know before signing that contract. Making a single mistake can cost you a fortune or even a new home. By consulting a plumber Burnaby, you can know the quality of the home’s interior structure. How healthy is the foundation of the home. Are the pipes old? Rusty? Are they out of date? Will they need replacing? How much would all that cost?

Having a professional plumber to check these things is a very important step. As a first time homeowner, you do not want to close a deal and find out months later that the plumbing system needs replacing. It is after all the heart of the house. Consulting expert plumbers Surrey can save you thousands of money in renovation and repair costs.

Having a professional plumber check out every inch of your prospective home’s piping system is a critical. Underestimating the value of their advice has a very steep price. One that can result in unwanted and unexpected damages to your newly purchased home.

ICF construction: What Is It?

Insulated concrete forms are hollow “blocks” made of plastic foams that construction workers stack one after another into a shape of a building. Workers then fill the center with concrete. The combination of heavy, high strength material of concrete between layers of light, insulating foam material creates a wall structure of desirable properties: air tightness, insulation, sound attenuation, strength and thermal mass.

Greater comfort: The insulating property of foam, as well as its heat absorbing property of thermal mass allows homeowners to experience far greater comfort in their ICF homes. Continuous foam insulation keeps temperature consistent throughout the home. It smoothes out temperature swings and therefore eliminates hot spots and cold drafts throughout the year.

Cleaner air: Concrete forms reduce air infiltration far more efficiently than traditional walls. Henceforth, the occurrence of asthma or other airborne allergies caused by pollens and other pollutants are significantly reduced. Your family can therefore enjoy cleaner indoor air – the leading cause of health problems for most families.

Quieter home: Massive materials that makes up concrete forms make it possible for it to reflect noises. Compared to conventional insulation methods, sound transmission test have shown that ICF walls allows less than one-third of sound to pass through its structure. Homeowners therefore can enjoy a truly peaceful sanctuary.

Green homes: Insulated concrete form is an environmentally responsible structure. A single ICF home can save at least ten trees from being cut down. For homeowners, concrete forms can save them thousands in energy consumption due to their thermal mass property that efficiently retains heat and air tight structures that buffers the interiors of the home from outdoor temperature.

Live in comfort and consider ICF construction when getting a home builder to create a home for you. With high forecasted energy savings as well as beneficial environmental impacts, the advantages of ICF for you and your family is manifold. Check them out today!

How To Buy Plumbing Tools

Hiring a plumber to do simple plumbing repairs can be irrational and very expensive. It is probably more cost effective to do these simple repairs yourself. However, with the number of plumbing tools available in the market, choosing one can be an overwhelming ordeal for many.

If you are a new homeowner then you’d probably need all the basic plumbing tools to fix common plumbing repairs. Going to your nearby tool store, you will find a variety of tools that fits your budget preference. Additionally, employees on these stores are usually well informed about issues relating to home repairs and therefore, can give you sound advice on what tools you need for everyday repairs. So make sure you ask for their assistance when you find yourself in a dilemma.

If you know exactly what you need, then you can also opt into shopping online for your tools. It’s convenient and some hardware stores often provide deals available online only. As you make your way into checkout, make sure you read their return policy in the event that the tool doesn’t work for you.

Now that you have your tools, you’re probably itching to use them. But before you tackle any clogged drains or other plumbing projects, you should first analyze how severe the problem is. If you don’t know or is unsure how to fix the problem then it’s probably a good idea to get on the phone with a plumber. Keep in mind that you can do more damage trying to tackle a project you are unprepared to do and that hiring a professional will actually save you more money in the long run.

When you have a plumbing problem, make sure you make a well educated decision on whether you are capable of doing it yourself or is better off hiring a plumbing Toronto expert. Consider these points as you conduct tool search.

Importance of Insulating Your Home

Homeowners are constantly looking for ways to make their homes more comfortable as well as more energy efficient. Proper insulation has been one of the emerging costs saving solution that home builders and homeowners opt for when creating and owning a home.

One way to lower your energy bills is through basement insulation. Thermal loss from your basement is most affected since it sits under cold ground. You must therefore provide proper insulation to prevent cold air from entering your home and retain as much heat during winters, as well as keep your home cool during summers. Through proper insulation, you can save you and your family more money from energy bills.

In addition to be being energy savers, insulation also serves as a sound absorber. Insulation installed on walls and ceilings helps redistribute sound from one room to another. Home builders as well as home owners are using insulators not only to save money but use it to soundproof their homes as well. From that note, insulation is installed in almost all areas of the home such as basement wall insulation, basement ceilings or between upper and lower levels of the home.

Home insulators can be conducted at any time, however, it is easier and therefore cost effective to install insulation when your home is being built or when you are doing any renovation work. When you are renovation your basement for instance, consider reading some books on various basement insulation methods. There are different types of insulation to choose from such as fiberglass, foam and cellulose. Fiberglass insulation is the most common material for residential homes but the type of insulation you need depends largely on where you live, as well as the size of your home. So do your research.

With the rising cost of energy, a good insulation can make a difference in your energy bills. The better the insulation in your home is, the better your investment will become. Be sure to check out ways to insulate your home when you’re remodeling.