Giving you the information you need to improve the safety, comfort and value of your living space. .
Superior Home Inspector Team
8 Jan 2014 | No Comments | posted by Lisa | in All-Technical, Basements, Electrical, Environmental, Heating, Plumbing, Roof, Ventilation
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
I have the pleasure of announcing that my company, Meticulous Inspections, has joined forces with Robert Kin of Superior Home Inspectors, to provide expanded services to our clients.
Robert has a B.A. from University of Toronto, is a graduate of the Carson Dunlop Home Inspection Program, and also trained in mold and IR inspection techniques. He has conducted hundreds of home inspections in the Toronto area, and is particularly talented at communicating to help clients feel comfortable and well educated during the home inspection process.
Together, Robert and I will be conducting home inspections under the banner of
This business synergy will provide our existing and future clients with increased services, expertise and availability.
Our combined expertise includes mold inspections, infra-red camera services, new home warranty inspections, condo inspections, home maintenance inspections, radon testing, and commercial inspections.
With two professional inspectors (more in the future), we can offer you more choice of appointment times, especially in the busy seasons.
Call us for your next home purchase or sale.
647-287-1962 Lisa
416-528-1443 Robert
If you know someone who is buying or selling a house or condo, or a home owner who needs to get a better understanding of their place, please tell them about us!
Check for KITEC in your water supply piping
17 Jul 2013 | No Comments | posted by Lisa | in Basements, Plumbing
WHAT IS IT?
A type of plastic water supply pipe sold by IPEX between 1995 – 2007 was installed in many new houses around that time. As it turns out, many brass connection fittings on this pipe have been found to be defective, causing leaks and damages.
The piping is made of an aluminum liner for strength, sandwiched between 2 layers of PEX (Polyethylene cross linked). The defective fittings had too much zinc, causing dezincification corrosion which deposits zinc oxide in the piping. The corrosion degrades the fittings and the deposits create blockages, which can cause the pipe to burst.
CHECK FOR IT
KITEC piping
Check your water piping, typically visible in the basement above the water heater, and look for the characteristic orange hot water pipe and blue cold pipe. Note, there are many types of plastic piping now being installed in houses, with various colours and labels, so you also need to check the lettering on the pipe and fittings.
Kitec pipe is usually marked with one of the following brand names; Kitec, PlumbBetter, IPEX AQUA, WarmRite, Kitec XPA, AmbioComfort, XPA, KERR Controls or Plomberie Améliorée. The terms CSA B137.9/10 or ATSM F1974 could also indicate that you have a Kitec system. Look for the words Kitec or KTC on the metal fittings where the pipes are joined. You may also see corrosion (ie. a white deposit) on the fittings. If you find one of these tell tale labels, call a plumber experienced in evaluating Kitec systems for an expert assessment.
If you have defective Kitec fittings, you can take your chances and hope it doesn’t leak or you can replace the piping system with copper or other recommended piping. If you choose to keep the Kitec piping, it’s a good idea to register in the class action lawsuit, because if you have damages, then you can make a claim.
See the information at www.kitecsettlement.com
Simple step to add years to your water heater’s life!
6 Jun 2013 | No Comments | posted by Lisa | in Basements, Plumbing
Shockingly, the rated lifespan of a typical water heater is only about 8-12 years.
Typical water heater
Why? The metal corrodes with the help of hot water and minerals in the water. A corroded tank can fail suddenly, with catastrophic effects. Keep your home safer, with a reliable supply of hot water, and help the environment by preventing your tank from being discarded in the landfill prematurely. How? Replace the anode rod!
A metal rod called an “anode” is suspended in the tank to “sacrifice” itself to the galvanic action of corrosion to protect the rest of the tank. As the rod wears out, the tank becomes more vulnerable. Replace the anode rod about every 4 years.
With this simple procedure, by pulling the old one out to insert a new one, as shown in this VIDEO, you can make your water heater last much longer.
An even simpler maintenance check you can do is to drain a bit of water out of the heater from the valve at the bottom, into a small bucket, until the water runs clear. This will purge some sediment from the bottom of the tank.
Water heaters require maintenance for safety and comfort. Don’t forget about this essential appliance in the basement. Read your owner’s manual and make sure you know a qualified plumber to help maintain your heater.
If you want to know how old your heater is, you can find out from the serial number. Google the manufacturer’s name, and the phrase “age of water heater” to find out how to decipher the code.
Checking the water heater for age, leaks and other problems is one of the essential steps in my home inspections.
Please forward this to someone else you know who has a water heater.
