Author: WebEditor

Ontario’s Water Well Regulations

Guidelines for well owners; important facts for Realtors

Ontarians deserve access to clean, safe water. This means keeping water free of pollutants and contaminants that could harm the environment and human health.

Over three million Ontarians rely on groundwater for their drinking water. There are hundreds of thousands of water wells across Ontario, providing drinking water to municipalities, industries and private residences.

The Government of Ontario has moved forward over the past ten years on a series of initiatives to preserve water quality, including new legislation, regulations, standards and requirements. Ontario now has the toughest standards and protocols for drinking water in North America.

Wells providing water to small businesses, common spaces and residential communities may qualify as “regulated systems.” Private wells are not regulated systems, but there are new rules in place for constructing or decommissioning (abandoning) a well.

Private owners are required by regulation to ensure that nothing gets into water wells that could contaminate the water source.

Guidelines for Well Owners

Groundwater is a shared resource that crosses property lines and contamination from one well can put other wells at risk. Owners are responsible for getting well water tested regularly – at least three times per year is recommended, to be confident drinking water is free from bacteria and other contaminants.

What to do:

  • Make sure your well is properly constructed and maintained.
  • Inspect your well at least once a year to see what repairs may be needed.
  • Have a sample of your well water tested at least three times a year.
  • Water testing is offered by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
  • Sample bottles are available from public health labs and local health units.
  • Get a list of labs that can test your water for chemical contaminants.
  • Disinfect all wells prior to use with a concentration of 50 milligrams of chlorine per litre of water standing for at least 12 hours.
  • Refer to the disinfection instructions which are part of the current well regulation.
  • Get a copy of the Water Well Record that was filed after the well on your property was built, or get a Licensed Well Technician to test and evaluate your well.
  • Properly plug and seal unused wells to prevent rapid movement of contaminants down into groundwater.
  • Dispose of hazardous materials properly, pump out your septic tank every two years, and plan on replacing your septic system leaching bed every 20-25 years.
  • If you need to treat your water, select a treatment system with great care to ensure it will be effective in your particular situation.

What not to do

  • Never use untreated surface water for drinking water – untreated surface water is considered unsafe for human consumption!
  • Don’t pour water into a well with a low water level – this will undermine the foundation of the well.
  • Don’t use a highly vulnerable water supply unless all other attempts to develop an alternative supply have been unsuccessful.

It’s a good idea to learn the important facts about water well construction, and the protection of water quality in dug, bored and drilled wells.

Green Facts (General Interest Publication)

Ontario’s Wells Regulation (Detailed Regulations)

Clean water is everybody’s business!

Plumbing

Home Renovation – The Magical Tool to Bedeck Your House in an All New Avatar

Two years back, we shifted into our home, an antique structure of the 1980s. Surely, you would be thinking that I was mad to take on the renovation work of an age-old residence. Well, I had a very tight budget, and I didn’t have any sort of experience in home renovation or home remodeling. It was as though I had driven my car 300 miles down my comfort area, then lost track of my way. For me, the only way to make the antique structure look new was to opt for total property refurbishment. Since my budget was a little limited, I knew that I would have to manage within my own resources. So, I simply did that. Today, let me share those brilliant ideas with my readers.

I know that many of you live in age-old houses just like me, constantly trying to seek out ways for improving the look of your property. Yes, I understand how it feels, as I was in your situation just 3 years back. Luckily, you can reach your goal with just a little bit of effort, wisdom and self-confidence. Following are some of the easiest ways for you to upgrade the look of your property. And the best thing is that all the remodeling ideas involve paint. When you’re on a tight budget, there’s nothing more valuable than a jar of paint.

Old furniture

When I moved into my house, the first thing that drew my attention was the furniture. Well, they weren’t as bad as I had expected them to be. Just adding some new furniture to an old house would not make any sense. Moreover, it wasn’t much sensible for my small budget. Instead, I thought of painting some unique pieces and give them a totally new look. This involved loads of discount shopping, garage sales and gallons of paint.

Old kitchen cabinets

Kitchen is an important part of every residence. After all, it’s the place where we cook, eat and share some special moments with our family members. Therefore, I wanted my kitchen to look nice, pretty and colorful. With just a jar of chalkboard paint I was able to completely modernize my old kitchen cupboards.

Old light fixtures

Since childhood, I had an intense liking for great light fittings. To my utter disappointment, the ones in my home were completely shabby and dull. Since I did not have a big budget for splurging on new ones, I found unique ways for re-using the old ones.

Remodeling

What Is Your Marketing Strategy? 5 Reasons To Let Someone Else Decide

If you own a home improvement business you could easily spend hours a day researching remodeling marketing strategies and test countless ways to grow your business and expand your client base. Deciding what your marketing strategy is takes time and money and trial and error. That is why more replacement contractors are opting to hire a professional to take over their strategic marketing so they can get to work. Here are 5 reasons why you should do the same!

1. Know Your Strengths – 95% of remodeling businesses have no marketing system in place and no way to get new clients. This is because they are experts in their field and do amazing home renovations but simply put, know nothing about marketing. For most business owners, time is precious and embarking on developing a marketing strategy alone will cost time and money. Hiring someone else lets them focus on what’s most important, the work they do for their clients.

2. Referrals Won’t Cut It – If a big part of your remodeling marketing strategy relies on referrals, you’re in trouble. Referrals are great and they do bring in quality leads however they are not predictable. Relying on referrals alone will not let you grow your business and hire additional staff because you will not have a steady flow of new work coming in. Marketing professionals can bring in quality leads regularly.

3. You Have Competition – You have competitors out there ready to snatch up potential customers. This competition isn’t charging the lowest prices in town, in fact they might have the highest. What they have is the drive and aggressive remodeling marketing strategies in place to ensure their businesses is growing. If you want to compete at that level it’s time to invest in your business.

4. Your Prospects Don’t Trust You – It’s not you, it’s all remodeling contractors. Clients are fearful that they won’t receive quality work or that a contractor may just walk off with their deposit. Building an online brand reputation takes time and management. Professionals know how to open profiles on review sites that will make it easy for past clients to review their experience and help give prospective clients the confidence they need to choose you. Everyone is turning to the internet for reviews before they hire anyone, make sure you can be found amongst the competition.

5. Time Is Money – Running a home improvement business takes a lot of time. If you are out working all day there is still estimates, invoices and communication that needs to be done. If you are trying to run your own business adding remodeling marketing strategies to your plate will start to cause stress. In fact, for most remodeling contractors, simply reallocating current marketing dollars to more successful endeavours will be enough to change business for the better. You probably don’t need to spend much more than you already are, you just need to use your marketing dollars more efficiently.

What Is Your Marketing Strategy?

The economy hasn’t been great for home improvement and real estate investments over the past few years, but things are changing. The real estate market is up in many areas and if people aren’t selling, they are committing to improving upon their existing home. The business is out there, you just have to put yourself in a position to be found by potential customers. Making the decision to invest in a professional to handle your remodeling marketing strategy means you’ll have a team of experts in you corner who can help you grow your remodeling and home improvement business today.

Remodeling

Don’t Make These Common Air Conditioning Mistakes This Summer

Summer time is about barbecues, pools, sun tans, and fun outdoor activities. But when the scorching heat of summer bears down on you from above, the last thing you need is for your air conditioning unit to break down. After a sweaty fun day out in the sun, you need your air conditioning in the summer to work properly. While repairs and maintenance are inevitable with anything mechanical, there some things that can be done to make sure your air conditioning unit works when it should. Here are a few common air conditioning mistakes not to make this summer.

1. Not keeping up on regular maintenance

Regular maintenance on your air conditioning unit can prevent many issues before they become major repairs. Make sure to change out your air filter as frequently as recommended by the manufacturer of the unit. Changing out the air filter regularly not only prevents dust, mold, pollen, and other air impurities from blowing through your air system into the air of your home, but it maintains proper air flow which increases the efficiency of your air conditioning unit. If your unit has an evaporator coil or other dials to check the efficiency of your unit, make sure to do so.

2. Leaving your air conditioner on all day

Leaving your AC unit on all day is a common mistake. While it is important to keep an overall stable temperature in your home, especially if you have pets, it is best to regulate the temperature throughout the day manually or by using a timer on your thermostat. Most people go to work in the mornings and return in the evening. During the hottest part of the day, it doesn’t hurt to raise the temperature slightly and set it lower during the night when everyone will be home. Not only will this keep your air conditioner in the summer running better, but it will save you money as well!

3. Failing to schedule regular maintenance checks

Upon purchase of a new air conditioning unit, you often times have the option of purchasing a maintenance plan, or utilizing free service calls provided by the manufacturer. Take advantage of these opportunities to have your unit regularly checked out and serviced. Often times a skilled technician can find any troublesome issues and fix them before they turn into expensive or time consuming repairs. Even if your unit is under warranty, in the heat of summer you do not want to be without it.

These most common mistakes tend to cause the most grief for homeowners during the summertime. Avoid having issues with your air conditioner during summertime and don’t make these crucial mistakes!

Heating and Air Conditioning

8 Tips To Avoid While Heating Your Home This Winter

Simple Tips To Help You Save On The Heating Bills

We all like to come home to a warm house when the temperature drops outside, but at the same time we don’t want to be wasting money. I have listed some tips below that will keep your home warm while at the same time save you money on those ever increasing fuel bills.

Thermostats

If you have a room thermostat fitted to your central heating system make sure it’s fitted in the right location, it should be fitted in the last room to heat up, this is normally the hallway area. If you don’t have one, then have one fitted.

Smart Thermostats

There is a lot of new technology around today to control our home central heating systems, and one of the best to come onto the market is the smart room thermostat. There are many makes to choose from, but they will all help you cut down on those fuel bills. Most of them work through an app on your smart phone. Depending on what one you choose, they can sense when no one is home and adjust the heating accordingly. They also check the outside temperature via the internet and adjust the boiler heat output, plus they have many more money saving setting. These thermostats are well worth investing in.

Radiator Thermostats

If your radiators don’t have TRVs (Thermostatic Radiator Valves) fitted, then consider having them fitted to all your radiators. They work by sensing the temperature in the room, you adjust the temperature on the valve head, once the temperature is reached they will close that radiator down, as the temperature drops, the valve will open and the radiator will reheat the room. They don’t need any form of power to work.

Don’t Set The Thermostat Too High

If you turn the room thermostat too it’s highest setting because you have come home to a cold house and want to heat up quickly don’t, thermostats don’t work like that, be patient and wait a little, it will save you money.

Overnight Room Temperatures

When it’s excessively cold outside, don’t turn the heating off when you got to bed, keep the heating on, but lower the room thermostat. The most expensive part of heating your home is from cold to hot. It’s better to keep the heating ticking over and keeping the costs down.

One Of Your Rooms Not Reaching Its Temperature

If you find one of your rooms is not reaching its temperature but the radiator is very hot to touch, then it could be down to an incorrect radiator size, but before you do anything first make sure all windows are closed, and if the radiator is fitted under the window that the curtains are open. When the curtains are closed they will restrict the heat from heating the room.

Boiler Service

When was the last time the boiler was serviced? All boilers need an annual service to keep them in tip-top condition. When your boiler was made at the factory it was fully tune to give you the user the best optimal performance, but just like any car or machine they need to be maintained. If your boiler works on Gas, then call your Gas Safe Registered company to arrange a service, it will save you money in the long run.

If Going On A Short Break

If you are going away for a long weekend don’t turn the heating off, turn the thermostat down to a low setting, it will stop the pipes from freezing in your home. If you have a smart thermostat fitted it will protect your home from freezing, it will also sense no one is home but also sense when it get excessively cold.

These are just a few tips that could help you save money on your fuel bills and keep you warm at the same.

Heating and Air Conditioning

Why Is Energy Efficiency In The Home Important?

What is Energy Efficiency?

Energy efficiency basically means to use less energy whilst still providing the same outcomes.

How is this translated into Home Heating?

There is a wide variety of home heating systems available on the market; some energy efficient, and some not at all. By choosing an energy efficient heating system you will not only be saving yourself money, but also contributing to the improvement of the economy, the welfare of the environment and your very own quality of life.

How can you be energy efficient with your home heating?

No matter what heating system you have, it is sometimes easy to overheat your home in winter. This results in a huge increase in your energy bills. An easy method to keep your heating costs down is to remember the H.E.A.T approach;

H – Hold in the heat in your home. Heat is easily lost through windows, so remember to close curtains and blinds to maintain the warmth. Draught stoppers for under doors and windowsills help keep your home insulated during cold weather. Insulating your house is very energy efficient as it keeps your home cool during summer and warm during winter, and by insulating your home, your heater will be much more efficient.

E – Evaluate your heating options. Make sure you choose a heater that is right for you and your home. If you have young children and animals, then a storage heater may be unsuitable as it is large, intrusive and has the ability to cause serious burns. However, the storage heater is ideal for people who are at home all day, such as an elderly person. Heating panels may be perfect for a serious asthma sufferer, whereas an electric radiator is very beneficial for people who are away from the house all day. Take your time and select an option right for you.

A – Action to become energy efficient. You must use common sense sometimes and instead of cranking up the heat if you’re a little chilly; put a jumper on and throw an extra blanket on your bed. Central heating is widely used; yet it is incredibly energy wasteful and highly expensive as it heats the entire house. It is recommended to try to only heat the room/s that you are using and keep windows and doors closed to keep the warmth inside whilst saving you money.

T – Thermostats, timers and temperature checks. Save money and energy by putting your heating system on a timer so that you are in total control of your homes heat. If your heating is on during the day whilst you are at work, or at night when you’re sleeping; expect a massive heating bill. There’s no need to crank the temperature above 21 degrees either; did you know that for every degree above this temperature can add about 10% to your energy costs?!

Do you part for the planet, and your pocket; start being energy efficient with your home heating today.

Energy Efficiency

About Clawfoot Bath Tubs

Clawfoot bathtubs were invented during the Victoria era that extended from 1835 – 1903. The original clawfoot bath tubs were manufactured with a white porcelain coating, and got their shape from the cast iron base. To obtain a hard slippery surface molten porcelain was poured into the tub.

THE DIFFERENT STYLES:

The two basic types of clawfoot bath tubs are the European and American styles.

European styles tend to have no drilling for faucets (as they are an external feature on this design of tub, and are either wall or floor mounted). Thus the water level is deeper. There are however holes for the drain and overflow.

The American styles featured holes drilled for the faucets, overflow and the drain.

Within these two types, there are a range of different styles. They include the Classic design, Slipper style, Doubled-ended, and Pedestal types.

MATERIALS:

Usually there are two choices when it comes to clawfoot bath tubs. Acrylic, which is fast gaining popularity and cast iron, which is the traditional material that is used.

The main benefits of cast iron is that these tubs are as close to as original as you will get. The look is the same, as is the weight. They also feel like an authentic vintage clawfoot tub should: pleasingly smooth with a subtle textured finish and some minor surface irregularities.

The benefits of acrylic clawfoot bath tubs is that they maintain the look and integrity of a traditional cast iron tub but is about 40% lighter, is warm and smooth to the touch, and will not rust or crack over time. Additionally, they are not cold to the touch, as porcelain on cast iron tubs is. Typically an acrylic tub is crafted from a mixture of high-grade sanitary acrylics, ceramic powders, polyester resins, and fiberglass. Acrylic clawfoot bath tubs are easier to clean than cast iron tubs, and also their lighter weight makes moving them around an easier effort. Finally, they are available in a range of different lengths.

INSTALLATION:

It is highly recommended that you get a reputable plumber to install your new clawfoot bath tub. Before you arrange this though, ensure that you have all the following items on hand: a tub, a drain, a faucet or shower enclosure, and a set of water supply lines.

The Faucets are available in an extensive range, from classic wall-mounted faucets through to more elegant English Telephone Handshower faucets. There are all freestanding sets that are supported by their own supply lines.

Shower Enclosures are there to allow you to use your clawfoot bath tub as a shower. It features a shower ring enclosure, shower head, faucet, along with other necessary installation hardware.

The Drain and overflow allow you to drain your tub of water and prevent it overflowing if the water level gets too high.

The supply lines provide the method of getting water into your bath. These are generally available in four different styles: straight, single offset, double offset, and freestanding. Straight supply lines are used with deck-mounted faucets. Single-offset and double-offset lines are used with most tub fillers, handshower faucets as well as most shower enclosures.

CARE AND MAINTENANCE:

Some people may think a clawfoot bath tub may need more maintenance than a normal bath, but that’s not true. Acrylic clawfoot baths are actually easier to move and can be rearranged to a preferred area more easily than a normal bath. Not only are they stylish and classic, but any clawfoot bath will add a touch of Victorian class to your home and give added elegance to any bathroom. For a unique touch of style from the Victorian era that will remain a timeless feature in your home, there can only be a clawfoot bathtub.

Bath and Shower

Quick Housecleaning Tips For Your Home

Ah Yes! The house is a mess…again! Why do I even bother attempting the impossible? I’ll tell you why I do it. For one thing, I don’t like living in a mess. Another reason is that People tend to show up unexpectedly.

That last reason alone is enough to get me to make sure that the path to the bathroom is cleared of rubble and that the bathroom itself is clean with smells of Pine.

If your house is a mess… again, here are ten (10) house cleaning tips to help you out.

1. Make a house cleaning schedule.

2. Survey each room in your home, look for the trouble spots and decide on how you’re going to get them cleaned up. Here you can decide what tools you’ll need, what can be thrown away or better yet, who you can assign the task to.

3. Get help. Rome was not built in a day and I’m certain it wasn’t built by one Roman. If there are others living and breathing in the house with you, get them to help.

4. Gather your cleaning supplies. A big time waster and distraction when cleaning is running up and down getting a broom or cleaners or whatever you need to complete the task that you’re doing. So before you get started make sure you have what you need.

5. Use natural cleaning products. House Cleaning is not just about cleanliness, it’s also about safety in the home. Using natural cleaning products can protect you and your family from the harmful elements of synthetic cleaning products.

6. Get clutter free. Hey, I’m sure you’ve got those stacks of old magazines somewhere in the house. They’re gathering dust because there is one article about child rearing that you need to read or a recipe that you have to clip. Or is your linen closet a mess because you refuse to throw out old sheets and cases.

7. When you are about to embark on a housecleaning task, do yourself a favor and turn down the ringer on your phones. Phone conversation can cause you to forget the task at hand.

8. Get housecleaning music. Don’t choose those slow love songs. Get some lively music, stuff that gets you in the cleaning mood (if such a mood exists).

9. Make a housecleaning maintenance plan for each room of the house.

10. Hire a house cleaning service. At least once a year treat yourself. Hire professionals to do the house cleaning for you. What do you think about making an appointment for a day in December, somewhere in the teens of the month?

Well you now have ten (10) house cleaning tips to get you started. Happy Housecleaning!

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Cleaning Tips and Tools

3 Types Of Things You Shouldn’t Keep In A Storage Unit

When your home or office has reached its absolute limit, a personal storage unit can dramatically reduce useless clutter. Most families have found that leaving a number of bulky or seasonal items at a secure facility can help keep their homes clean and spacious. Some of the top items to store are furniture, seasonal clothes, holiday decorations, and collections. For all the solutions these units provide, there are some items better left at home or at the office.

Storage units are often run on a contractual basis, but if a renter lapses on their bills, the unit may go up for auction. This is why it is a particularly poor idea to store any confidential or personal information in an offsite facility. If something happens and you fail to pay on time, your personal financial statements, tax records, or bills could end up in the hands of anybody. Also, if the unit is being used by a business, the potential information could include the private information of any number of clients or employees. Despite all this, you could store simple non-confidential files at an off-site location. Safe items would be status reports, printed graphics for presentations, and any other mundane forms or memos.

Don’t put food in a storage unit. With very few exceptions, this rule should never be broken, and most facilities include a prohibition against doing so in your rental agreement. Food rots and attracts a legion of creatures that infest and destroy not just your own unit, but potentially an entire lot. Perhaps you think canned food is a safe bet, but even that should be avoided. Despite what you may have heard, canned food does go bad, and a percentage of it will begin to grow toxic bacteria. The cans eventually burst, which leads to not only pests but a potential bio-hazard. An exception to this rule would be wine and other spirits, if it is a temperature controlled environment. Properly stored wine and spirits can last essentially forever if they remain unopened.

While everything has some kind of value, high-priced items or collectibles should remain at home. It can be tempting to clean out the clutter of a collector’s room by putting everything in storage, but the potential for major losses is also present. When shrinking a collection to better accommodate a new living situation, it is a far better option to sell your items than to utilize a long term storage unit. While most facilities are safe and secure, there is always the chance of a fire, flood, or robbery. Your insurance would cover these items at home, but it may not compensate for your valuables at an offsite location. However, a unit can be helpful in the short time while buyers are lined up and deals are made.

Keeping your home or office clean is important for living a less stressed and clutter-free life, but it’s always important to learn before you act. Make smart decisions when it comes to your possessions and avoid all of these potentially negative situations.

Storage Garage

Why Buy Ready to Assemble Cabinets for the Home?

When it comes to redecorating any room in the home, there are many choices to make in regards to selecting the right furniture. This is especially true when it comes to installing cabinets in the kitchen or the bathroom, as these are not only big investments, but are also somewhat more permanent fixtures that it is important to get right the first time around.

One of the options that is now widely available on the market is that of ready to assemble cabinets – or RTA cabinets as they are widely known. These items, rather than being delivered whole and already constructed, are able to be assembled on site before being installed right way. There are advantageous this particular type of furniture.

The first is that they are generally far less expensive options than cabinets that have already been constructed by the manufacturer. The reason for this is simple – the person who is buying the RTA cabinets is actually doing a great part of the work themselves, and therefore does not need to pay the manufacturer to do this.

This, of course, can also be an inconvenience for those who do not have a lot of free time or who lack the physical ability to put together their own cabinets for their kitchen or bathroom. Regardless, this represents a very cost effective option for those who feel up for the challenge, are relatively physical able and want to make some significant savings.

It should be noted that those who are interested in the savings that RTA cabinets represent but are not up to taking on the task themselves still have a third option – paying for a professional to assemble the cabinets at their home for them. This is actually a very popular option, and many retailers of these types of ready to assemble cabinets will offer this service for a supplement.

Another major advantage of RTA cabinets – which ties in very closely to the cost savings that can be made – is the fact that they are very easy to transport compared to ready built cabinets. They can be packed flat, and can therefore be delivered for much lower delivery charges than items that have already been constructed.

This results in not only significant cost savings on shipping these items, but is also a more environmentally friendly option, with many items able to be shipped at the same time, thus reducing the amount of fuel burned per cabinet transported.

Another major advantage of RTA cabinets is that, as they are built for assembly by the purchaser themselves, they are generally very easy to not only assemble, but also install. Manufacturers and retailers will generally supply excellent instructions for installation, and all the person assembling them will need is a screwdriver, hammer, and perhaps a few other simple tools.

This can also lead to a great deal of satisfaction for the person who is installing their own kitchen or bathroom cabinets. Rather than having to rely on a professional to do the job, the person doing the work themselves can tackle the project at their own pace and then take pride in their own work once they have completed the job to their own high standards.

Lastly, another major benefit of these types of cabinets is that, as ready to assemble furniture is so popular today, the variety of different products on the market is exceptional. This means that everyone can find something that suits their tastes and decor ideas.

Anyone interested in purchasing RTA models can find a large number of excellent manufacturers from all corners of the globe making products in a vast range of colours and styles. With this much ease, this much choice and impressive cost savings to be made, there are some very compelling reasons to choose ready to assemble cabinets to decorate your home.

Kitchen Improvements
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