Taking some practical precautions around the home can help keep your clients (and you!) safe during the holidays. Here are our top tips for the season:

1. Use non-flammable decorations both indoors and outdoors.
2. Check holiday lights for damaged wires and plugs. Enjoy indoor lights only while someone is at home and shut them off before turning in for the night.
3. Keep live Christmas trees in a water-filled stand and check the water level daily. Dried-out trees are extremely dangerous and should be discarded immediately.
4. Never allow children to access or use matches, lighters or candles.
5. Keep space heaters away from bedding, curtains, paper—anything flammable. Never leave a space heater unattended while in use.
6. Busy with holiday cooking and baking? Kitchen fires are the leading cause of house fires. Keep a multi-purpose fire extinguisher within easy reach and know how to use it.

All of us at Pillar To Post wish you and your clients a happy, healthy and safe holiday season!

NOVEMBER IS RADON ACTION MONTH IN CANADA

Any home can have a radon problem – old or new homes, well-sealed or drafty homes, homes with or without basements. Health Canada estimates that 1 in 14 homes in Canada has an elevated level of radon. Prolonged exposure to unsafe levels of radon can increase the risk of lung cancer; in fact, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. There is real risk in not knowing if a home has a high level of radon.

WHAT IS RADON?

Radon is a naturally occurring odourless, colourless, radioactive gas formed by the ongoing decay of uranium in soil, rocks, sediments, and even well or ground water. While radon that escapes into the atmosphere is not harmful, dangerously high concentrations can build up indoors, exposing occupants to possible health risks.

HOW DOES RADON GET INTO A HOME?

Radon can migrate into the home in several ways. Openings or cracks in basement walls, foundations or floors are common avenues. Sumps, basement drains, and spaces between gas or water fittings can also allow radon into the structure. Other entry points can include gaps in suspended floors and cavities within walls.

HOW CAN I MAKE SURE MY CLIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AREN’T AT RISK?

Testing is the only way to measure radon levels. Your Pillar To Post Home Inspector will set up monitoring equipment and report on the results. If an elevated level of radon is detected, steps can be taken to reduce the concentration to or below acceptable levels inside virtually any home. Professional mitigation services can provide solutions for a home’s specific conditions.

Request radon testing when you book your next home inspection with Pillar To Post Home Inspectors.

In today’s red-hot real estate market, many homes are selling “as is” and moving quickly. As North America’s leading home inspection company, Pillar To Post understands the challenges this kind of market creates and we are here to help with:

• Short-notice home inspections
• Day After Closing/Settlement inspections.

With a Pillar To Post home inspection, your clients will gain peace of mind about the home’s condition and safety, and be assured that major issues have been disclosed. Even after the sale has closed, a home inspection will help ensure confident home ownership.

Book an inspection today!

Smoke alarms are an important defense against injury or death in house fires. Here’s what you need to know:

• As in real estate, location is key! Smoke alarms should be in installed every bedroom, outside every sleeping area, and on each level of the home.
• It’s best to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for placement, whether on the wall or ceiling. High, peaked ceilings have dead air space at the top; in these instances smoke alarms should be placed no closer than 3 feet from the highest point.
• There are two primary types of smoke alarm technology: ionization and photoelectric. According to the National Fire Protection Association, ionization alarms are more responsive to flames, while photoelectric alarms are more sensitive to smoldering fires. For the most comprehensive protection, both types or a combination unit should be installed.
• A common rule of thumb is to replace alarm batteries when changing to or from Daylight Saving Time in fall or spring. Many newer alarms have 10-year lithium batteries that eliminate the need for new batteries, but the unit itself must be replaced when the battery dies.
• If the alarms are hard-wired to the home’s electrical system, make sure they are interconnected for maximum effectiveness – meaning that if one alarm is triggered, all of the others will sound as well. 
• The newest type of interconnected smoke alarms are wireless. This technology allows detectors to communicate with one another and, like their hard-wired cousins, will sound all of the units even if just one is triggered initially.

Early alerting is key to surviving a fire. Following these simple but important measures allows occupants to be warned, helping to prevent injuries and fatalities.