5/3/2019 0 Comments beware the whirlpoolThere's an ugly side to whirlpool baths. Aside from getting your hair caught in a suction fitting, and possibly drowning; failure to follow proper maintenance procedures for a whirlpool bath's circulation system can result in the growth and transmission of infectious bacteria.
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1/3/2019 0 Comments grow houses
Courtesy Carson Dunlop Have you ever wondered why your neighbors never surface from their home, rarely have any garbage to pick up, always have the blinds down or windows covered, come and go at unusual hours and never invite you over for a barbecue? If this is the case, there is a possibility you are living beside a grow house. With an estimated 50,000 grow houses in Canada, there is growing concern about health, fire, safety, and structural implications for home buyers. But what risk is there in owning a grow home? In addition to granny, a granny flat can contain some dire pitfalls for a new owner and anyone involved in the sale of such a unit. It’s one more thing for real estate professionals to be concerned about, because the consequences of having an apartment declared illegal or closed down can be disastrous to the purchaser, who may seek compensation from Realtors, home inspectors or anyone who didn’t issue all the appropriate warnings.
There's an epidemic sweeping Ontario which represents health, safety and liability risks to Realtors, appraisers and anyone else entering homes contaminated with chemicals used to grow or manufacture illegal drugs. 25/2/2019 7 Comments termitesThe subterranean termite Reticulitermis flavipes (Kollar) is probably the most destructive and widely distributed species in North America. This species has acclimatized to southern Ontario to such a degree that 27 municipalities report some degree of infestation. 25/2/2019 0 Comments ontario's water well regulationsOntarians deserve access to clean, safe water. This means keeping water free of pollutants and contaminants that could harm the environment and human health. 25/2/2019 0 Comments leaking fuel oil tanks25/2/2019 0 Comments raking the roofI always thought roof raking wasn't really very helpful. Or so I thought until a couple years ago. Photo: Granby Industries
Unpredictable fuel oil tank failures have resulted in millions of dollars of property damage and environmental contamination. Many failures occur at the bottom of the tank from internal corrosion and occur without warning. Photo: Gil Strachan
Although vermiculite is not an asbestos product, it is estimated that about 10-30% of vermiculite insulated homes have elevated levels of asbestos due to contamination during the mining process. |
AuthorGil Strachan is a professional home inspector, representing Electrospec Home Inspection Services in east-central Ontario since 1994. CategoriesAll Appliances Buying And Selling Cooling Electrical Environmental Exterior Health And Safety Heating Home Improvement Home Inspection Insulation Insurance Interior Plumbing Roofing Special Structure Archives
January 2024
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