Across BC, restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic are slowly lifting and things are re-opening. However, for many of us, the recommendation is still to continue social distancing measures and stay home as much as possible. This is a great time to take advantage of staying home and give your house a good inspection to ensure things are running smoothly.
A quick check of your utilities, fixtures, and appliances will help make sure they are not running inefficiently or using expensive energy and resources. Here are some tips on how to give your home a quick inspection that will make sure you’re conserving as much energy as possible.
To start, take a closer look at all of the faucets in your home. Make sure that they aren’t dripping or running when turned off. If they are, you may need to replace the washers or valve cartridges.
Next, inspect your toilets for leaks. The easiest way to do this is to pour some coloured liquid bowl cleaner into the tank, and then wait to see if it appears in the bowl without flushing. If it does, you likely have a leak and may need to replace the stopper at the bottom of the tank. Depending on the severity of the leak, it could take a few hours for the coloured liquid to appear, so make sure not to use the toilet while running this test.
Another quick check to do on a regular basis is to inspect your hot water tank and pipes and ensure that they aren’t sweating. This is a normal occurrence, but could lead to excessive moisture and dampness in your home that could cause damage. The best way to eliminate sweating pipes is to insulate them with foam pipe insulation, easily found at any hardware store. While you’re at it, try turning down the tank thermostat by a few degrees and see if you notice a difference. This could save you a few dollars on your energy bill.
Finally, check that all of your doors and windows are sealed properly and not letting in drafts. If you find a break in the seal, consider using caulk to repair it or else replacing the window or door altogether. Now is the best time to take care of these issues while the weather is good, so you’re not having to install new doors and windows in the colder fall and winter months.
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Featured Photo by Sasikan Ulevik on Unsplash