1. Smoke and CO Combo Detectors with Battery Backup
Modern Calgary homes are built tighter and better insulated than ever, which is amazing for reducing energy consumption, but it means carbon monoxide has fewer places to go.
Calgary has grown rapidly in the past 2.5 decades, so your home may fit this description.
Invest in a smoke/ CO detector with a battery backup on every level of your home. Plug-in smoke/CO detectors (with battery backup) near bedrooms and gas appliances ensure you are covered, even during a power outage.
New or old, all homes and loved ones need this protection.
2. GFCI Protection in Wet Areas
Many homes built before the 1990s don't have GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) outlets in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, or outdoor spaces. Although building codes have changed to require GFCIs, building codes don't look backward. So if something is renovated or modified, it needs to be up to current standards.
Ideally, every outlet within 5 feet of a sink must be GFCI protected. We recommend all kitchen outlets for countertops should be GFCI protected too.
We recommend any electrical outlet that could come near water should be upgraded to a GFCI outlet.
Rewiring your home, adding safety features including GFCI, is optimal for resale (and can be helpful when changing your insurance provider).
3. A Panel Inspection for Older Homes
Calgary has plenty of homes with older Federal Pioneer panels, and in some cases homes with aluminum wiring. (Aluminum wiring was a popular choice for a short period of time, until the industry discovered that aluminum wiring could lead to arcing and fires.)
Insurers are increasingly worried about them, and they are often flagged during home sales.
Pro Tip
We recommend an inspection by an electrician to tell you exactly what concerns your home may have, and what remediation can be done.
4. Whole-Home Surge Protection
Surge protection for a TV or computer is something you are probably familiar with, but have you ever thought about adding it to your entire home?
Most often, electrical fluctuations are not caused by lightning storms, but rather grid fluctuations.
If you have ever had an appliance "burn out" suddenly, it could be from ongoing grid fluctuations that eventually damage the electrical and computer components of the appliance. The electrical fluctuation is protected by resistors built into the appliance, but over time "electrical rust" can build up and finally burn out.
A whole-home surge protection solution is created for your electrical panel (kind of like a power bar), but it protects your entire home electrical system.
5. A Quiet Bathroom Fan on a Timer
Having plumbers and electricians working side by side, we know the value of removing moisture from your bathroom.
It's easy to forget to run a bathroom fan. We recommend running the fan for approx. 30 minutes after each shower, and if it's a long, hot shower, even longer.
A quieter bathroom fan will encourage members of your family to run the fan without the annoyance of a loud fan.
Pro Tip
For added protection, putting your bathroom fan on a timer is a small upgrade that can help you remember to remove moisture and prevent mould and moisture damage.
Consider upgrading your bathroom fan with a humidity sensor that will automatically turn on when it senses humidity. You don't have to rely on household members or yourself; let the sensor manage the humidity.
