For many, especially those living in urban areas where green space is limited, having a tree in the front yard is considered a benefit - a luxury even. They provide shade in the summer and picturesque foliage in the fall. The only downside homeowners typically associate with trees is the amount of raking their leaves require. Few consider the damaging effect trees, more specifically their roots, can have on their property. As Greg Leger of Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Drains Service explains, "When we receive a call regarding a 'clogged' or 'blocked' drain line, the problem is usually caused by tree roots."

Carson Dunlop (CD): What is the most common problem your technicians encounter? 

Roto-Rooter (RR): "Tree roots are the most common problem. If a drain line is found to be collapsed, often times it is due to roots having constricted and subsequently busted the drain line. Blockages of paper often get caught on very fine roots that have grown through a small opening or a shift in the drain pipes and create a back-up."

CD: What are warning signs homeowners can look for that indicate blocked pipes? 

RR: "Some signs of blocked pipes may include but aren't limited to:

• Basement fixtures (for example toilets, showers, laundry tubs, etc.) taking a long time to drain
• Musty smells coming from the floor drains
• Small pools or puddles of water around floor drains
• Sewage or storm water in the basement
• Roots actually coming up from the floor drain - this is more common than many might think"

CD: What is the average cost to fix a tree root induced draining issue; is it less expensive if caught early?

RR: "If caught early enough, snaking will usually still be a viable option. In many cases, roots are not too invasive - snaking the drain line annually can help ensure it remains clear of obstructions, until the point where the roots become thicker and end up collapsing the drain. With tree roots it is always the same end result: the roots will get in and the drain line will need to be repaired. Snaking and camera inspections are typically a few hundred dollars. More in-depth remediation tactics, such as excavation, can be upwards of several thousand dollars."

CD: Who has to pay for remediation - When is it the homeowner's responsibility compared with the municipality's responsibility?

RR: "Every neighborhood and city is different. It's important to know what applies in your area. In the city of Toronto, the homeowner is responsible for all of their underground drains from the inside of their home to the city property line; look for the water shut-off, this usually offers a guide as to where the property line is. However, in Durham region, three feet past the most outward portion of the home is the city's responsibility. In Barrie, the homeowner is responsible for the entire drain line from inside their home all the way to the city connection, which is commonly found in the center of the road. Not only that, the homeowner is also responsible for the backfilling, compaction and repaving of the city roadway."

As a professional Home Inspection consulting company, our aim is to help homeowners stay safe, warm and dry. Our Specialty Services complement our Home Inspections, targeting potential areas of concern which fall outside the scope of a regular Home Inspection. This new program allows us to provide our clients and real estate partners with fast, easy and cost-effective access to qualified specialists, like Roto-Rooter, all with a single call. 

In addition, the Carson Dunlop Homeowners Association partners with companies like Roto-Rooter to help provide homeowners with the knowledge and the tools to protect their properties. As Homeowners Association members, Carson Dunlop clients receive a $50 discount towards plumbing, drain, sewer and water proofing services. To learn more about this partner, please click here. To learn more about the Carson Dunlop Homeowners Association, please click here. 

Congratulations to last month's winner: Michael Schmidt.

Carson Dunlop has recently launched a Specialty Services program. This program aims to facilitate requests or concerns which fall outside the scope of a regular Home Inspection. Now our clients are able to seamlessly book a Specialty Service with ease and save themselves the headache of trying to find a qualified provider.

The program is launching with the following services:

• Asbestos Assessments

• Indoor Air Quality Assessments

• Mold Inspections

• Pool Inspections

• Septic Tank Evaluations

• Sewer Camera Inspections

• Water Quality Evaluations

• Termite Inspections

• Wood Energy Transfer Technology (WETT) Inspections

To learn more about our Speciality Services program, please click here or call 800.268.7070.

1. Turn Down Your Water Heater: Changing the setting on your water heater while you're out of town can help reduce overall costs and energy consumption. New models usually come equipped with a "vacation setting" to help easily facilitate this maintenance tip. If your unit does not have this feature, simply adjust the unit to its lowest setting to achieve the same results. We encourage homeowners to avoid completely turning it off completely as restarting it when you return may require a technician - a bit of a headache, especially when you're jetlagged.

2. Lower Your Furnace Temperature: Having your furnace on, but at a low setting, will keep temperatures in the home consistent while saving money and energy. We recommend keeping it above 15 degrees Celsius or 60 degrees Fahrenheit. It's important to ensure that your furnace remains on to prevent freezing water, burst pipes and flooding.

3. Close Your Main Water Shut-Off Valve: While this may seem very conservative, shutting of the water prevents serious flooding if your furnace breaks down and the water in your pipes freezes. The main shut-off valve controls all the house water and is typically readily accessible near the front of the basement. Since this valve is not used regularly, it may be stiff and in some cases will drip when it is closed. Don't leave this task to the last minute in case you need a minor repair.

At Carson Dunlop, we reached out to one of our Homeowners Association Partners, Orkin Canada, to help provide homeowners with more information and guidance on keeping their homes rodent-free this season. As Dan Dawson, National Marketing Manager at Orkin Canada explains, "Rodents like rats and mice look for warmth and shelter during the winter because they are warm-blooded animals, making them notorious home invaders during the colder months."

>> Carson Dunlop: How might rodents enter a home?

Dan Dawson: "The smallest openings, cracks and crevices in your home can serves as rodent entry points. Rats can fit through holes the size of a quarter, and mice only need a hole the size of a pencil. Common places they might find these access points include cracks and crevices in your foundation and around doors and windows."

>>CD: What preventative steps can homeowners take?

DD: "There are several steps you can take to help prevent rodents from accessing your home:

1. Check the interior and exterior of your home for entry points, and seal any unnecessary openings with weather-resistant sealant enforced with steel or copper wool so rodents cannot gnaw through.
2. Make sure doors or windows are flush against their frames and the floor, and use weather stripping to fill in any gaps.
3. Trim landscaping away from your home, as shrubbery can provide harbourage for rodents.
4. Store food in tightly sealed containers, preferably made of tin or plastic, and clean up food and water spills immediately.
5. Vacuum, sweep and mop regularly to eliminate food and water sources that might attract rodents.
6. Keep trash cans tightly sealed and dispose of trash regularly."

>>CD: How can you tell if there are rodents in your home?

DD:"If you suspect you might have rodents in your home, look for the following signs:

1. Droppings - Mouse droppings are about the size of a grain of rice and rat droppings are about the size of a raisin.
2. Gnaw marks - Rats and mice gnaw even when they're full, so look out for places in your home that appear to be chewed or gnawed, particularly around cracks and crevices.
3. Rub markings - Rodents feel protected when they crawl along baseboards or around pipe openings."

>>CD: What can you do if you have rodents in your home?

DD: "If you find yourself with a mouse or rat issue, do not come into contact with the rodents and the diseases they may be carrying. Instead, contact a pest management provider immediately - they will help you to resolve the issue and set up a proactive program to keep these pests at bay year-round."

As a professional Home Inspection consulting company, our aim is to help homeowners stay safe, warm and dry. The Carson Dunlop Homeowners Association partners with companies like Orkin Canada, to help provide homeowners with the knowledge and the tools to protect their properties. As Homeowners Association members, Carson Dunlop clients receive 20% off when booking a pest control inspection with Orkin Canada. To learn more about this partner, click here. For more tips, advice and information, visit our resource center.  

December Poll

Last month, 38 homeowners told us what sized entry point mice need to get into a home. Here are their responses:

 One of the great joys of living in Canada is the change of seasons. Autumn's colours and crispness will soon give way to winter's first snowfall. While people react differently to seasonal changes, all homes react much the same way: climate change is hard on homes and the freeze/thaw cycles can cause damage.

At Carson Dunlop we believe prevention is the key to a safe and comfortable season. Here are our areas of focus and suggestions to get you through the winter months:

>>  Roof - We are big believers in annual roof tune-ups, and fallis the perfect time for your roofer to address any small issues before they become big ones. The roof suffers the brunt of winter weather abuse. Correcting damaged shingles, loose flashings and torn valleys can prevent water damage from leaks and avoid expensive repairs. Tree limbs overhanging and touching the roof should be cut back, and missing mortar or loose bricks on chimneys should be repaired.

>>  Eavestroughs - We can't overstate the importance of having free-flowing, leak-free gutters and downspouts to get roof water away from the house and keep it out of the basement. If eavestroughs can't control the rain or melting snow, or if downspouts don't carry water at least six feet away from the home, the ground next to your home will get soaked. Saturated ground usually means a leaky basement. Poor grading is another common and easily-corrected cause of basement leakage. For more information on how to address this issue, check out our article on How Proper Grading Can Prevent Water Damage.

>>  Catch Basins - Make sure any catch basins in your driveway, garage and yard are clear. It's also a great idea to clear any storm grates in the street in front of your house so all that rain and melting snow can get into the storm sewers.

>>  Windows, Doors and Walls - Check your windows and doors for any wood in need of paint, and any joints that need re-caulking. The corners of sills are a common weak point. Check the caulking at pipes, vents and other wall penetrations as part of regular maintenance.

>>  Furnace - Taking care of your furnace is very important, especially in the winter. We recommend annual service plans for heating and cooling systems. If you haven't yet, schedule a heating system maintenance call, even if your system is relatively new. For more information on easy steps you can take to extend the life of your furnace, check out our article on Furnace Maintenance. 

 
November Poll

Last month 30 homeowners told us what area of the home they believed suffered the brunt of winter weather abuse. Here are their responses:

The Carson Dunlop Homeowners Association

At Carson Dunlop we want to provide homeowners with the knowledge and the tools to protect their properties, which is why we created the Carson Dunlop Homeowners Association. This not-for-profit program gives clients access to discounts on a variety of products and services. Association partners like Canadian Tire help members maintain and upgrade their homes. Canadian Tire Home Services is pleased to offer Carson Dunlop customers a 5% Canadian Tire 'Money' On The Card bonus when using their Canadian Tire Options MasterCard for the purchase of any heating and/or cooling system from Canadian Tire Home Services. To learn more visit canadiantire.ca/homeservices. Attractive financing options available. 
 
For more information on the Carson Dunlop Homeowners Association and its partners click here or call 800.268.7070. 

Carson Dunlop Homeowners Association

The Carson Dunlop Homeowners Association saves you time & money through our strategic partners, like Canadian Tire. Click here for more information.

Horizon Home Protection Plan

Avoid the high costs of breakdowns with the Horizon Home Protection Plan. Click here to learn more.

90% of Homes Will Leak at Some Point:  

Help Reduce the Frequency and Severity of Water Entry into Your Home

While April showers bring May flowers, North America sees a lot of rain in August. High humidity and temperatures often cause heavy rainfall, storms, and flash flooding. Many homeowners are blinded by the sunny skies of June and July, and don't realize that this weather can translate to basement dampness and water damage.

Minimizing water leakage and maintaining mitigation strategies are tasks that require focus year round. Homeowners need to take steps to reduce the chances of water entering their basements, even when the weather might indicate otherwise. There are four key areas of the home to consider in order to reduce the frequency and severity of water damage: 

Grading - Ensure all grading is directed away from the perimeter of the house and foundation.

Gutters - Ensure all gutters and downspouts are in good condition to allow rain water from roofs to channel at least six feet away from the house.    

Roof - Ensure all roof surfaces don't allow water penetration into the house (focus on damaged or missing shingles, loose or missing roof flashings).   

Window Wells - Ensure they are in good condition as they are a common source of basement water leakage. 

Statistics suggest that 90% of homes endure some form of water leakage. Actively taking preventative measures, rain or shine, will help keep you high and dry.

As a professional Home Inspection consulting company, our aim is to help homeowners become more informed, safe and secure when it comes to their property. A Home Inspection itself is not a life-long guarantee; it is an investigation of a home during a specific point in time. It is not a shield to protect your home forever, but more like the tools to build one. For more tools, knowledge and advice visit our resource centre.