ESA Certificate & Electrical Systems

ESA, stands for Electrical Safety Association, is a non-profit organization responsible for administering specific regulations & guidelines related to the Ontario Electrical Safety Code (OESC). ESA also overlooks the licensing of electrical contractors and master electricians, as well as the safety of electricity distribution system and related products.

Since the early 1900s, different types of electrical systems have been utilized in residential properties. ESA's major role is to ensure that either system upgrade has taken place, or that there is no safety concerns. Before purchasing an older property, it is essential to consider the status of its electrical system and wiring.

This issue is particularly crucial, as most insurance companies today may be reluctant to cover a property with an older electrical system - such as "knob-and-tube" or "aluminum" wiring. Though both might not pose immediate danger, increased chance of potential problems may apply with electricity overload due to new appliances and/or modernization of the house. An ESA certificate may be requested by insurer to understand whether any safety issues exists.

Contact the authority to book an appointment for a "general inspection". During this inspection, an ESA member will check for existence of safety problems. If not, he/she will write a "visual report" for the insurance company to go ahead with coverage. Otherwise, a paper will be issued to request repair. Hire an licensed electrician to fix the problem; after which, a "certificate of approval" will be issued by ESA for the insurance company.

Knob-and-Tube 

Commonly used until the 1940's, more than 1.5 million homes across Canada were built with this type of electrical system. Many homes today still have this wiring, but it is now considered too risky and dangerous to be insurable. For safety reason and to raise home resale value,  knob-and-tube should be replaced with copper wiring.

Aluminum

General concerns over aluminum wiring are the overheating and failure of wiring terminations. Aluminum has the tendency to oxidize; it is not compatible with devices designed to used with copper wiring. Warm cover plates, discoloration of switches, smell of hot plastic insulation are all signs that the wiring is unstable.



 

 

Go to www.esasafe.com to learn more on this topic.

*References provided by the Real Estate Council of Ontario*

Condo Buyers Please Beware!!

Condo living offers a great lifestyle choice. There is no building exterior maintenance required, and no snow/garbage removal that demand time and energy from unit owners.

Having said that, there are a few things potential condo buyers need to beware of before making a purchase:

Status Certificate - Always request a "status certificate" through a realtor or the building manager. The cost to prescribe this document is under CAD$100; it includes: condo association's future plans for common element, the content discussion during board meetings, any pending lawsuits, current budget, most recent reserved fund study and the amount of fund, etc.

*A "reserved fund" is used solely for major repair & replacement of common elements and corporation assets. This fund is collected from common expenses and must be held in trust. If repair cost exceeds the reserved amount, a special assessment is required to meet such expense.*

Maintenance Fee - It is important to pay special attention to the amount of monthly maintenance fee and what it is used for. This will provide an insight on the building condition, as well as the information for any future owner to plan monthly budget. If the condo requires too little fees, it might mean that either the building is not care for, or the association is exceeding what it could afford. If the fee is too high, on the other hand, it could illustrate an older building that requires a lot of repairs.

Rules & Regulations - Condos are different from detached properties, and might be more restrictive when it comes to noise level and such. Ask about the rules on noise, pets, access to areas, outside installations, parking restriction, alteration of unit, etc.  

There are so many things potential buyers need to know, in order to make an informed decision. I hope this helps! Leave me a comment or email me if you have more questions!!

*Information above provided by the Real Estate Council of Ontario*

The Danger of Dust Mite

Yes, you read it right! Dust mites cannot be seen by human eyes, but they are present almost everywhere in a household. Some of the most common"hangout" areas for them are within mattresses, sofas, stuff animals and indoor plants. They, like most insects, love moisture and warmth; they also like to attach themselves to natural fibers.

 

Dust mites are only visible under microscope, and under which, they look like tiny spiders. Their lifespan is approximately 3 months, but they multiple fast. Dust mites like to feast on human skin flakes and animal dander. This is why most dust mites love our mattresses. According to medical studies, dust mites are the root cause of 80% allergic reactions from itchy skin, rash, wheezing, sneezing to stuffy nose. In severe case, dust mites might even induce asthma attacks. This is especially common for babies and young children because they have weaker immune systems.

 

What to do

 

If you can help it, make sure your mattress is off the floor and out of the basement. Keep household ventilated and in considerably dry condition. Cover pillows, blankets, comforters and mattresses in dust mite impermeable covers, and wash the covers every 3-6 months. *This type of cover is different from regular pillow cases and bedsheets* Wash bedsheets, pillow cases, and blanket sheets every 1-2 weeks.

 

The best option to prevent dust mites' existence is to cover everything in plastic. But, obviously, it doesn not create the most comfortable surface and it's certainly not esthetically pleasing. Since dust mites like natural fibres, choose furniture that is made of synthetic fibres or wrap it with polyester cover. Again, wash covers frequently.  

 

For stuffed toys, wash them in hot water and dry them thoroughly every 6 weeks or so. *Hot water or freezing temperature both kill mites, but I just can't imagine stuff toys in my freezer...* Vacuuming hardly removes many mites; it is best to shake out area rugs outdoor and leave them out for a while on windy days (yes, they get blown away). Dust weekly and wipe all hard surfaces with a damp cloth. Vacuuming reduce the amount of skin flakes left behind by human and pets, which reduce dust mites' food supply.

 

 

 

 

Easy Cleaning Solutions - The Natural Way

While we are on the subject of regular home maintenance, I want to share a few easy ways of cleaning without involving harsh chemicals:

For messy microwave (especially when you have put off cleaning for weeks and it is covered with dried up food and spilled marks):

1. Take a small bowl and fill 1/3 of it with tap water

2. Add 1/3 of white vinegar

3. Squeeze half a lemon juice into the mixture

4. Place the bowl inside the microwave and "cook" for 1 - 2 minutes

5. Carefully remove the hot bowl and wipe away the dirty surface

*Steam from the mixture will soften the mess, and vinegar and lemon juice helps to dissolve the grime. Try it!!

For a general home-made cleaning solution that works on most surfaces:

1. Get a spray bottle

2. Get a bottle of 70% alcohol from your local drugstore

3. Peel 1 - 2 oranges and stuff the peels into the bottle

4. Add the alcohol to the peels and set it aside for one day

*This mixture smells great and kills bacterial without crazy, toxic chemicals!

For an old-school trick to dissolve tough stain and minor sink blockage (kitchen & bath):

1. Sprinkle a layer of baking soda

2. Pour vinegar slowly over the baking soda

*When you see bubbling, it means the two ingredients are working together to dissolve stains!

Regular Home Maintenance: Seasonal Checklist

Regular maintenance/cleaning routines are extremely essential in up keeping our homes. It is important to get in the habit of doing small tasks now and then, in order to avoid time-consuming, back-breaking cleaning jobs. Long term built-ups of dust, dirty, grime and oil are much harder to clean and create bigger headaches; they generally involve harsh, non-environmentally friendly cleaning products. By performing regular maintenance, we can keep our homes clean and we are at a better position to avoid potential costly problems down the road!

Keep a schedule of what needs to be done throughout the home. Use technology; research for natural cleaning products and cost-effective ways of doing different tasks. If necessary, take pictures of areas you want to improve and show photos to specialists at home improvement stores.

 

The following is a seasonal checklist provided by the Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation:

 

	Make sure air vents indoors and outdoors (intake, exhaust and forced air) are not blocked by snow or debris.
	Check and clean range hood filters on a monthly basis.
	Test ground fault circuit interrupter(s) on electrical outlets monthly by pushing the test button, which should then cause the reset button to pop up.
	If there are young children in the house, make sure electrical outlets are equipped with safety plugs.
	Regularly check the house for safety hazards, such as a loose handrail, lifting or buckling flooring, inoperative smoke detectors, and so on.

 

 

For more on this topic and how to keep your home safe and clean, follow my blog regularly and visit me on Facebook @ Helen Hsu Real Estate News.