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Published December 1, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a Comment

Sealing all joints in the ductwork with a special water-based duct mastic (sealant) will reduce or eliminate warm air leaks. Look in the Yellow Pages™ under “Furnaces – Heating.” High-temperature duct tape may work, although it tends to degrade or permit air leakage over time.

When the circulating fan is running, heat loss can increase significantly if leaky ducts are located in an exterior wall, an attic or a crawl space, allowing the heated air to escape. This is one more good reason to keep all ducts well sealed.

Ducts passing through an unheated area such as a crawl space or an attic should first be sealed, then wrapped with batt or duct insulation. Do the same for long duct runs in the basement. As a minimum, insulation is recommended for the warm air plenum and at least the first three metres (10 feet) of warm air ducting. Better still, insulate all the warm air ducts you can reach. Use batts of insulation with foil backing, or enclose the insulated ducts in the joist space. If your basement is now being heated by the heat loss from the ducts, it may be necessary to have additional registers installed in the basement after you insulate. This will help direct the heat only where you want it, when you want it, without loss along the way.

Rooms on upper floors or far from the furnace are sometimes difficult to heat because of heat losses and also because of friction and other resistance to airflow (such as right-angle bends) in the ductwork. This can sometimes be corrected by light modifications to the ductwork after the ducts have been sealed and insulated and by balancing the dampers in the supply ducts to redirect the airflow from the warmer areas to cooler rooms.

Use dampers to divert the airflow

In some forced-air distribution systems, balancing dampers may be located in the secondary warm air ducts, close to where they branch off from the rectangular main heating duct. Often the dampers can be identified by a small lever on the outside of the duct. The position of this lever (or sometimes a slot in the end of the damper shaft) indicates the angle of the unseen damper inside the duct. If there are no such dampers, you will have to use those in the floor registers.

Start by closing the dampers in the ducts that supply heat to the warmest rooms. (They will probably supply some heat to these rooms even if they are completely closed.) Wait a few days to see what effect this has on the overall heat balance, then make further adjustments as necessary. Such adjustments may slightly reduce the total airflow through the furnace, but this will be balanced to some extent by a slight increase in the temperature of the delivered air.

CAUTION: It may be more practical to have an experienced service technician make the adjustments. If you make too large a reduction in the airflow, you could cause an undesirable increase in the temperature of the air inside the furnace plenum. It is a good idea to have your furnace serviceperson check this temperature rise.

Add cold-air returns.

Most houses are designed with inadequate cold air returns. As a result, there is not enough airflow through the furnace. Additional cold air returns in the living areas, particularly in the bedrooms, can increase air circulation and heating system efficiency while improving comfort and air quality in the house.

Some years ago, it was mistakenly thought that one way to get around the problem of inadequate cold air return was to open up the cold air return ductwork or plenum in the basement area near the furnace or even to take off the furnace access panel near the air filter. This is dangerous. The depressurization caused by the circulating fan can actually disrupt the combustion and result in spillage or backdrafting of combustion products. These combustion products can then be circulated through the house instead of being sent up the chimney. In certain cases, this can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.

For heat distribution problems that cannot be corrected by damper adjustments and other duct modifications, have a qualified serviceperson do a complete and proper balancing of your distribution system.

Change thermostat settings.

The easiest way to save heating dollars is to lower the temperature setting on your house thermostat. As a general rule, you will save 2 percent on your heating bill for every 1°C you turn down the thermostat overnight.

A programmable thermostat will adjust your home’s temperature automatically. These thermostats have a mechanical or electronic timer that allows you to preset household temperatures for specific periods of the day and night.

Maximizing efficiency in forced-air gas-heating systems: chimneys
Maximizing efficiency in forced-air oil-fired heating systems

8 oz  ( tomato sause ) , fresh parsley, black Peppers and one pound of turkey sausage.

Wash Lentils simmer to 45 minutes.

Add all ingrediants , ( brown sausage before adding to soup )  simmer.

Freezes very well and great for lunches.  

Smoke Alarms

ONLY A WORKING FIRE ALARM CAN ALERT YOU TO SMOKE IN YOUR HOME!

Smoke Alarm Legislation

The Ontario Fire Code mandates the installation of smoke alarms in residences.  The Fire Code was recently amended under Section 2.13 and Subsection 6.3.3, that smoke alarms be installed and maintained outside of all sleeping areas, as well as on every level of a residence. The Fire Code also states that "No person shall intentionally disable a smoke alarm so as to make it inoperable."  Anyone who intentionally disables a smoke alarm is guilty of a provincial offence and is subject to a fine.

Homeowners:

It is the responsibility of homeowners to install and maintain smoke alarms on every level of their home and outside sleeping areas.

Landlords:

It is the responsibility of landlords to ensure their rental properties comply with this law. 

Tenants:

If you are a tenant of a rental property and do not have the required number of smoke alarms, contact your landlord immediately. Also, it is against the law for tenants to remove the batteries or tamper with the smoke alarms in any way.

Failure to comply with the Fire Code Smoke Alarm Requirements could result in a fine of up to $50,000 for individuals or $100,000 for Corporations.

Requirements:

Note: New homes constructed today are required by the Ontario Building Code to have electrically operated smoke alarms installed on all levels of the home. These smoke alarms must also be interconnected to each other so if one is activated, all smoke alarms in the same home will ring.

• Ceiling mounted smoke alarms should be installed away from ceiling fans and air ducts, and at least 10 centimetres away from the wall. Wall mounted alarms should be installed so the top of the alarm is 10 to 30 centimetres below the ceiling.

Smoke Alarm Requirements and Guidelines:

• When installing smoke alarms, refer to the manufacturer's instructions for information about correct placement.
• Test your smoke alarms every month using the test button usually located on the cover of the smoke alarm. 
• It is recommended changing the battery in your smoke alarm the same time of year that your clocks are changed (Spring and Fall of each year).  
• Replace all smoke alarms that are older than 10years old.  If you are in doubt how old the existing smoke alarm is, it is recommended that a new smoke alarm is purchased and installed.
• Steam from the shower or cooking can cause smoke alarms to sound. Do not remove the battery. Instead, try moving the smoke alarm to a different location, or purchase a smoke alarm with a hush feature that will temporarily silence the alarm.
• Replace alarms if they are showing problems or have been exposed to a fire or heavy smoke.
• Gently vacuum the smoke alarm at least every 6 months.
• Never paint any part of a smoke alarm.

Types of Smoke Alarms:

• Ionization alarms are most common, least expensive, and tend to detect the smoke produced by fast burning fires with visible flames faster than smoke from a smouldering fire.
• Photo-electric alarms are harder to find, cost slightly more, and tend to detect the smoke produced by slow burning smouldering fires with very little flame. This type of alarm is highly recommended for homes where smokers live due to the greater potential for a smouldering fire caused by a carelessly discarded cigarette.
   

For more information on smoke alarms, contact Fire Prevention at 905-637-9536 (firedepartment@burlington.ca) or refer to The Office of the Fire Marshall.

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Since 1959, Cubans have had to go through months, if not years, of wading through local government bureaucracies, mountains of paperwork and even corruption in the forms of pay-offs to get approval to buy or sell a piece of property in Cuba.

Cubans who moved abroad also had their homes confiscated by the Cuban government as well.

But all that is about to change.

Cuba's new home ownership rules state that the purchase, sale, donation or trading of homes in Cuba would be recognized and allowed without government approval in cases of divorce, death or permanent departure from Cuba.

These home ownership changes were approved by Cuba's National Assembly back in April, and are about to go into effect November 10, 2011.

It is believed by many that Cubans living abroad in the US, mainly in Miami, who have remitted as much as $1 billion a year back into Cuba to help relatives, will start investing in Cuba's housing market via their relatives, which will stimulate Cuba's property markets over the next few years.

Reaction to Cuba's property policy move was swift in Miami.

David Pearson

Veteran Caribbean and Latin American real estate consultant David Pearson tells the World Property Channel, "Of course the unanswered 'million-dollar' question that is most critical to those of us in South Florida is what happens to all the private property that Castro expropriated in 1959?  That includes not only thousands of residences, but also sugar mills, textile factories, ranches and farms all over Cuba.  International law calls for just compensation to the owner when a government expropriates his property.  If the Cuban government is serious in its apparent intent to put real estate back into the free market, it will embark on a plan to identify and compensate those whose land it confiscated."

Pearson further states, "Another unanswered question is, will the Cuban property owners be able to sell their land to foreigners, i.e., non-Cubans?  Until now, foreign developers like the Spanish resort hotels in Varadero Beach have always had to have the government as a partner."

The bill will be brought forward by newly elected MPP Michael Mantha (Algoma-Manitoulin), who said it could save families $100 a year, removing the provincial portion of the HST off home heating only if you heat your house with natural gas or oil. There would be no break if a home is heated with electricity.

While Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak said he personally supports the idea of taking the provincial portion — or 8 per cent of the 13 per cent harmonized sales tax — off home heating and hydro, the Liberals are not warm to the idea.

The NDP proposal would cut provincial revenues by nearly $350 million a year, Finance Minister Dwight Duncan said in a statement.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said the party did not include removing the HST off of hydro on this private member’s bill because she thought just taking it off heating was a “first practical step” in making a difference in people’s lives.

During the fall election, the PCs along with the New Democrats campaigned on removing the tax from heating and hydro.

Mr. Hudak would not whip the vote or get all his 37 MPPs to support the bill. The NDP have 17 seats in the 107-seat Legislature and the Liberals have 53, one shy of a majority.

To learn more read the NDP press release.

Activity came in broadly in line with expectations across much of the country in the third quarter of 2011 with the exception of Ontario. Sales there came in stronger than anticipated in a number of regions over the summer, but were held aloft mostly by Toronto activity as the third quarter ended.

Stronger than anticipated sales in Ontario pushed up national activity in the third quarter, and prompted CREA to raise its annual sales forecast for 2011 from 0.9 per cent to a revised 1.4 per cent.

“The continuing strength of home sales activity in the face of ongoing financial market volatility speaks volumes about the confidence of Canadians in our housing market, said Gary Morse, CREA’s President. “Interest rates look like they’ll remain low at levels that are friendly to the housing market for some time to come, and that’s good news for Canadian home sales activity and the overall economy.”

CREA forecasts that national sales activity in 2012 will ease by 0.5 per cent to 451,200 units. This represents a small upward revision CREA’s previous 2012 sales forecast, and reflects expectations that Canadian interest rates will remain low until well into next year. Forecast sales for 2011 and 2012 remain roughly on par with the annual average for activity over the past ten years.

The national average price has evolved as CREA expected, with average home prices in Vancouver moderating compared to levels in the first half of the year. Vancouver sales of multi-million dollar properties have returned to more normal levels after having shattered a number of monthly records this spring.

CREA’s national average home price forecast for 2011 is little changed at $362,700, representing an annual increase of 7.0 per cent. In 2012, the national average price is forecast to hold even with the 2011.

“A number of factors will keep Canada’s housing market in check as interest rates remain low,” said Gregory Klump, CREA’s Chief Economist. “These include tightened mortgage regulations, high household debt levels, together with slower economic and job growth. That said, with global economic growth expected to remain fragile but positive, employment levels and income growth in Canada should remain supportive for the housing market.”

“Headline news about economic uncertainty has put only minor dents in consumer confidence. How confidence evolves depends on how global turmoil plays out over the coming months. Should global economic headwinds weigh more heavily than expected on Canadian economic prospects, the federal government and the Bank of Canada have made it clear they stand ready to take flexible and measured responses as appropriate. That’s encouraging from the standpoint of the Canadian economic and housing market prospects.” 

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Here is a article explaining TFSA's. Source : National Post

Jonathan Chevreau  Nov 15, 2011 – 1:50 PM ET | Last Updated: Nov 15, 2011 3:57 PM ET

ivey.uwo.ca

ING Direct CEO Peter Aceto

The headline on today’s blog is a variant of a similar question posed in a press release issued Tuesday by ING Direct: WHY have Canadians forgotten about TFSAs? [my emphasis on the "Why."]

I’m not sure I agree Canadians have forgotten TFSAs, since many didn’t know them long enough to forget them in the first place. I’d argue that those who immediately saw the benefits maxed out their $5,000 contribution in January 2009 and did so again early in 2010 and 2011. This group has likely already put money put aside to make a fourth contribution the moment January 1st, 2012 arrives.

According to a perception survey by ING, 13% of Canadians still don’t know what a TFSA is. For the record, TFSA stands for Tax Free Savings Accounts and they let you save or invest money with none of the normal tax liability on interest, dividends or capital gains.

Another 37% are still unclear how a TFSA works. Not surprisingly, older Canadians (defined as 55 or older) say they “fully understand” what a TFSA is, compared to only around 30% of those aged 18 to 54. That’s not a surprise either. We older folk have been filing tax returns for three or four decades and are only too well aware how much tax we pay on simple bank accounts, Canada Savings Bonds, or dividend-paying stocks if they are held outside tax shelters like the RRSP, or now the TFSA.

The ING survey also found 70% view TFSAs as a long-term savings vehicle, although only 24% use it primarily for retirement savings. Personally, that’s how I view it: the TFSA makes a nice complement to the RRSP. The difference is that the RRSP will eventually subject you to future tax liability when it becomes a RRIF (Registered Retirement Income Fund) and is subject to forced annual taxable withdrawals — whether or not you need the money.

The beauty of the TFSA is that won’t happen after age 71: any investment income spun out of it is yours to keep, tax-free. And also unlike an RRSP, you’ll be able to keep adding another $5,000 every year no matter how old you get.

A “no-brainer” tax shelter if ever there was one

That’s why I call the TFSA a “no-brainer,” and I mean that in the positive sense of a win-win vehicle that you don’t have to think too long and hard about before deciding to use. I honestly can’t think of any drawbacks* to it while the alternative — saving in taxable accounts — subjects all interest income to the highest marginal tax: 46% for many Canadians. (* See PS for one drawback)