To protect the warranty that you are entitled to as the owner of a newly built home in Ontario, routine upkeep is essential. Improper maintenance, or just plain neglect, can result in damages that your warranty won't cover. While there are many items in an ongoing maintenance program, one of the most important is moisture control.

Special care is required to maintain modern energy-efficient homes which are tightly constructed to keep out cold weather in the winter and keep cool air in during the summer. Proper ventilation is critical for preventing excess moisture from building up inside your home and causing damage that may not be covered by the statutory warranty. Using bathroom and kitchen range fans as well as your home's ventilation system will help control moisture levels.

In addition to indoor humidity, weather-related water penetration or leaking pipes can have serious consequences if not properly controlled or immediately cleaned up. Regardless of where it occurs, moisture damage can lead to serious problems, such as rot and even structural failure in extreme cases.

Tarion Warranty Corporation, the non-profit, private corporation established in 1976 to protect new home buyers according to the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act, suggests the following tips to help prevent moisture damage:

Outside the home

• Fix the caulking around windows and doors and on the roof if it becomes cracked or separated.

• Keep flowerbeds and landscaping at least six inches or 150 mm away from the top of the foundation. Placing soil near or above the top of the foundation allows moisture to come into direct contact with the structure of the home.

• Clear eavestroughs of debris regularly and extend downspouts so that water is directed away from your home. Water that flows around the foundation could eventually find its way into the basement.

• Have your roof inspected regularly to ensure shingles, flashing and chimney caps are in place and sealed properly.

Inside the home

• In the summer, dehumidify the basement to avoid condensation buildup on the cool foundation walls.

• Repair leaky pipes and fixtures immediately. Clean and completely dry any areas that are dampened or wet within 48 hours.

• Investigate and identify any musty smells and odours. They are often an indicator that there is a hidden moisture problem.

• Purchase a “hygrometer” to monitor the relative humidity in your home.

Ask your builder about additional maintenance tips. He may also be able to provide information about proper maintenance for specific products provided by manufacturers.

Knowing how to properly operate all the systems in your new home – including heating, electrical, plumbing and air conditioning – will both help safeguard your warranty and ensure you enjoy your home to the fullest.

More information is available online at www.tarion.com and at 1-877-982-7466. For those who want to start managing their warranty online, register for MyHome at www.tarion.com.

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Photo: Kamla Wray, www.allinthehome.com File Photo

Energy efficiency is becoming more than an attractive, money-saving feature to have in your newly-built home. Within the next one to three years, it will be the law in some parts of Canada.

Many places such as Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec, Yellowknife, and British Columbia plan to implement minimum energy requirements in their building codes for the first time. Some jurisdictions are using Natural Resources Canada's EnerGuide Rating System to establish energy efficiency benchmarks. The EnerGuide rating determines the level of energy efficiency in a home on a scale from 0 to 100. Highly energy-efficient homes rate at 80 or more while homes that have a net zero energy consumption have a rating of 100. The higher the rating the higher the savings in utility bills. Many regions are using EnerGuide 80 level or its equivalent as a target for their building codes over time.

The federal government will be helping with this transition and monitoring the EnerGuide process across the country. Natural Resources Canada manages agreements with organizations that promote EnerGuide rated homes, training, program technical support and marketing initiatives.

If buying, building or renovating a home is on the horizon for you and your family in the coming months, it really is a good idea to do your homework. So, check out Natural Resources Canada's website for everything you need to know about building or buying an energy efficient new home at www.newhomes.nrcan.gc.ca or by calling 1-800-387-2000 to order publications.

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