NEW HOME SETTLEMENT
Maintenance of the home is your responsibility.
All homes require periodic maintenance to prevent premature deterioration and to ensure proper functioning and systems integrity. In addition to this homeowner package, we have provided you with access to and have made available to you written warranties on consumer products that may be installed in your home.
Please familiarize yourself with these documents, as we are not responsible for maintenance issues related to your home, or for damage that results from your failure to maintain your home. This maintenance package covers general maintenance and care required for items and fixtures in your home. It is by no means an all-inclusive list and may not apply to all items in your home.
For full maintenance details, please consult all guides, manuals, warranties and literature provided by the manufacturer that may be found in your Homeowner portal or on the manufacturer’s web site.
MAINTENANCE GUIDE & TIPS
Improper maintenance on your home will void warranties covered by Country Homes and Tarion.
HUMIDITY CONTROL
Today’s energy-efficient homes are built tightly to seal out the cold weather in winter and keep in the air conditioning in summer. Because of this, it is possible that a new home can be severely damaged by lack of ventilation or by excess moisture. It is important to remember that moisture damage caused by improper or inadequate use of your ventilation system is not covered by the new home warranty.
What causes moisture damage?
Your home can be damaged if weather-related water is allowed to enter and remain in the structure. Water from leaking pipes or fixtures that is not immediately cleaned up, and indoor humidity levels that are not properly controlled, can have serious consequences. Sometimes, this damage is easily seen; other times, the damage is hidden inside the wall and roof spaces. Regardless of where it occurs, moisture damage can lead to serious problems such as rot, mould, and even structural failure.
How can I control moisture?
Always use your home ventilation system to control moisture. In a typical home, over 20 litres of water are added to the indoor environment every day. That’s 7,300 litres in a year – enough to fill a medium-sized swimming pool. Bathroom fans, kitchen range hoods and packaged ventilators such as heat-recovery ventilators are specifically installed in your home to help you control moisture and contaminants. Regular use of your home ventilation system will exhaust excess airborne moisture caused by bathing, showering, doing laundry and cooking.
What else can I do to control moisture?
Here are some extra tips you can follow to help prevent moisture damage to your home:
Inside the home
Outside the home
APPLIANCES
Improper maintenance on your home will void warranties covered by Country Homes and Tarion.
How are my appliances warranted?
Appliances are warranted by their manufacturers, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the written warranties supplied by the manufacturers. These manufacturers’ warranties, as well as any operation, maintenance and preventative maintenance procedures provided by these manufacturers, have been provided to you in conjunction with the purchase of your home, and should be read and preserved for reference.
If a problem arises with an appliance, call the warranty service number listed in the manufacturer’s warranty.
When reporting warranty items to the appliance manufacturer, be prepared to supply:
DISHWASHER
RANGE
REFFRIGERATOR
WASHER / DRYER
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
Improper maintenance on your home will void warranties covered by Country Homes and Tarion.
The electrical system in your home is intended for normal residential use. We highly recommend that you consult a licensed electrician to make changes or additions to your electrical system. Please note that a permit may be required for changes and additions to your electrical system.
AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters)
Similar to GFCIs, Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters are sensitive to power surges caused by electrical arcing. Arcing can occur when wires or cords are damaged, and the resulting heat can cause a fire. As with GFCIs, AFCI circuits have TEST and RESET buttons and should be tested monthly. If an AFCI breaker trips, unplug the affected appliance or device and reset the breaker at the electrical panel. If the same circuit trips again, it may indicate a damaged electrical cord.
Circuit Breaker
During your orientation walk-through, your builder will have pointed out the location of the circuit
breaker panel. There will be one master circuit breaker and several individual circuit breakers.
My circuit breaker tripped, what do I do?
In the event of a loss of electrical power in one area of your home, follow these steps:
If the power loss is in one area of your home and power is available in other areas of your
home, it is likely that an individual circuit breaker has turned off.
If electrical power is lost throughout your home:
During your orientation walk-through, your builder will have pointed out the location of ground fault circuit interrupt devices (GFCI outlets).
Usually, GFCI outlets are located in:
These are special circuit breakers that are designed to break the flow of electricity in the event of
a short circuit. This will prevent dangerous electrical shock.
MAINTENANCE TIPS
Continued failures indicate a potentially dangerous electrical problem. Contact a licensed electrician for assistance.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
The lighting fixtures in your home are designed for standard wattage bulbs.
How can I preserve the usage of my bulbs?
To avoid excessive heat, you should not exceed the manufacturer’s recommendations. If a luminous light fixture does not work, make sure all fluorescent bulbs are installed properly. Adjust any tubes that are flickering or buzzing. Check wall switches and circuit breakers. If a light fails to come on, check the bulbs to be sure they are not loose or burned out. Also, check to see that they are the correct wattage for the fixture. Next, check the breakers. If this fails to solve the problem, you will then need to arrange for service.
Translucent panels can be cleaned by removing them:
DO NOT hang a ceiling fan from an existing ceiling light box without adding additional support to carry the extra weight. Moving lighting fixtures to accommodate special changes is a homeowner responsibility. It is recommended a licensed electrician be consulted.
OUTLETS & SWITCHES
If any electrical outlet does not have power, there are two possible explanations:
CAUTION: Small children can be injured by poking small metal objects into wall outlets. You can prevent this by installing child-proof devices on all floor-level electrical outlets. These devices are available in grocery stores and drug stores, as well as home centers and hardware stores.