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How Long Will An Orillia Home Inspection Take?
Square Footage Of House
The length of time an Orillia home inspection takes depends on several factors. The first factor is the size of the house. Generally speaking a 1500 square feet house will take on average 3 hours. A 1500 square house with no basement will take less time compared to a house with a full basement.
Does the house have a crawlspace or unfinished basement? Crawlspaces add extra time and effort to inspect versus an unfinished or finished basement. The reason being is that crawlspaces are much more complicated and harder to inspect and navigate.
Age Of House
The age of your Orillia house will greatly affect the length of time it will take to inspect. Many inspectors will charge an extra fee for homes older than say 50 years old. Older homes may have out of date wiring, plumbing and structural issues compared to a more modern home. Extra time and effort is needed to inspect these older precious homes.
House Appurtenance
Many homes have sheds, outbuildings large decks and so forth. These need to be inspected also. Inspecting appurtenance will generally add another half hour or maybe more to your inspection.
July 22nd 2022
Furnace Filters and Things To Know
We should first start by saying not all furnace filters are equal and they can come in various types. Changing your furnace filter is an easy home maintenance chore any home owner can do. Furnace filters filter out dust and pollutants from the air and keep your furnace running smoothly.
Types Of Furnace Filters
There are 5 types of furnace filters:
- fiberglass/synthetic filters
- polyester filters,
- electrostatic filters,
- pleated filters
- HEPA filters
Fiberglass/synthetic filter- Fiberglass or synthetic filters are a cheap and disposable option for your furnace. They catch up to 80% of particles 50 microns and larger and 25% of particles between 3 to 10 microns. Considered minimum protection, fiberglass/synthetic filters prevent dust and dirt from building up on heat exchangers, fan motors, and other surfaces. The larger particles are trapped and eliminated, so your furnace components remain clean. They allow your system to have maximum airflow but don’t filter harmful contaminants affecting your health.
Polyester filter: Polyester filters are made using the highest quality materials available and are median-sized. They trap and eliminate 80% to 95% of particles 5 microns or larger. A polyester filter costs fours time more than the average fiberglass/synthetic filter, but it offers more protection against pollutants that cause health issues.
Electrostatic: Electrostatic filters use self-charging fibers to attract particles out of your air. You can purchase disposable or washable electrostatic filters depending on the requirements of your furnace. Washable versions offer a MERV rating between 4 and 10 and last considerably longer than the average filter. Maintenance on a washable filter requires soap and water to wash the filter and letting it completely dry before reinstalling it. If you install it before it completely dries, you run the risk of mildew and mold growth.
Pleated filter:A pleated filter offers high-efficiency results by trapping particulates 0.3 micron in size, such as bacteria and viruses. Pleated filters are more efficient and last longer compared to fiberglass/synthetic filters. They eliminate more pollutants from your air without sacrificing airflow within your system.
Hepa filter: High efficiency particulate air, or HEPA, filters provide high-end filtration by trapping up to 99% of particles 0.3 microns or larger. Even though they are excellent at eliminating indoor pollutants and create a healthier environment in your home, they can drastically reduce your system’s airflow, costing more money in energy usage.
How Often Should Furnace Filters Be Replaced Or Cleaned
Most manufacturers recommend changing your filter every 90 days. Many conditions in your house can affect how often a furnace filter needs to be changed. If you have pets and residents have allergies then a furnace filter may need to be replaced more often or a Hepa filter may be required. Check your furnace filter once per month is recommended.