If your home was built in 1950 or earlier, take a look in the basement. If you notice wires running through porcelain cylinders or “tubes” inserted in holes in the wooden floor joists, you have knob and tube wiring. You’ll also see porcelain “knobs,” which keep the wires secure, and prevent them from touching the […]
Kitec was the “go-to” pipe used in plumbing and heating installations between 1995 and 2007. It was manufactured by a company called IPEX Inc. which still exists to this day. Kitec is a composite plumbing material made from five layers of metal, plastics and resin adhesives, with brass fittings. The outermost plastic layer is usually […]
If your home was built or renovated before the 1990s, it is difficult to guess the method of insulation chosen as there were numerous options: fiberglass batt insulation, blown in cellulose, sprayed polyurethane foam or even vermiculite. Vermiculite insulation was a popular material in the 1940s and continued with the energy crisis into the mid-1980s. […]
Many homes in the Greater Vancouver area built before 1957 were originally heated with furnace oil. When natural gas became available, the oil storage tanks, which were normally located underground in backyards, were filled with sand or capped. However, as these unused buried oil tanks start to corrode and rust, the remaining oil can leak […]
Some older homes in British Columbia may have lead-based paint on the walls. Removing, repairing or disturbing this paint through normal wear-and-tear (such as paint on doors, windows, stairs and railings) can expose you and your children to serious health risks: lead poisoning can cause anaemia (a deficiency of red blood cells) as well as […]
Poly B, also referred to as Polybutylene, is a flexible grey pipe used in hot water systems and residential plumbing. It was manufactured in between the years of 1985 and 1997 because of its flexibility, low cost, and ease of installation. It is estimated that in Canada alone there are over 700,000 homes that have […]
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous material that was used in more than 3,000 building materials from the 1950s to 1990s. When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed, intentionally or unintentionally, asbestos can be released into the air; and exposure to harmful airborne asbestos can cause serious health concerns for anyone working or living on your property. […]
Aluminum wiring was used extensively in Canada from the mid 1960’s through the mid 1970’s. Initially, aluminum wiring was chosen for its low cost compared to the more expensive copper wiring. Some houses are wired completely with aluminum or copper. Others have a combination of both. There are two chemical reactions that take place on […]