No need to help your basement stay cool

Below-grade areas naturally colder; keeping heating registers open will ensure good air circulation

Question: I have an unfinished basement with four air vents. Can I close all or some of the vents in the winter, as I would like to keep the basement cool? — Thanks, Py Su.   Answer: Opening or closing heat registers to regulate . . .

Posted: 2018-09-29

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Moisture under subfloor causes mould smell

QUESTION: I'm hoping you can give us some help with our basement floor. Our home is in North Kildonan and was built in the mid-'80s. It is a bungalow in excellent condition with an unfinished basement. We have decided to partially . . .

Posted: 2012-11-10

Ozone machine will help eliminate powerful odours

Question: We have an older camper trailer in which the previous owners placed Downy Unstoppable beads throughout the unit. We have washed the interior, had the windows open all summer, had all cushions outside as well and stuffed the . . .

Posted: 2022-11-12

Insulation, heat will help prevent crawlspace condensation

Questions: I really appreciated an article you wrote on heating a crawlspace. I live in Ottawa and am currently debating how to make a cottage warmer and more comfortable. We have a cottage that is on piers/posts that we . . .

Posted: 2022-11-19

Questions to ask when buying a hot tub

You've decided to take the plunge: This summer, you'll while away your evenings, wine glass at hand, in a steamy, bubbling hot tub. But before you hire an electrician and start moving the flower beds to make room for your . . .

Posted: 2009-06-21

Damaged ducting likely culprit in dusty house

Replacing corrugated plastic with rigid tubing best fix for multiple reasons

Question: I read a previous Ask the Inspector article in the Winnipeg Free Press, written in March 2013, to a person asking about a dusty house. I live in south Louisiana and have a complicated tale about my dusty house. It is . . .

Posted: 2019-11-23

How to barbecue without getting cooked

Whether your barbecue uses charcoal, wood, propane or natural gas, don't even think about firing it up until you are sure it's safe. For wood-burning units, make certain vents are clean and operable and that there are no areas that have . . .

Posted: 2008-06-15

SOLUTIONS: When cleaning wooden furniture: Don't hold the mayo

QUESTION: We have unfinished cedar chairs. Last summer they became darkened from the drippy stuff that comes off our elm tree. I used soapy water and a scrubbing brush last fall and they are a tiny bit cleaner. Do you . . .

Posted: 2009-05-31

Frozen vent require further investigation

Skip the ladders and MacGyver tactics, call a plumber to double check installation

Question: I read your response to an article submitted a few years ago regarding a vent pipe that freezes shut on the roof. I agree with the several options to fix the problem that you suggested, but I have the . . .

Posted: 2018-12-08

How to obtain those renovation dollars

If you've found a great house but it needs a bit of work before becoming your dream home, one option is to finance the renovations at the time of purchase by adding the cost to your mortgage. Buyers who are putting . . .

Posted: 2011-06-25