​Tips 

Here are some friendly tips.There are many things you can do on your own to create a comfortable, healthy and
​safe home environment. And we have the tools to help you get started.

HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING TIPS
General guidelines for keeping your home cool & efficient:

• Have a Service Experts professional inspect your home's ducts and cooling equipment.
• CLEAN or REPLACE your AC filters every month.
• Clean & check chimney to see if your fireplace is working properly
• CLEAN rain gutters & storm drains.
• CLEAN & VACUUM vents, baseboard heaters and ducts.
• SEAL air leaks in the attic, basement & crawlspace, & also around windows & doors.
• Check your attic for proper insulation.
• Keep shades or curtains drawn on the sunny side of the house, especially during early & mid-afternoon hours.

Things to do to improve air quality & reduce potential health risks:

• When adjusting your clocks, change batteries in smoke alarms, as well as radon and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Consider a ventilation system to increase air circulation inside and add a healthy dose of fresh air.
• Clean water-damaged carpets and materials, or consider replacement.
• Reduce the potential for buildup of allergy-causing pollutants by keeping your house clean.
• Take special precaution when operating fuel-burning appliances to avoid leakage.
• Store & dispose of household chemicals in a safe manner.

Extra steps you can take to save energy:

• Install a programmable thermostat, so you can preset temperatures for different times of the day.
• Replace single-pane windows with newer double-pane models, which help reflect the sun's rays & reduce energy loss.
•  Apply a reflective coating to your roof. When replacing your roof, use light-coloured shingles.
• Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents to create a cooler feeling & save lighting comsumption.
• Install awnings or plant trees outside your home to create shade.

​Fall and Winter
General guidelines for keeping your home warm & efficient:

• Have a Service Experts professional inspect your home's ducts and heating equipment.
• Set your thermostat to 20°C when you are at home & awake, and as low as 15°C when you are asleep or awake.
• CLEAN or REPLACE furnace filters every month.
• Clean chimney and check to see if your fireplace is working properly.
• Seal air leaks in the attic, basement and crawlspace, and also around windows and doors.
  INSULATE inside of windows with heavy-duty, clear plastic sheets.
• Check your attic for proper insulation.
• Close curtains or shades at night and keep them open during the day
• Clean windows on the south side of your house to maximize sunlight exposure.
•  Weather-strip doors that lead to cold or outside areas.
• Wrap and insulate waterlines to prevent them from freezing.
• Repair leaky faucets.

Extra steps you can take to save energy:

• Install a programmable thermostat, so you can preset temperatures for different times of the day.
• Insulate the water tank and first six feet of hot & cold water pipes connected to the unit.
• Lower the temperature of your water heater to 48°C (for every 10-degree decrease in temperature, you may save 3% - 5% on your energy costs).
• Install rubber gaskets behind outlets & use switch plates on exterior walls.
•  Install low-flow showerheads.

Electrical Safety Tips
Always call a CERTIFIED ELECTRICIAN to do any wiring in your home.

Electrical panels, fuses, & outlets

• If a fuse blows, TURN OFF all appliances and lights that are on the circuit before changing the fuse
• Replace a fuse with another that has an identical rating.
• Loose fuses can overheat. If you have plug-type fuses, you should PERIODICALLY check to make sure they're snug.
• NEVER replace a fuse with a COIN or other METAL object.
• Use ground fault circuit interrupters on all outlets located outdoors.

Electrical devices, appliances, & power tools

• UNPLUG the electrical equipment before attempting any repairs
• UNPLUG your electrical gadgets when they're not in use.
• Keep your electrical devices AWAY from sources of water.
• If you use an electric lawnmower, only cut the grass when it's dry & NEVER WHEN IT'S RAINGING
• Insist on appliances & tools that have been CERTIFIED by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) seal or another accredited Standards Council of Canada association.

Cords, extension cords, & plugs

• Pull the plug, not the cord, when disconnecting an electrical device.
• NEVER remove a plug when your hands are wet, or if you’re touching a metal object.
• The third prong of a plug exists for safety reasons. Do not break it off or bypass it.
• Use only three-pronged extension cords outdoors.
• Keep cords away from sources of heat & water.
• Cords & plugs that show signs of wear or damage need to be replaced. STOP using them IMMEDIATELY.
• DO NOT place a cord under a carpet, through a doorway, or anywhere that it could be stepped on.
• Always use extension cords that are properly rated for the amount of electricity consumption.
• Extension cords are intended for temporary use. If you need a permanent solution, CALL AN ELECTRICIAN.
• Coil up excess cord length & keep the coil intact with plastic ties or velcro straps.
• Use a CERTIFIED POWER bar if you need to plug multiple items into an outlet.

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USEFUL LINKS
Authorized Contractor Program Overview

•  http://www.esasafe.com/Contractors/acp_001.php?s=10