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Because we live in a strata, a problem in our unit can "spill" over to our neighbour's unit(s). So it is important that before we go away, for a weekend or extended periods that we take certain precautions to minimize any potential water damage to our unit and our neighbours' property. Water damage is the number one cause of the increasing insurance premium in our Strata.
It is important to note that if you are going to be away for more than a few days that you let one of your neighbours know so that they can keep an eye on your property. It is also recommended that you have someone you trust or a Home Monitoring Service, to physically check your property on regular a basis to ensure that no unexpected failure has occurred, specially with the heating system during the winter months.
Below are a few suggestions to help you prevent any unforeseen water damage to your unit and that of your neighbours while you are away from your property. There are also a few tips on home checks and settings for your HVAC system.
Don't forget to set up your outside lights so they come on/off at dusk and dawn, as well as having a few interior lights on a timer. A great option is for the owner to install automatic dusk-to-dawn light bulbs (A15 type only) found on Amazon. Found out more about OGT outdoor Lighting Guide.
Water Shut off.pdfUnderstanding Your Unit's Water System.
Understanding Your Unit's Water System.
All units in the OGT have two separate water lines. The first is the domestic City water supply, that comes in the pipe with the Water Meter. Generally, right after the water meter is the Pressure Reducing Valve and than the Domestic Water Shut Off, which is the one with the small yellow handle. The second water supply is for the Fire Suppression System (Sprinkler System). This is the larger water pipe with the large yellow handle. It is important to note that you CANNOT TURN OFF the Fire Suppression System (Sprinkler System) AT ANY TIME!
Some of the pipe layout may vary slightly from one unit to another but the concept is exactly the same.
The Domestic Water Valve (small yellow handle) controls the water flow into your unit. When the yellow handle is parallel to the water pipe the valve is open.
To turn off the domestic water, turn the yellow handle 90° clockwise, so that it is perpendicular to the water pipe. To confirm that the water is off, open a faucet and wait a few seconds, the water should stop flowing.
If the valve is stuck and hard to turn please contact the Property Manager.
If you use the hot water recirculating pump, it is important to turn it off before you shut off the domestic water. Failure to turn off the recirculating pump when the domestic water is shut off will result in damage to the pump.
To save money while you are away turn down the thermostat in your hot water heater. Most units will have either a "low", "vacation" or "away" setting. No sense in keeping the water hot if you are not going to use it for a while.
During the winter months, the thermostat should be set on HOLD to 16°C (60°F) for the heating system. During the summer months, the Air Conditioning system should be set on HOLD to 24°C (75°F).
It is also important to change the batteries of your thermostat, annually and ideally before you leave on your holidays.
To access the two AA batteries, gently pry off the cover to the thermostat and replace the batteries. The furnace will not work if the batteries are dead.
Smart thermostats is a good way to monitor your HVAC system when you are away, as long as your home WIFI system is working.
During the winter months, ensure that the baseboard heater in the garage storage locker/mechanical room is on. This is very important to prevent the fire suppression nozzle in the garage from freezing.
For complete home security during your absence, you should "lock out" the garage door opener to ensure that no one can open your garage door using a remote control. Note that if you do have an outside keypad, this will still work when the garage is locked out.
To "lock out" your garage door, press and hold the LOCK button until the light pad starts flashing. The colour of the light pads vary, with some white, others in different colours.
To "unlock" the garage door, simply press and hold the LOCK button until the light pad stops flashing.
When the garage lock out is active, the light pad should be flashing.
As a good security habit, you should "lock out" your garage door every night before going to bed to ensure complete home security, specially if you park your vehicle in your driveway.
TIPS FOR HOME CHECKS
Home checks should be done on a regular basis, ideally once a week. First Landmark provides Home Monitoring services.
During home checks, turn-on the water valve, open all taps and flush all toilets and then turn-off the water valve.
During the winter months, checks should be done every time the temperature falls below -15°C.
Mail should be picked on a regular basis and more frequently during tax season.
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