Happy Flushing...again!!!

OK... so there are many things that we take for granted in our modern lives. I would like to say flushing a toilet is one of them. It is just something we do, and to be honest rarely even think about it. That is until you can't! That was us in our house recently. Halloween night to be exact. Let me explain.

So just before going to pick up my kids from school I ventured down into our basement. When I walked passed the furnace room I was met by a foul smell. A poopy smell to be honest. I knew what it was immediately. It has happened before. We had sewage backup. YUK! We live in a very old neighbourhood with many old trees and those trees have lots of little roots  and those roots often find their way to the pipes. Many of our neighbours have had to deal with this yukky problem as well.

I was initially irritated and then I remembered something. Many months ago I made one of the best decisions and signed up for a total home protection plan from Direct Energy. For about $33 a month we have a protection plan for our air conditioner, furnace and plumbing. And to be honest it was the best decision ever.

Total Home 3-in-1 Bundle

Our Plan Includes:

Parts & Labour Protection – Breakdown Coverage for your Furnace/Boiler with no annual claim limits

• Unlimited number of service calls
• 365/24/7 Support centre to take your calls
• Access to 700 highly-trained, licensed technicians
• Front-of-the-line service during peak periods
• After-hours/weekend repairs at no extra cost to you
• Heating Protection Plan Inclusions/Exclusions

Cooling Protection Plan

Enjoy the same level of protection for your air conditioner as for your furnace.

Our Plan Includes:

Parts & Labour Protection – breakdown coverage for your Air Conditioner

• Unlimited number of service calls
• 365/24/7 Support centre to take your calls
• Access to 700 highly-trained, licensed technicians
• Front-of-the-line service during peak periods
• After-hours/weekend repairs at no extra cost to you
• Cooling Protection Plan Inclusions/Exclusions

Plumbing & Drain Protection Plan

Protect your home from unexpected blocked toilets, interior drains, showers and sinks.

Our Plan Includes:

Parts AND Labour Protection – Breakdown Coverage for your Plumbing and Drains with no annual claim limits:

• Unlimited number of service calls
• 365/24/7 Support centre to take your calls
• Access to licensed technicians
• Front-of-the-line service during peak periods
• After-hours/weekend repairs at no extra cost to you
• Plumbing & Drain Protection Plan Inclusions/Exclusions

So I called and set up an appointment. A serviceman from Direct Energy came, snaked the pipe and pulled up some tree roots! And within an hour of arrival we were happily flushing again!  Yippee!!! The best part is that the service call cost nothing! Since we were paying for the protection plan every month the service call was part of the plan. Without the protection plan the service call would have cost us about $310.


**disclosure: I was not paid for this post. This is completely my opinion. We loved the service and the protection plan and wanted to share our good experience with a professional company that offered solid service when we needed it**

Getting Ready for Winter

The cooler temperatures are already upon us. As I write this the temperature outside is a chilly 1 degree. There were a few flurries flying around today. I am so not ready for the cold and snow. I had to dig through the basement bins just to find the kids some hats and mitts today. So with winter around the corner there are a few things that I need to do around the house to get ready.

Recently I was invited to a small gathering at the home of one of my online friends and managing editor of EverythingMom.com, Carrie Anne Badov . The event including a very knowledgeable representative, Dave Walton, from Direct Energy. 

Carrie Anne had recently had the folks at Direct Energy do a home audit checking on her homes efficiencies. We had a chance to see where some of the most common problem areas are in a house. In a recent study by Direct Energy results showed that 97% of Ontarians say home energy efficiency is a top priority however a large number of Ontarians are not taking the steps to achieve that goal.

Windows and doors are an area where home owners could be losing efficiency. It is also one the areas where homeowners can easily fix by sealing up leaks, cracks and gaps. According to the Direct Energy survey, 74 % of Ontario homeowners are locking out cold air by sealing windows and doors. Take a few minutes to check for drafts around windows and doors. Sealing up leaks and cracks are very easy using a caulking gun or spray/foam insulation.  Doors can be sealed with weather stripping and a new door sweep. The great thing is that all those solutions are easy to do and relatively inexpensive but offer big bang for your bucks.

The other thing that could help you save a little bit of money over the winter is getting a programmable thermostat. It will help you control your heating and program it when you are away from your home. According to the Direct Energy survey, 70% of Ontarians are conserving energy in the home by installing a programmable thermostat which can be set to lower temperatures at night or while you are at work. This can save up to 10 % on heating bills according to Direct Energy.

Those are just a few ways to save this winter and to help make your home more efficient.

Last fall we took a few of the steps outlined here. We have a programmable thermostat which we set to lower at night. We like our house cool for sleeping. We also took time to re-caulk our windows. There were many areas around the windows where the seal had peeled or cracked.  We could feel the difference immediately inside the house!

There are loads of tips and information on the Direct Energy website.  Check them out!