Canadian Home Guides

Flat vector illustration of a homeowner holding a blank permit document beside a low timber deck, with a small municipal office building at the right and a dotted line linking the document across to it.

Do You Need a Permit for a Deck in Ontario? Why Five Cities Use Different Tests

Ontario deck permits turn on size, height, attachment and local guidance. See how Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, Mississauga and London differ.

September 11, 2026 · 14 min read

A homeowner stands in a basement beside an oversized rented water tank, hand raised in a question, while an unbroken chain of gold coins runs from a shelf along the floor and up into a slot in the tank. Labels read RENTED TANK, YOUR BILL and WHAT IT TAKES TO LEAVE.

How to Get Out of a Water Heater Rental in Canada: What the Buyout Really Costs, and the Contract That May Already Be Void

Two exits, one buyout schedule and a rule that can void the whole contract. What leaving a rented tank really costs in Canada, and how to check your title.

September 8, 2026 · 17 min read

Flat vector illustration of a homeowner reaching up to a round carbon monoxide alarm on a wall panel while holding a blank clipboard, with a second alarm mounted lower on a panel to the right, a boxy furnace and flue pipe at the far left joined by a dotted line, two thin-line house outlines at the upper right, and the labels FIRE CODE, CO ALARM and EVERY STOREY.

Carbon Monoxide Detector Requirements in Ontario: What Changed on January 1, 2026, and How Many Alarms Your Home Needs Now

Ontario's Fire Code changed on January 1, 2026. See how many carbon monoxide alarms your home now needs, where each one goes, and what the beeps mean.

September 4, 2026 · 14 min read

Flat vector illustration of a two-storey Canadian house in late autumn. A worker on an extension ladder scoops leaves out of the eavestrough while a homeowner on the ground watches, holding a blank clipboard beside a verification shield badge. A bare maple drops leaves at the left, and a downspout runs down the wall to a splash pad.

Eavestrough Cleaning Cost in Canada: What to Pay, When to Book Before Freeze-Up, and Who You're Letting Up a Ladder

Eavestrough cleaning in Canada costs $123-$235 per visit ($164 average, 822 cost profiles). When to book before freeze-up, and how to vet the crew.

September 1, 2026 · 13 min read

Flat vector illustration of a homeowner holding up a property title document with a shield badge, beside a stack of coins and an open padlock on a plinth, with a calendar block marking the lien window.

Can a Contractor Put a Lien on Your House in Canada? The 10% Holdback That Protects You from Paying Twice, and How to Clear a Lien Off Your Title

An unpaid subcontractor can lien your title even after you pay in full. The holdback that limits your risk, deadlines by province, and how to clear a lien.

August 28, 2026 · 16 min read

Flat vector illustration of a living room where a homeowner watches a kneeling inspector stretch a measuring tape between a wood stove and the wall, beside a clipboard holding a blank inspection sheet and a photo identification card, labelled CLEARANCES, LEVEL 1 VISUAL, INSPECTION REPORT and WETT CERTIFIED.

WETT Inspection in Canada: What Your Insurer Actually Asks For, and Why No One Can Sell You a WETT Certificate

What a WETT inspection really is, which of the three levels your insurer needs, who is certified to do it, and why no one issues a WETT certificate. Canadian guide, CAD costs.

August 25, 2026 · 12 min read

Flat illustration of a homeowner holding a phone and raising one hand to pause, beside a cutaway home heating system with a furnace, a trunk duct branching to floor registers, a vacuum hose running to a wheeled cart, and a magnifying glass over an open duct access panel.

Is Duct Cleaning Worth It in Canada? What the Evidence Shows, What It Should Cost, and When You Can Cancel

Canadian research says routine duct cleaning rarely improves your air. See when it genuinely helps, what a proper clean costs in CAD, and your cancellation rights.

August 18, 2026 · 18 min read