Home Maintenance Guide
Buying a new home is an exciting and we want to help you keep your home running as efficiently as the day you bought it. We have compiled a list of items that you may find useful. The below guide outlines how to maintain key elements in your home.
It is important to properly maintain your home’s furnace for optimal efficiency, longer life and warranty protection. Clean filters allow your HVAC system to function correctly. Avoid paying higher energy bills for an ineffective heating and cooling unit By making it easy for air to circulate through your home.
Furnace filters should be changed every 3-4 months. During the winter, when you rely on your heating system more, you should consider increasing the frequency.
Furnace filters should be checked regularly as there are many things that could shorten the life of your furnace filter. Some examples would be if there is a lot of construction in the area, landscaping work being completed and animal hair.
The best way to tell if your furnace filter needs replacing is to check it regularly.
Significantly discoloured, dusty or covered with hair or damaged – Particles covering a filter are likely getting spread through your home’s air. Look for dirt, dust, and debris buildup along the edges and interior of the filter. You should also check for any physical damage, such as rips or tears.
Higher energy bills or a spike in your monthly costs – a dirty filter restricts airflow and this forces the HVAC system to work harder to circulate air through the home.
Decreased air flow – a clogged filter will restrict air from passing through. If you notice a musty smell or lower air flow when using your furnace, your filter may need replacing.
Fatigue, allergies, headaches and other respiratory ailments – If your filter has not been changed it may result in physical issues.
Checking/replacing your furnace filter regularly helps your furnace run as efficient as possible and leads to longer life of the furnace as well.
We use 4” and 5” filters (Merv 10 and Merv 11) and can be purchased at most hardware stores, through your HVAC installer (WeissJohnson/Legacy Heating) or online.
To replace your furnace filter, first, remove the metal cover plate and remove the old filter.
When installing new filter, you will notice that the filter has an arrow indicating the direction of air flow. The air runs from your return air ducts into your filter rack that holds your furnace filter, then into the furnace blower cabinet. This air then gets distributed throughout the rest of your house.
Regularly checking your hot water tank can help you identify problems early on and help prevent any major repairs or replacement that could arise from neglect. Additionally, it’s important to monitor the temperature of your hot water tank to ensure proper energy efficiency and safety. Monitoring could also help you detect any potential gas leaks, which should be addressed quickly for safety.
Your Cantiro home has a 50 gallon hot water tank.
It is recommended to drain/flush your hot water tank and check all water valves every 2 years. To flush your hot water tank, you will need to do the following:
You can reach out to RipRap Plumbing 780-968-6956 for builder pricing on this service.
Your hot water tank has a pressure release valve located on the side of your hot water tank, there will never be a need to test this valve. If you ever see water at or coming out of this pressure release valve, call your builder or plumber immediately.
A well-maintained sump pump will ensure that the pump is functioning correctly, preventing flooding and other water damage. Keeping your sump pump clean and clear of debris will also help to ensure it works properly when needed.
The sump pump collects water that has seeped into the sump basin, and pumps it out, away from the house and onto an area where it can safely drain away, such as the lawn, or a nearby storm sewer. Sump pumps can also be used to remove water from storm drains or pools and are completely automatic, activating when the water level in the sump basin rises too high and then turning off when the water level is back down to a certain level. Sump pumps help keep basements and foundations free of water and prevent flooding and costly repairs.
Your sump pump should be opened and checked yearly to ensure both pump and float mechanism are free from dirt/debris to ensure they function when required.
It is also good practice to make sure your sump pump is working when the snow starts to melt in the early spring as well as through the rainy season (typically March through May).
To check the sump pail:
Note: Sump pails on walk out basements are a lot deeper and the excess electrical cord will be inside the sump pail. On a normal 3 foot sump pail, it is extremely important that the excess electrical cord is coiled up outside of the sump pail as this could get tangled within the float, not allowing the system to work properly.
All Cantiro homes are equipped with an HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilator). The purpose of an HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilator) is to improve air quality in the home by exchanging stale, inside air with pre-treated/filtered, fresh outside air. The HRV is able to pre-treat the outside air while also recovering the heat from the exiting, stale air, thus maintaining the desired room temperature. The HRV uses an air-to-air heat exchanger, filters and fans to move the air exchange process. Every Cantiro bathroom has a wet pick-up that removes both odours and moisture created from baths and showers.
Running a Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) system ensures a comfortable and healthy indoor environment. HRV systems help reduce energy costs, while simultaneously improving air quality by circulating fresh air throughout the building. These systems also aid reducing humidity levels, and the occurrence of airborne contaminants. HRV systems provide continual fresh air while recirculating warm air to reduce energy costs. In addition, the installation of an HRV system helps to reduce the potential spread of airborne illness and viruses, reduces the risk of mold, and provides improved air quality indoors.
Every 3 months – you should check and clean your HRV filters
Every 6 to 12 months, you will need to clean the heat exchange core
As needed
You will need to open the front of your unit. There are two latches located at the top of your HRV, this unit will turn off on its own, no need to look for a shut-off switch.
Now the HRV is open, you will have two green-ish coloured pre-filters located on the top sides of your HRV core, these will need to be vacuumed off and rinsed under water. These filters should last the lifetime of your HRV.
Your HRV core slides straight out. This core will need to be cleaned by vacuuming all surfaces and than soaking it in warm soapy water for 20-30 min. After that, you will need to rinse and rotate to remove soapy water.
Before putting everything back into the HRV unit you will need to vacuum and wipe out all bugs and dust.
Please note, when sliding the HRV core back in, it does not sit straight, it will sit on an angle.
Once all filters and interior of HRV box is cleaned and reinstalled you can close and lock the door on your HRV, this unit will turn back on by itself once the door is closed.
Please ensure to grab your HRV core from the front and back as the side are made of soft aluminum and will bend very easy.
Hose bibs are valves that are installed outdoors for the purpose of connecting a garden hose or sprinkler system. They are used to control the flow of water to the various garden fixtures and to shut off the water supply when it is not in use. The biggest advantage of hose bibs is that they provide an accessible shut-off point for the water supply, allowing you to easily control the water supply to your garden fixtures or areas.
Your Cantiro home is equipped with frost-free hose bibs.
It is normal that these taps drip/dribble after turning them off for a short period of time.
It is extremely important that all hoses/accessories are removed before freezing temperatures. This will allow all water to drain from the hose bibs. If hoses/accessories are not removed, your hose bibs could crack and leak inside the basement, this is not covered under warranty.
This FAQ is designed to help you understand how your Cantiro steel frame home works, how to care for it, and how to make future changes with confidence.
How do I find studs in my walls?
Steel studs sit behind the drywall. Some wood-only stud finders may not work, but:
Can I hang pictures, shelves, or a TV?
Yes.
If you’re unsure, a professional installer can help.
Do I need special tools?
Basic tools work fine. When drilling, use bits designed for metal.
Your Cantiro steel-frame home is built with a SteelSafe™ structural frame rather than traditional wood–framing. While living in your home feels the same, there are a few important things to keep in mind when planning projects, installations, or future changes.
Fasteners & Hardware
Steel studs require fasteners designed for metal.
If you’re unsure which fastener is appropriate, a qualified installer can help.
Working With Contractors
Most licensed trades are familiar with steel framed industrial construction, but it’s important to let them know in advance.
No special contractor is required – just proper awareness and planning.
Electrical & Plumbing Awareness
Electrical wiring and plumbing are routed through designed openings in the steel framing.
When in doubt, contact Cantiro Homes before proceeding.
Sound & Comfort
Steel-framing does not inherently increase noise in a home.
Structural Changes & Warranty
Because steel-framing plays a key structural role:
This process is intended to protect your home – not restrict your ability to personalize it.
Can I remove or modify walls?
Some walls are structural and cannot be removed, including:
Interior non-structural walls may be modified, but electrical and plumbing must be handled by licensed trades. Contact Cantiro Homes first to confirm which walls are structural.
Can I drill or cut into walls?
Small penetrations are usually fine.
Avoid cutting structural studs or making large openings in exterior walls, as this can affect structural performance, airtightness, and warranty coverage.
Can I add a deck, pergola, railing, large fixtures?
Yes, but – as with any house – exterior structural attachments should be reviewed first to ensure:
Contact Cantiro Homes before starting work to protect your home and warranty.
Does steel affect moisture or humidity?
Steel does not rot or shrink, but moisture control is still important.
Best practices:
When should I contact Cantiro Homes before starting work?
Contact Cantiro Homes before:
We’re here to help protect both your home and your warranty.
Your Cantiro Homes Client Care team is your first call for anything you’re unsure about. We’re happy to help you plan changes the right way – before you start.
It is the nature of granite to vary from slab to slab and no two finished surface will ever be alike, very much like snowflakes. Natural stones have fissures, large and small moles, veins and divots that can appear to be chips and imperfections but this is all part of the stone’s natural appearances.
When cleaning use a soft white cloth combined with a neutral cleaner or stone soap that doesn’t leave streaks or strands behind.
Appropriate cleaners are
Etching effect or dulling of the natural shine of granite can occur when acid-based substance; such as vinegar, alcohol, orange juice, soft drinks, etc. is spilled or used on the granite.
In the event of such a problem arises a polisher must be reapplied to restore the shine, in more severe cases etching can cause permanent damage to the granite.
Virtually maintenance-free, quartz countertops composed of 93% natural quartz and 7% resin, is a hard, non-porous surface that requires no sealing to renew its luster and is simple to clean.
In most cases, soap and water or a mild detergent is enough to keep your quartz countertop looking like new. If necessary, use a non-abrasive soft soap along with a non-scratch or delicate scrub pad. Afterwards, thoroughly rinse with clean water to remove residue.
If needed, apply a non-abrasive household cleaners (a non-abrasive cleaner will not dull the surface shine) and rinse to remove residue.
To remove adhered material such as food, gum, nail polish or even dried paint, first scrape away excess material with a plastic putty knife and then use a damp cloth to remove any marks or residual dirt.
It’s important to be aware that like any other surface, quartz countertops can be permanently damaged if exposed to strong chemicals and solvents that can damage its physical properties.
Never clean your quartz surface with products that contain Trichlorethane or Methylene chloride, such as paint removers or strippers.
Avoid the use of highly aggressive cleaning agents such as oven/grill cleaners and dishwasher polishing agents that have high alkaline/pH levels (pH 8.5 or higher).
Products containing oils or powders may leave a residue and should be rinsed off thoroughly. Should your surface accidentally be exposed to any of these damaging products, rinse immediately with clean water to neutralize the effect.
