Pre Move-In
Features & Finishes
Electrical & Communications
Electrical and Telecommunications
It’s important to understand the many features and finishes in your home, their purpose and how best to care for them.
Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detectors
A minimum of one electric smoke detector has been installed on each floor of your home, including the basement, as well as one in each bedroom as required. Your home will either include combination smoke and carbon monoxide combination units or have a separate carbon monoxide detector. All your smoke detectors are directly wired to your electrical system so that they always have power, and include an integrated power back-up in the event of a power outage. The smoke detectors in your home are connected so when one of them trips, all of them will sound.
Critical Homeowner Maintenance
It is important to properly maintenance your home’s smoke and carbon monoxide detectors so that in the case of a fire or a CO leak, your household is warned. Detectors should be cleaned at least once every month using the soft brush or wand attachment of a vacuum cleaner or a damp cloth to remove dust build up from the vent. It is highly recommended that you clean and test each smoke detector once a month to ensure they are working properly.
Chirping or False Alarms
Your smoke detector is designed to start “chirping” or giving off short beeps if any facet of the system or sensor is disrupted. Evolving technology has made these units very sensitive, therefore any anomaly whatsoever will lead to either the ‘chirping’ or a false alarm, which will trip all your home’s detectors. If this occurs, it usually means the unit needs to be cleaned, the power backup is wearing out, and/or the sensor has been damaged or come to the end of its life. This could occur at any time in the smoke detector’s life depending on how long the unit was on the shelf after shipping, the unit’s exposure to light, if the unit was shaken or hit, how often there have been power outages, etc.
If you experience a false alarm, you can reset each unit or if the problem persists, choose to temporarily disconnect the malfunctioning smoke detector and contact the manufacturer to see if you are eligible for a replacement. To remove, twist the detector to remove it from its base, and disconnect the wire. You can test each unit to determine which one is malfunctioning. Please see our video on how to reset, test and disconnect your smoke/carbon monoxide detector.
Outlets
Switched outlets
A wall switch controls one-half of a duplex electrical outlet in some areas of your home. Power will only be directed to that portion of the electrical outlet when the corresponding light switch is in the ‘ON’ position.
We recommend that the switched outlets be utilized for light fixtures only.
GFCI protected outlets (safety feature)
A Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) is a safety feature on electrical outlets located near a sink or water source that prevents the risk of electrical shock. All GFCI receptacles can be tested and reset through an associated Test/Reset button on the outlet.
Electrial Breakers
Main electrical breaker panel
The breaker panel in your home contains circuit breakers and a legend to indicate the area or device it controls. When an electrical circuit becomes overloaded, the breaker opens (‘breaks’ or is ‘tripped’), and the circuit and the corresponding area or device automatically switches off.
A circuit breaker, once tripped, must be reset to resume normal operation. Should an electrical outlet, fixture, or appliance in your home not work; check the breaker panel first to see if a circuit breaker has tripped. Circuit breakers have three positions: ‘ON’, ‘TRIPPED’ and ‘OFF’. The location of your panel will be pointed out to you during your PDO.
Resetting a tripped breaker
To reset a circuit breaker, first switch it to the ‘OFF’ position before you switch it back to ‘ON’. Switching the breaker directly from ‘TRIPPED’ to ‘ON’ will not restore service.
If resetting a breaker does not restore service, please contact the Minto Warranty Team for guidance. If there is no power to any lights, outlets or appliances, it is usually due to a power outage.
Communications outlets
Your home has multiple outlets throughout for telephone, television, and internet access.
- Telephone outlets have a white, square port for standard home telephones
- Cable TV outlets have a circular threaded port suitable for coaxial cabling
- Data outlets for wired internet access have a yellow, square port suitable for CAT-5 cabling
Capped ceiling outlets
If you have added capped ceiling outlets to your home, they will be identified as large, white plastic disks, located in the ceiling. The disk covers the wiring rough-in and anchor for your own ceiling or pendant light fixtures.
Minto Smarter Home automation technology
Qualified new homeowners will be able to control the performance and comfort of their home with the included Starter Package, powered by Enercare Smarter Home™. Through a single app, your Minto Smarter Home:
- Connects you to your thermostat
- Monitors and measures performance of your ventilation, heating and air conditioning (HVAC)
- Provides you with alerts in case of water leaks.
Hire a professional
As construction professionals, Minto encourages you to hire a licensed, professional Electrician should you choose to replace existing light fixtures or install additional lighting in your home.
Incorrect installation of electrical fixtures or modification of the electrical supply in any way will result in the loss of warranty coverage for any of your home’s electrical issues.
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