I've been building homes for over two decades, which means I've come across hundreds of common issues that many builders don't feel they need or want to address. Radon gas is one such issue and an invisible threat to homeowners across Canada.

For many, home is the place where they feel the safest and most at ease. However, there are many hazards within the average house or apartment that can have dangerous, and even deadly, consequences if left unchecked. Luckily, most of these threats are easy to identify and even easier to avoid with just a little bit of knowhow.

Here are 12 common household hazards and how to eliminate them:

As winter sets in, why not enjoy the cozy warmth of cooking with gas?

Like oxygen, hot water is something you only appreciate when it's absent. So, it's not surprising that a water heater is a vital part of the home. Since each home has its own hot water needs, understanding the various types of heaters and what they offer will help you make the right choice for your family.

Longevity key to housing market during oil price recovery: CREB

It's still too early to tell how Calgary's resale housing market will respond to recent gains in the price of oil, said CREB® chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie.

"We have to see how long – if [oil prices] continue to move up, how much it moves up, when it stops ... That's what we're looking for. So it is still too early," she said.

After significant declines starting in October, oil prices started to see some improvements recently before another slight drop this week. West Texas Intermediate, a U.S. grade of oil used a benchmark for North American oil prices was just over $53 US a barrel this week after dropping to near $40 earlier this year and is off 43.32 per cent compared to the same time last year.