On the Wire - Hidden Heat Loss Culprits
Air leaks are the largest source of heating and cooling loss in the home. We know air leaks occur through the small cracks around doors, windows, pipes, and we take precautions by sealing, caulking, weather stripping these gaps. But what can you do about the four largest "holes" in your home -- the folding attic stair, the whole house fan, the fireplace and the clothes dryer? Here are some tips and techniques from Battic Door Energy Conservation Products that can easily, quickly and inexpensively seal and insulate these holes:
Attic Stairs: When attic stairs are installed, a large hole is cut into your ceiling. The insulation has to be removed, leaving only a thin, unsealed, sheet of plywood. Your attic space is ventilated directly to the outdoors. In the winter, the attic space can be very cold, and in the summer it can be very hot. And what is separating your conditioned house from your unconditioned attic? That thin sheet of plywood. Try this: at night, turn on the attic light and shut the attic stairway door -- do you see any light coming through? These are gaps add up to a large opening where your heated/cooled air leaks out 24 hours a day. This is like leaving a window open all year round. An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add an attic stair cover. An attic stair cover provides an air seal, reducing the air leaks. Add the desired amount of insulation over the cover to restore the insulation removed from the ceiling.
Whole House Fans: Much like attic stairs, when whole house fans are installed, a large hole is created in your ceiling. The ceiling and insulation that were there have to be removed, leaving only leaky ceiling shutter between the house and the outdoors. An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add a whole house fan cover. Installed from the attic side, the whole house fan cover is invisible. Cover the fan to reduce heating and air-conditioning loss, remove it when the fan is in use of the fan. If attic access is inconvenient, a ceiling shutter cover is another option for reducing heat loss. Made from R-8, textured, thin, white flexible insulation, and installed from the house side over the ceiling shutter with Velcro, a whole house fan shutter cover is easily installed and removed.
Fireplaces: Why does a home with a fireplace have higher heating bills? It is simple - hot air rises. Your heated air leaks out any exit it can find, and when your heated air is drawn out of your home, cold outside air is drawn in to make up for it. The fireplace is like a giant straw sucking the heated air from your house! An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to install a fireplace draft stopper. Available from Battic Door, a company known for their energy conservation products, a fireplace draftstopper is an inflatable pillow that is installed into the fireplace below the damper. As the pillow is inflated, it seals the damper, eliminating any air leaks and heat loss. Other benefits include the reduction of downdrafts, toxins, odors, pollutants, and noise. The pillow is removed whenever the fireplace is used, then reinserted after. Completely reusable and available in two sizes to fit any masonry or zero-clearance fireplace, the draftstopper can pay for itself in less than a month!
Clothes Dryer Exhaust Ducts: In many homes, the room with the clothes dryer is the coldest room in the house. Your clothes dryer is connected to an exhaust duct that is open to the outdoors. In the winter, cold air leaks in through the duct, through your dryer and into your house. Dryer vents use a sheet-metal flapper to try to reduce this air leakage. This is very primitive technology that does not provide a positive seal to stop the air leakage. Compounding the problem is that over time, lint clogs the flapper valve causing it to stay open, or a cold breeze can blow the flapper open, allowing frigid air right to come right into the house. An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add a dryer vent seal. This low-cost, easily installed vent is mounted on the outside of your house, and reduces unwanted air infiltration, and keeps out pests, bees and rodents as well. The vent will remain closed unless the dryer is in use. When the dryer is in use, a floating shuttle rises to allow warm air, lint and moisture to escape.
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Ask Tom & Leslie - Garage Like a Showroom
From C.R. Wines: “I recently applied BEHR Premium 2-Part Epoxy Garage Floor Coating in my garage which looks terrific, but I would prefer a glossier finish. Can I apply Behr Wet Look Sealer as a top coat or will this damage the integrity of the epoxy coating? Do you have any suggestions?”
Good question. Increasingly, we have seen this technique used to improve the look and durability of garage floors. The 2-Part epoxy systems are good and durable, but the sheen does not have the same punch as the wet look offers.
To get the straight answer, we turned to the expert paint makers at BEHR who say: yes. BEHR (#985) Wet-Look Sealer can be applied over BEHR (#950) Premium 2-Part Epoxy Garage Floor Coating as long as the existing coating was applied to a properly prepared surface and the coating is in sound condition. To do this you’ll need to clean the entire surface with BEHR (#990) Concrete Cleaner & Degreaser and rinse thoroughly. The surface must be completely dry before applying the Wet-Look Sealer and you’ll nee to plan to park your car on corrugated cardboard for 14 days after applying the Wet-Look Sealer to make sure it has plenty of time to dry. Good luck!
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Got A Question About Your Money Pit?
You can do-it-yourself but you don't have to do-it-alone. Getting in touch with us is as easy as 1 - 2 or 3!
- The toll-free studio hot line is 1-888-MONEY PIT. Find out when we broadcast in your area by checking out our website at www.moneypit.com. Each week we take dozens of calls, give great advice and offer callers a chance to win a terrific prize awarded to one random caller to every show.
- Call when it's convenient for you, 24 hours a day, same number: 1-888-MONEY PIT. A live person takes your call 24/7! So -- WHENEVER you have a home improvement question -- phone it in. Simply tell our phone screener your first name, and where you're calling from...and ask your question. We’ll get back to you with the answer – or even call you back during the show!
- Click here to email your question to us. We may read your email on the air and we also respond personally to many of the email questions we get.
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On the Air - Repair or Replace?
What should you do if your appliance’s warranty has just expired and it needs a repair? It’s a tough call. But we have the lowdown on when to call a repairman, and when to splurge on a new appliance. We’ll tell you on the air, on the next Money Pit radio show. To find out where to tune us in at YOUR house, or to download our Podcast, visit www.moneypit.com.
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Dot Common Sense - Playing Santa
Play Santa to your favorite DIYer by shopping The Money Pit. You can purchase home improvement themed gifts including apparel, décor items, accessories and even toys. Surprise someone on your honey-do list with an “I Love My Money Pit” shirt or a coffee mug that says, “I came, I sawed, I conquered”. Are you “All Truss, No Fuss”? Or do you “Love Power Tools”? Shop for yourself, shop for a loved one… if it has to do with your Money Pit, you will find it in our extensive selection of humor gear and logo gifts online at www.moneypit.com.
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Fun Fact - Is the Buck Stuck?
If you’re feeling a chill in your kitchen, it might be your FRIDGE! It’s essential that your refrigerator door seal is tight. Over time, rubber seals can get dry and brittle. Magnet type seals can lose effectiveness. But there is a way to test if YOUR seals are still working. You can do it yourself with a spare dollar bill. Just close the door over the bill. If the bill pulls out easily, you may need to adjust the latch or replace the seal.
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Short Cuts - Natural Cleaning Alternatives
When your house calls for cleaning but your cleanser cabinet is bare, there’s no need to run out for more store-bought cleaning products. A search through your kitchen cupboards will turn up plenty of products to keep your house clean without damaging the environment. Banana peels are perfect for polishing shoes; salt can make mildew disappear and vinegar does everything from making windows shine to clearing tough drains to softening old paint. Here are few of our favorite natural alternatives to household cleaners:
- Copper Polish – Don’t reach for tarnish remover to polish up your copper-bottomed pans. Cut a fresh lemon in half and sprinkle salt on it. Using the lemon, rub the salt into the copper and you’ll be amazed how fast the tarnish melts away.
- Glass Cleaner - Fill a spray bottle with 1 quart water and add 1 tablespoon white vinegar. For larger jobs, like floor and tiles, add 1/4 cup white vinegar to 1-gallon hot water.
- Sink & Toilet Cleaner - Mix a paste of either baking soda or borax with water and add a squeeze of lemon juice. Borax or baking sodas are also good alone to replace abrasive cleaners. For toilets, drop either a few vitamin C capsules or denture cleaning tablets in the bowl and let sit overnight.
- Disinfectants - Mix 1/2-cup borax in 1 gallon of hot water for counters, floors, cabinets and tiles.
- Drains - Pour 1/4-cup baking soda down the drain, and then follow with 1/2 cup of vinegar. Cover. When fizzing slows, flush with hot water.
- Ovens - Use paste of baking soda and water. Scrub stains with steel wool.
- Microwave - Mix teaspoon of vinegar and lemon in cup of water and microwave for 2 minutes.
- Furniture Polish - Add 1/2 cup lemon juice to 1 cup of vegetable or olive oil.
- Mildew -- Use equal parts white vinegar and salt. Or use strong Thyme tea.
- Brass - Mix equal parts flour and salt into a small amount of vinegar.
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Copyright 2007 Squeaky Door Productions, Inc.
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