Each season, especially here in the Midwest, brings an opportunity for me to write about some basic home maintenance. Not necessarily how to do them, but what to look for. First off, let me say that at anytime during the year if you see something that doesn't look quite right then it probably isn't. I have twenty years of experience in the construction industry and I still remember what my first boss told me the first time I went to the field to look at homes under construction: "if it looks like it isn't right, then it probably isn't". These words have stuck with me since then and I still keep them in my head every time I go to look at something.
The first thing you need to do is walk through your home as if you were a person who may be interested in purchasing it. Let's start in the basement. Is there a change in what you smell as you walk down the basement stairs? If so, then most likely you have some type of moisture in your basement. Your basement should not smell any different than the rest of your home. Let your nose lead you to the source of the smell. If you have insulation on your walls (and your basement isn't finished), lift up the insulation to see if it's wet, damp, moist or has "black stuff" growing on it. If so, then you have moisture on your walls. If it's wet you have a problem and need an expert to come in and help you with your water problem. If it's any of the others, put a dehumidifier in the area (one that can run constantly with a hose to a sump/drain). Also look up to see if there is any water on the underside of the floor above. Do this near the bathrooms, kitchen and even near where the hose bibbs are to the outside. Lastly, change the furnace filter and the humidifier pad (if you have a humidifier). Don't forget to turn the humidifier on as soon as the temperature consistently is in the 50-degree range and lower.
Next up is to walk around the first floor. Check to make sure all of the windows are closed properly and that there is no air leaking through. On double-hung windows, it's easy for the top sash to creep down some so make sure that they're all locking properly and that will give you the best seal. If you have casement windows then make sure all locking mechanisms are engaged properly. On very tall windows it's common for one mechanism to catch but the other not to catch (the top one is usually the tricky one). Look at the floor around the kitchen sink, dishwasher, toilets and vanities for any sign of water. If you see water, you need to take care of it right away. Look up at the ceilings and make sure you don't see any odd spots. Yellow on the ceiling usually means there's water coming from a source upstairs. If you have a vaulted ceiling or live in a one-story, that same yellow is from water but it is from the roof. Have it checked by a professional.
Lastly is the upstairs. Do the same window check, do the same water on the floor check and do the same ceiling check. If you have an attic furnace then you need to replace that air filter as well. Same with a humidifier pad if you have a humidifier in your attic system. While you're in the attic, look around (don't go climbing from truss to truss because you don't want to slip and go through the ceiling below). Do you see any light coming through your roof? Do you see any water spots on the underside of your roof sheathing? Any animals/rodents/bees nests up there? On all of those, get a professional in to take care of them now. And on your way down from the attic, make sure the attic access closes securely. No need to let the nice warm air that you paid for get up in the attic and then outside.
Speaking of the outside; this is where you need to let your eyes do the work. There are some obvious things to do; make sure your irrigation system has been shut down properly, disconnect ALL hoses from the hose bibbs so the ice doesn't backflow into the pipes, look for any loose or "lifted" shingles on the roof, look for any wood trim that needs some paint or replaced due to rot, look around the foundation to make sure the yard slopes away from the home, change any burnt out light bulbs in any of your exterior lighting. Just simple things.
Lastly, I want to reiterate the furnace filter changing. If you do this on a quarterly basis, your furnace should last you for years. If not, then you run the risk of dirt/dust buildup and that has to go somewhere so it ends up in the motor or the heat exchanger. Both bad places. Probably 50% of service calls on furnaces within the first 5 years can be avoided if you replace your filters on a regular basis. Have pets? Replace them monthly. It's an investment, not an expense.
If you have any specific questions, feel free to email me directly at jkahn@bdpsolutions.com.
How To Reduce Your Energy Bills / Energy Conservation Begins at Home
ReplyDeleteImagine leaving a window open all winter long -- the heat loss, cold drafts and wasted energy! If your home has a folding attic stair, a whole house fan or AC Return, a fireplace or a clothes dryer, that may be just what is occurring in your home every day.
These often overlooked sources of energy loss and air leakage can cause heat and AC to pour out and the outside air to rush in -- costing you higher energy bills.
But what can you do about the four largest “holes” in your home -- the folding attic stair, the whole house fan or AC return, the fireplace, and the clothes dryer?
To learn more visit www.batticdoor.com
Mark D. Tyrol is a Professional Engineer specializing in cause and origin of construction defects. He developed several residential energy conservation products including an attic stair cover and an attic access door. Battic Door is the US distributor of the fireplace plug.