Wishing you all a very happy new year!! To make the year 2008 a safe and comfortable year for you, here are some common problems that most homeownwers encounter during the cold winter months. These problems are indicators of what is wrong and hence provide clues to what needs to be done. Read on to find what you can do this year for a more comfortable home.
Problem #1 - Moisture and condensation on windows
Reasons of occurrence - Inadequate ventilation is one of the major reasons. When the moist air inside comes in contact with the cold glass, it condenses. Also, having single-pane windows with metal frames can also cause this problem.
What you can do - If you have a humidifier installed in the house, please ensure that the humidity level is not very high. (Ideal levels are between 30 and 55) Moisture is generated in bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms. Make sure they are ventilated properly. If you have exhaust fans in bathrooms, it is a good idea to use them after a hot shower. If you have single pane windows, the solution becomes more expensive. Most likely you will need new double pane windows. For this information, it is best to visit a local home store for finding the right window type for your area.
Problem #2 - Ice dams form on the edges of your gutters or roofs
Reasons of occurence - The main reason for this happening is a badly ventilated attic. As warm air rises inside your house, it reaches the attic level. When the attic is not ventilated, the warm air has no place to escape and heats up the roof. As a result the snow begins to melt. But since the air temperature is low, it freezes again to form ice dams on the edges of the roofs.
What you can do - Sealing the attic is one option. This will prevent the warm air from leaking into the attic. The other option is to ventilate the attic so that a warm air reservoir is not created in the attic space. You might be able to do some of this work yourself (if you are good at work around the house), but it is recommended to get a professional to take care of this.
Problem #3 - Your floors seem cold
Reasons of occurrence - Many people just place a cloth rag under a door to stop the leakage of cold air that makes the floor cold. Another reason could be insufficient insulation as well.
What you can do - Certainly the rag under the door is a solution, but it doesnot please everyone esthetically. Correctly the door alignment can help is reduced levels of air penetration. Sealing air gaps and cracks will help. Checking the correct insulation levels will also help. A professional can be called in to check and rectify these issues.
Problem #4 - Frozen Pipes
Reasons of occurence - Water in pies can freeze due to a temperature difference betwen the water and the air surrounding the pipe.
What you can do - Once a pipe is frozen, the only thing to do is to to thaw it carefully. You can use an electric iron, hair dryer, heat lamp, heating cable or boiling water to do this. Always start from the faucet to where the freeze has occured. Do not use a torch to thaw a pipe. You should try to thaw the pipe as sson as it is found, to avoid it from bursting. As a precaution for next year, the water supply in the pipes which are exposed to the outside cold air should be shut off if possible. If not possible, continuously monitor the pipes through the cold season for any signs of freezing.
Problem #5 - Carbon Monoxide (CO) Build-up in the house
Reasons of occurence - In winter everyone tends to be confined in the house with very little ventilation. So sometimes due to your furnace malfunctioning, the CO levels in the house can become very high. CO is an odorless and colorless gas. Some common symptoms of high levels of CO are:
- Frequent headaches
- The gas flame in your furnace or heater is yellow instead of the normal blue color
- For oil furnaces or heaters, black chimney smoke, soot accumulation, popping, banging, rumbling, or delayed ignition are some common symptoms
- In wood burners, a smoking fire and improper drafting, even when the flue has warmed up can result
What you can do - You can perform the Combustion air check to test for the CO levels in your house at various points like around the furnace, wood stove etc. You can also get a combustion air supply installed by a professional. As a preventive tool, install a CO detector which will sound an alarm if the levels go above the minimum required. This detector should have a UL rating.
Hope these tips will help you have a safe winter this year, as well as comfortable and warm for your whole family.
No comments:
Post a Comment