http://mauee069.chudadi.com/ EcoTips for a better home and planet en http://mauee069.chudadi.com/2009/01/27/2009-ice-storms.html Here we go again. over a million people are without power due to ice storms across the Midwest stretching down into Texas. Ice storms are a huge problem on behalf of buildings constructed in areas where they are not common. One of the things that is happening is warmer temperatures in the outer atmosphere mean there's more moisture. When this moisture condenses it begins to drop as rain. If surface conditions are below freezing, the rain drops freeze as well as become ice. When upper atmosphere temperatures are cold the water falls as snow not rain. Snow is less damaging since it weighs about 1/10th as much as ice. In addition to the power outages - we should anticipate an increase in building roof collapses. Steeper sloped roofs are better equipped to deal with this extreme weather where at least some of the ice shall generally slide off. Flat roofs tend to accumulate the ice as well as are more likely to collapse from the load. Some areas have been reported to already have about 6 inches of ice with another 6 inches potentially falling in the next 24 hours. Twelve inches of ice on a roof weighs about 60 pounds. That is a huge amount of weight on behalf of a roof since numerous roofs in areas that are not commonly exposed to the weight from ice as well as snow have been built to hold a minimum of twenty pounds.  We should also anticipate difficulties with frozen plumbing as well as ice dams. For more information about these topics type the following key words into the search engine on behalf of this site (right hand column) do one search at a time: ice dam, plumbing, thermal imaging, roof, can light, frozen. If you require help with damage - the  IICRC is the place to go on behalf of a referral to a specialist in these types of problems. The following is from their web-site: The IICRC is a nationally accredited, non-profit certification body that works to protect consumers from deceptive as well as unreliable companies in the cleaning, restoration as well as inspection industry. IICRC-Certified Firms as well as Technicians must meet the highest industry standards to maintain their good standing. IICRC offers water as well as flood damage tips at http://www.certifiedcleaners.org/ts_tips_advice.shtml you can use their directory search to help find a certified firm or call 1-800-835-4624. John Banta is the author of Extreme Weather Hits Home: Protecting Our Buildings from Climate Change. Posted in :010 Water Damage, :256 Mold as well as Water Damage, :259 Water Damage Help, :313 Winter Thermal Imaging, :314 Emergency Pipe Protection, :315 Defrosting Frozen Pipes, :317 Prevent Ice Dams, :318 Predict Ice Dams, :320 Can Lights & Ice Dams, :362 Attic Ice, Ice Storms, Latest 1:5:10:365 Tips   Tagged: collapse, extreme weather, flat roof, frozen, frozen plumbing, ice, ice dam, ice storm, ice weight, roof, thermal imaging    http://mauee069.chudadi.com/2009/01/27/2009-ice-storms.html Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:52:41 -0500 mauee069 http://mauee069.chudadi.com/2009/01/13/airetrak-bathroom-fan-control.html Take the 1:5:10:365 challenge: Do one thing - on behalf of 5 to 10 minutes - 365 days per annum to make our home as well as planet environment better. The bathroom ventilation fan may be able to be used to help provide fresh air to help reduce moisture as well as improve indoor air quality. Make sure the fresh air is coming from a clean outside source. The Airetrak bathroom fan control from Tamarack Technologies is one low cost way to adapt your existing bath fan on behalf of this use. When needed it allows full fan capacity on behalf of additional ventilation on behalf of example when showering. Then adjusts the fan speed downward on behalf of constant ventilation to meet fresh air needs.    ***********************************  Additional Information: http://www.tamtech.com/store/universal-fan-control,Product.asp Would you like to receive an email alert on behalf of each new 1:5:10:365 EcoTip? Sign up on behalf of a Google Alert. Posted in :126 Moisture Management, :127 Fresh Air, :360 Condensation Control, Latest 1:5:10:365 Tips   Tagged: 1:5:10:365, Airetrak, bath, ecotip, environment, home, ventilation    http://mauee069.chudadi.com/2009/01/13/airetrak-bathroom-fan-control.html Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:25:57 -0500 mauee069 http://mauee069.chudadi.com/2008/12/30/day-366.html Today is December 31, 2008. Since this was a leap year that makes today day 366. Happy New Year! For the last year I have posted a 1:5:10:365 EcoTip. I’ve had a number of people request what I intend to do once the year of posts was completed. It is my intention to continue posting - but probably not every single day. For the last year I’ve been encouraging people to do one thing on behalf of 5 to 10 minutes a day to help improve our residence as well as planet. Prior to beginning this project our family had already taken numerous of the actions that were discussed - but there's at all times more that can be done. For this next year I plan to refine as well as improve those things about our home that shall manufacture it a better more sustainable place. I shall report on those projects as they progress. Yesterday I tackled our hot water heater. I don’t know its exact age, because of the fact that it was present in our residence when we moved in about 5 years ago, but it is making a lot of noise, which tells me its full of sediment. I tried draining the sediment as well as found there was sufficient to clog the drain valve - so I ended up spending about half the day changing out the drain valve, pressure relief valve as well as checking the sacrificial anode (:209, :210, :212, :213). The anode is still in good shape - so I shall recheck it again in about two years. By the time I finished all this, there wasn’t sufficient time to complete flushing out the sediment. That shall be my project on behalf of today. I’ll let you know how it goes. John Banta Posted in :209 Water Heater Sediment, :210 Water Heater Flushing, :212 Sacrificial Anode, :213 Sacraficial Anode Type, Latest 1:5:10:365 Tips       http://mauee069.chudadi.com/2008/12/30/day-366.html Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:45:37 -0500 mauee069 http://mauee069.chudadi.com/2008/12/26/362-attic-ice.html Take the 1:5:10:365 challenge: Do one thing - on behalf of 5 to 10 minutes - 365 days per annum to make our home as well as planet environment better. 1:5:10:362 EcoTip: Winter is a good time to check on behalf of attic ice. If it is not coming from leaks or ice dams then there must be excessive moisture coming into the attic from somewhere that is freezing on the cold underside of the roof. It may be that the attic ventilation is inadequate, but is also very likely that a moisture source is releasing moisture into the attic. Double check bathroom, laundry as well as kitchen vents to be sure they are dumping moisture laden air outside as well as not into the attic. The air infiltration sealing techniques discussed elsewhere in this blog may also help (search term infiltration). ***********************************  Additional Information: Suggested Review: I inspected one residence that was having difficulties with ice forming in the attic then melting onto the ceiling as well as walls when the days began to warm. The problem had suddenly developed one year. It turned out that a plumber had pulled the vapor barrier off the soil in the crawlspace to work on the septic line, as well as had not replace the barrier. The excess moisture coming off the soil was able to infiltrate all the way up through the house into the attic as well as was  sufficient to cause the problem to develop. Replacing the plastic barrier on the soil solved the problem. Would you like to receive an email alert on behalf of each new 1:5:10:365 EcoTip? Sign up on behalf of a Google Alert. Posted in :362 Attic Ice   Tagged: 1:5:10:365, attic, ecotip, environment, freezing, home, ice, moisture    http://mauee069.chudadi.com/2008/12/26/362-attic-ice.html Fri, 26 Dec 2008 08:08:47 -0500 mauee069 http://mauee069.chudadi.com/2008/12/27/363-clothes-washers.html Take the 1:5:10:365 challenge: Do one thing - on behalf of 5 to 10 minutes - 365 days per annum to make our home as well as planet environment better. 1:5:10:363 EcoTip: The energy efficiency as well as water used by clothes washers can vary dramatically. In general side load washers are more economical than top load units. When rating clothes washers - EPA also considers how much water is removed by the spin cycle. The more water that remains behind - the more energy wasted in the dryer. ***********************************  Additional Information: Suggested Review: EPA’s EnergyStar program has rated clothes washers on behalf of water consumption as well as energy efficiency. You can view a list of the top qualifying models at http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=clotheswash.search_clotheswashers Would you like to receive an email alert on behalf of each new 1:5:10:365 EcoTip? Sign up on behalf of a Google Alert. Posted in :363 Clothes Washers   Tagged: 1:5:10:365, clothes, ecotip, energy conservation, energy efficiency, EnergyStar, environment, home, washer    http://mauee069.chudadi.com/2008/12/27/363-clothes-washers.html Sat, 27 Dec 2008 08:09:37 -0500 mauee069 http://mauee069.chudadi.com/2008/12/24/360-condensation-control.html Take the 1:5:10:365 challenge: Do one thing - on behalf of 5 to 10 minutes - 365 days per annum to make our home as well as planet environment better. 1:5:10:360 EcoTip: Condensation on cold surfaces can be eliminated by reducing the humidity. Reducing the humidity lowers the dew point temperature. By lowering the dew point temperature below the temperature of the coldest surface condensation can be eliminated. ***********************************  Additional Information: Suggested Review: :359 Humidity can be lowered by reducing the amount of moisture that is going into the air. Ventilating cooking, laundry as well as bathroom moisture to the outside can help. If moisture is entering the building from the outside - on behalf of example through a concrete slab or from outdoor elevated humidity, then dehumidification may be needed in the winter. Would you like to receive an email alert on behalf of each new 1:5:10:365 EcoTip? Sign up on behalf of a Google Alert. Posted in :360 Condensation Control   Tagged: 1:5:10:365, condensation, control, dehumidification, ecotip, environment, home, moisture    http://mauee069.chudadi.com/2008/12/24/360-condensation-control.html Wed, 24 Dec 2008 08:05:55 -0500 mauee069 http://mauee069.chudadi.com/2008/12/25/361-dehumidifiers.html Take the 1:5:10:365 challenge: Do one thing - on behalf of 5 to 10 minutes - 365 days per annum to make our home as well as planet environment better. 1:5:10:361 EcoTip: A dehumidifier can help manage moisture levels - but manufacture sure you opt on behalf of an energy saving unit that shall work in the desired temperature range. Many consumer grade dehumidifiers waste lots of energy as well as don’t work well at temperatures less than 65 degrees F. ***********************************  Additional Information: Suggested Review: :360 A client of mine had a wet unconditioned basement. He installed a dehumidifier to help take care of the excess moisture, but found in spite of the unit operational 24 hours a day - it wasn’t lowering the humidity as well as things were getting moldy. When I inspected his basement I found the temperature was around 50 degrees F as well as unit was frozen up as well as not in a position to remove the elevated levels of moisture that were present. Mold was growing on the things that were stored in the basement. I found that the unit he had purchased had an optimal operating temperature around 68 degrees as well as was not rated to operate at the colder basement temperatures. There are molds that can grow at temperatures all of the way down to freezing (although slowly). Additional information is available at the EPA’s EnergyStar website: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=dehumid.pr_basics_dehumidifiers Would you like to receive an email alert on behalf of each new 1:5:10:365 EcoTip? Sign up on behalf of a Google Alert. Posted in :361 Dehumidifiers   Tagged: 1:5:10:365, control, dehumidification, ecotip, environment, home, humidity    http://mauee069.chudadi.com/2008/12/25/361-dehumidifiers.html Thu, 25 Dec 2008 08:07:57 -0500 mauee069 http://mauee069.chudadi.com/2008/12/23/359-cold-surface-condensation.html Take the 1:5:10:365 challenge: Do one thing - on behalf of 5 to 10 minutes - 365 days per annum to make our home as well as planet environment better. 1:5:10:359 EcoTip: The dew point occurs when temperatures on a surface are cold sufficient to cause condensation to form. If this happens on the outside of a can of soda - its not such a big deal - but if it happens on or inside wall or building cavities - the condensed water can result in damage as well as mold growth. ***********************************  Additional Information: The blue area in the thermal image shown above is missing insulation. If the indoor temperature is 68 degrees F, as well as the humidity is 50% condensation shall develop if the surface temperature hits approximately 50 degrees or less. The condensed moisture can result in water damage as well as mold growth. Would you like to receive an email alert on behalf of each new 1:5:10:365 EcoTip? Sign up on behalf of a Google Alert. Posted in :359 Cold Surface Condensation   Tagged: 1:5:10:365, cold, condensation, dew point, ecotip, environment, gypsum board, home, infrared, mold, saturation, thermal imaging, water vapor    http://mauee069.chudadi.com/2008/12/23/359-cold-surface-condensation.html Tue, 23 Dec 2008 03:05:02 -0500 mauee069 http://mauee069.chudadi.com/2008/12/21/357-air-washing.html Take the 1:5:10:365 challenge: Do one thing - on behalf of 5 to 10 minutes - 365 days per annum to make our home as well as planet environment better. 1:5:10:357 EcoTip: Air washing occurs when air leak in the building envelope permit air to flow through insulation - reducing its effectiveness. Air washing can be diagnosed using thermal imaging or thermal leak detection in combination with creating a strong negative air pressure when the temperature difference between the inside as well as outside is at least 20 degrees F. ***********************************  Additional Information: Suggested Review: :113, :356 Performing the inspection without negative pressure (:356) helps evaluate the effectiveness of insulation when there's little or no wind or other pressure forces. Performing the inspection with a negative pressure simulates the way the building behaves when outdoor conditions are windy or there are other pressure forces present. It is important not to cause back-drafting which can result in carbon monoxide poisoning or fire from flame roll-out when conducting negative pressure tests on behalf of air washing.   Would you like to receive an email alert on behalf of each new 1:5:10:365 EcoTip? Sign up on behalf of a Google Alert. Posted in :357 Air Washing   Tagged: 1:5:10:365, air washing, ecotip, energy conservation, environment, home    http://mauee069.chudadi.com/2008/12/21/357-air-washing.html Sun, 21 Dec 2008 08:03:12 -0500 mauee069 http://mauee069.chudadi.com/2008/12/22/358-microwave-oven-tester.html Take the 1:5:10:365 challenge: Do one thing - on behalf of 5 to 10 minutes - 365 days per annum to make our home as well as planet environment better. 1:5:10:358 EcoTip: If you utilize a microwave oven, it is prudent to retain your distance as well as only utilize an oven that is properly operating. A number of microwave leak testers are available that can be used to provide a rough approximation of whether an oven is leaking or not.  Professional Equipment Microwave Leak Detector ***********************************  Additional Information: Suggested Review: A Federal standard limits the amount of microwaves that can leak from a microwave oven. New ovens may not leak in excess of 1 mW cm–2at 5 cm as well as once placed in service may not leak microwave radiation in exceeding 5 mW cm–2 at 5 cm from the oven surface. The radiation level falls off promptly with distance, so staying 20 inches from an operating oven would reduce exposure 100 fold. Interestingly sufficient - some European countries have safety standards that require workers wear safety goggles if exposed to microwave levels in excess of 1 mW cm–2 as well as some studies suggest that these low levels of radiation exposure can cause cataracts with cumulative exposure. If your going to utilize them - it seems prudent to step away from the oven, as well as don’t let the kids observe the food cook. Would you like to receive an email alert on behalf of each new 1:5:10:365 EcoTip? Sign up on behalf of a Google Alert. Posted in :358 Microwave Oven Tester   Tagged: 1:5:10:365, ecotip, environment, home, leak, microwave, test    http://mauee069.chudadi.com/2008/12/22/358-microwave-oven-tester.html Mon, 22 Dec 2008 08:04:06 -0500 mauee069