Catching trouble spots key to winterizing houses

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It's that season again when blustery winds and dropping temperatures quickly reveal the chinks in a home's armor against winter. |ret||ret||tab|

Determining how to keep a home warm often starts with locating the spots where cold air is getting in.|ret||ret||tab|

"When you're talking winterizing, you're talking about keeping the weather out," said Mark Sechler, owner of Sech-ler Remodeling, 4726 S. Biloxi Ave. |ret||ret||tab|

Much of the work he does for homeowners is targeting and correcting the trouble spots where air infiltrates a house, he said. But, he added, "It's not just the cold, it's the moisture that does the damage." |ret||ret||tab|

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Condensation|ret||ret||tab|

As warm air escapes a home's interior, it can condense in the space above. Prop-er ventilation is necessary for drying moist areas overhead. Without adequate airflow, Sechler said, "I've seen it freeze in people's roofs." He said he's found attics "sopping wet" where water couldn't dissipate. In these instances, he said, "the bottom of the decking in the rafters will have frost water on them." Keeping outside roof vents open aids in an attic's air circulation, he added. |ret||ret||tab|

The thickness of attic insulation is critical in keeping that space dry and the house warm. Steve Ghan, manager of the renovations division of Bolivar Insula-tion/Steve Ghan Renovations, said he recommends "between 12 and 16 inches" in the attic. Insulation of less than 12 inches, or an R factor of 30, is insufficient to stop heat transfer between a home's interior and its attic, he said.|ret||ret||tab|

Another way to block intrusive cold air from getting in, Ghan said, is by insulating "the outside perimeter of the home underneath" in the crawl space. Adding four feet of batting to "the inside part of your floor joist over against the rim, which faces the exterior," prevents air from entering the house through the box sill and running up the walls, he said, adding that in comparison with batting the whole floor, it's "pennies on the dollar" to do.|ret||ret||tab|

The value of garage insulation is often overlooked in new home construction, according to Ghan. Neglecting this space "is probably one of the worst things you can possibly do." He added that the relatively low cost of adding both insulation and an insulated garage door can usually be recouped in utility savings in a couple of years.|ret||ret||tab|

Overall, windows are still the place of greatest heat loss in a home, Sechler said. Bad windows should be replaced, caulking should be applied and, if possible, air-conditioners should be removed before winter, he said. |ret||ret||tab|

If they're left in place, "wind and air can still get around those sashes." Additionally, all doors should be sealing well and, if not, weather stripping should be used, he said.|ret||ret||tab|

Ghan often utilizes a "contoured foam board" product when winterizing older homes with siding. The contoured shape fits "perfectly" any profile of siding, provides an R factor of 3.5 to 5, and gives stability to the siding, he said. Another product for quick fixes around problem outside window areas is spray polyfoam insulation.|ret||ret||tab|

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Service needs|ret||ret||tab|

In preparing a home for winter, it's essential to service mechanical items like gas furnaces, boilers, and heat pumps, said Randy Long, owner of Long Re-frigeration Inc. Efficiently operating ap-pliances and a well-sealed home reduce utility costs. "If you can do your home with less horsepower, that's saving you money all the way around," he said.|ret||ret||tab|

Wrapping electric water heaters to maintain water temperature "can be a very good idea," Long added. He said setting them on an "insulating material" to prevent heat "transfer down through the floor" is important. Electric water heaters can also be put on a timing device, "where during periods of non-usage the time clock shuts the power off to the unit," he said. |ret||ret||tab|

Heating the area directly beneath a walking surface is another option for homeowners doing battle with the cold. "We are putting electric heat floors under tile" in mud rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms, Sechler said. The product works well because it delivers heat right next to a person's body. "It's warming your feet," he added. [[In-content Ad]]