Water in Heating Ducts

Water in heating ducts is more common than you might imagine. Some houses built on top of concrete slabs have the heating and air conditioning ducts buried in the ground under the concrete. Water can enter these heating ducts when it rains heavily as the water table starts to rise and pushes water up into the soil under the slab and then into the ducts. It is easy to remove the water and to permanently stop the water from entering the ducts. You have to divert the ground water away from the house with a special outdoor trench drain.

Foundation Footer

The foundation footer is the bottom building block on which your house rests. The purpose of the foundation foot is to spread the weight of the house across a wider contact area. The home foundation supports the full weight of the building and all the contents. Reinforcing steel is a must in concrete footings to help increase its strength.

R Value Meaning and Map

Using R value guidelines to upgrade your insulation is likely a smart move. R values, established by the U.S. Dept. of Energy for walls, ceilings, floors, and other areas of your home, are really minimum requirements. Check insulation R values recommended for your area on the map and table here. Increased insulation R value in your ceilings and wall insulation will bank extra energy dollars saved in no time!