Frost inside an attic is a sign that something is terribly wrong. Water vapor is condensing on the cold roof surfaces and then freezing. The source of the water must be found and stopped. Wood rot and mold are a reality if the frost continues to form.
Home inspectors can make mistakes, but defects in a house can happen long after the inspector has gone. You should be there the day the inspection happens and take your own photos so that you have a visual record of the condition of the home.
Electronic programmable thermostats have a switch setting called auxiliary. This setting switches the heat pump into emergency heat or electric-resistance-coil heating. This is an expensive way to heat your home and should only be done when the heat pump breaks. If this happens, call a service technician.
Setting the temperature ranges on a programmable thermostat is critical. The lower you set the setback temperature the more money you save. You save lots of money if the length of time is long before the furnace or heat pump starts to raise the temperature.
Energy saving can only be achieved instantly if you immediately cut back on fuel use. If you spend money on improvements to gain future savings, you must earn back the money spent in energy savings before you save real money.
Both old and new homes should incorporate cat5 cable. This new house wiring standard is low voltage cable that provides options for networking appliances, telephone lines and computers all in one. Cat5 provides for future additions of these electronic devices-- and others we may not even have heard about yet!
If you are remodeling and have major roof and attic modification underway, now is a smart time to upgrade and add some other projects. Consider additional insulation, wiring, ventilation and wire conduits for starters. Adding one of the great central vacuum systems will also make your home more efficient and pleasant.
Ask your builder about special roof trusses that will gain storage space for your home. You can mix standard trusses with scissors, attic, or storage trusses, and avoid losing valuable space that is paid for but unusable. Call in a pro engineer before converting a traditional roof to a vaulted version.
Skylights bring light, stars and the outdoors in to other parts of your room. Constructing a skylight with a flared, rather than straight, shaft will gain much more light with a simple expansion. Consult a professional structural engineer before tearing into your trusses, however!
Your walls can fool you. Posing as an innocent non-load bearing wall, an interior wall may, in fact, be a prime load bearing wall. Check this photo.
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