When the stack effect occurs inside your home or when you do normal chores like washing and cooking, moisture is carried into the attic. Air that is thick with moisture spells trouble for any home especially during winter because it will result to condensation and that will coat everything that you place inside your attic. Without you knowing, you will be breeding molds in those damp places and exposing your home to damage like warping wood or rusting metals that are caused by the excess moisture left untouched for a long time.

A simple inspection on your soffit vents is the first step to ensure that you have enough attic ventilation to counteract the moisture problem. These vents could sometimes get clogged up over time so brushing away the blockages should do the trick. If you have no ventilation at all, you can have your roof assessed as to the number and type of vents that you need. This is important because often, the flow of air will just cancel out or will create another issue. With the many types of vents available, you will also need assistance as to which of them is strong enough to suck the air out of your attic.

Source:  Ezinearticles.com

If you have breezes that go through the windows of your home, you can take advantage of the chimney effect to help you with the air conditioning costs. With the long summer days just around the corner, you can act now and convert your home into a cool sanctuary without breaking the bank. In addition to having an opening at the lower floors—whether through the windows or a screened door—you need to have a vent installed on your roof. This way, there will be continuous movement of the air all the way to the top.

Since the denser cool air stays down and the warm air collects near the ceiling, some form of attic ventilation must be in place. Attic fans that are solar-powered can circulate the air in the space without having to spend on electricity. Abundant in the summer, solar energy is especially useful on devices such as the fans because their motor does not require that much power. Aside from not having to worry about their installation and wiring, these solar panel-relying fans will not burden your electrical bill with additional charges. Once you set them up, you can rest easy that, as long as the sun is shining, they will be functioning as needed.

Source: Solar4myhome.com

When your energy bills have started to strain your pocket and you are contemplating on putting on foam insulation, you first need to check whether or not you have attic ventilation. Foam insulation will help seal off all those cracks that invite moisture into your home and make your heating and cooling devices work harder. While this type of insulation is indeed a homeowner’s ally, you have determine first where to apply it to protect your home best.

Starting with the way your home is constructed, you can determine if your attic relies on the stack effect to get the air moving by the vents installed there. When you have this feature, the foam insulation can be sprayed on your attic floor so you can keep the cool temperature within the rooms beneath it and prevent the air conditioning unit in your home from overworking itself in the brutal summer months. If your attic is not ventilated, then you must spray the foam insulation right on the attic’s ceiling. The goal is to entirely close off the attic so your home will not anymore be at the mercy of extreme weather changes.

Source: Foamatticinsulation.com

Prevent Basement Flooding Caused by Spring Thaws

The winter of 2010-2011 brought record snow falls and colder than normal temperatures to much of the United States, but thankfully relief from springtime is just around the corner.  Homeowners looking forward to winter’s end and green lawns should also prepare for the unfortunate side effect of melting snow and ice – basement flooding.  Heavy rainfall and rapidly melting snow during a spring thaw are primary causes of wet basements, however, there are steps you can take now to reduce damage.

Clear snow away from the house – Melting snow piled up around the perimeter of your house will run down basement walls, so get out your shovel and move it back 3-5 feet.

Clean out gutters and downspouts – Remove snow, ice and debris from your roof and gutters so water can move freely away from the foundation of your home.  Properly designed gutters and downspouts should move water at least three feet away from the house to a well-drained area.  For tips on how to clear your gutters, see http://www.ehow.com/how_6401643_remove-ice-dams-gutters.html.

Check your sump pump – Basements prone to flooding should be equipped with a sump pump to draw water out of the basement and away from the house.  If your home has a sump pump, make sure the intake valve is not blocked and the sump pit is clean.  Test it by pouring water into the pit and checking that the outflow discharges away from the house.  Consider installing a sump pump if your home has a history of flooding.

Get peace of mind with a water alarm – A water alarm and flood sensor will alert you of water in the basement before extensive damage is done.  There are a range of affordable water alarm systems available that will alert you via an audible siren and/or a phone call to one or more pre-programmed telephone numbers.

Move valuables to higher ground – Basements are a great place to store seldom used items, but recognize that everything stored down there is at risk.  Moisture, mold and water damage are constant threats.   Anything stored in a basement should be moved off the ground and onto a shelf unless it is waterproof, and important papers and valuable property should be relocated to an upstairs room, closet or attic.

These simple steps can help prevent thousands of dollars of water damage caused by basement flooding.  So protect your house and belongings and go through this checklist before the spring thaw (and deluge of water) arrives!

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If you own your home you need a homeowners insurance. You can purchase it in the traditional way at an insurance or finance company or you can do like more and more people are doing; purchase it online. In today’s hi-tech era heralded by the information super highway explosion, it is but natural that more and more facilities become available to one and all, all at the simple click of a button.

Requests for an insurance cover are no different, and one of the latest to join this bandwagon is the facility of obtaining an online homeowners insurance quote. It is needless to reiterate the importance of homeowners insurance in order to secure your life’s savings and ensure you are not forced to do without a roof above your heads in the event of a mishap. Get a free online homeowners insurance quote today with just a quick check on the Internet.

Owing to our busy schedules, many of us are not able to set aside time to visit an insurance company and negotiate a fair deal. In such a scenario, what could be better than the convenience of being able to get the best possible online homeowners insurance quote? And pretty much every online homeowners insurance quote that you will come across is free! This is what is currently being offered by many insurance companies across the world. This is especially popular and important when it comes to TN homeowners insurance.

Based on localities that are susceptible to a particular type of damage, different insurance companies offer policies that cater especially to property owners there. Tennessee is one such area where the risk of flooding or creation of ice-dams during heavy snowfall. In such cases it is necessary to look beyond the common TN homeowners insurance providers, since the policies they deal with do not cover natural calamities. In such cases, homeowners often resort to purchasing cover against these unfortunate eventualities through the federal government.

As with any other purchase, it is advisable to consider options that different TN homeowners insurance providers are able to offer, before going in for the one that you would choose eventually. It also would be a good idea to opt for insurance companies that have been known to respond quickly and effectively, because this is what can matter the most when you have already suffered losses at the hands of fate.

An online homeowners insurance quote is a fantastic way for you to get the insurance that you need the first time.

Winter months take a toll on your roof. If your roof is not in shipshape condition, it can put you to a lot of time waste and expense on account of significant damage that needs to be urgently remedied. It is therefore, advisable that you take steps necessary to ‘tone up’ your roof condition while the weather is good for making roof repairs before the arrival of winter. It is rightly said, ‘A stitch in time saves nine’.

A leaking roof is one of the biggest problems. The most common sources of leaks can be cracks and damage to the flashing around vents and chimneys. Other potential reasons can be missing and worn out shingles or condensation as a result of inadequate ventilation in the attic.

A pointer that your roof system needs a leak repair is the presence of ceiling spots. Visual inspection from a vantagepoint allowing you to externally check your roof can reveal missing or cracked damaged shingles. These should be replaced at once to avoid structural damage to the roof deck and the home interior. If a crack in the flashing is diagnosed, the flashing needs to be replaced or can be repaired if the damage is small.

If shingles appear curled or buckled, the problem is probably on account of aged shingles or damage to the felt underlayment under the shingles. Underlayment is a weather protection layer in the roof and its damage can lead to accumulation of moisture; the ultimate enemy of all roofing systems. Underlayment is now available in self-adhering rolls that are applied directly on the roof deck or can be laid as a layer on top of the existing underlayment. Damaged shingles should be replaced and underlayment though costly must be replaced, must be changed, if required. If shingles appear blistered, it is usually because they were applied on a wet deck or due to inadequate roofing ventilation. Proper roof ventilation allows natural flow of hot air upward out of the attic and keeps the attic cool and dry.

In winter, the prime cause for concern is the moisture build up in the attic. Despite the vapor barrier in the floor of the attic, unwanted moisture seeps into the attic with the air leaking through ceiling light fixtures, access panels, fold down attic stairways, bathroom exhaust fans etc. The cold outside of the roof makes moisture condense on the framing members and inside the roof deck and supports growth of mold, mildew and rot. This seriously affects roof deck strength and longevity. Inadequate attic ventilation can also make ice dams form on the shingles. Water accumulation behind icedams can seep into the attic/house through the shingles. It is therefore absolutely essential to ensure proper attic ventilation.

If there is inadequate attic ventilation, you may get a ridge vent (if your roofing system does not have one) installed to improve ventilation. Alternatively, a gable vent in the sidewall of the attic can be installed depending on the construction of your roofing system.

Another solution is to have a powered ventilator installed. Improved ventilation will prevent moisture condensation that can severely damage the roof.

If you face roofing problems it is best to secure the services of a qualified roofing contractor for fixing things up. Roofing work is expensive but it will be worth the expenditure in the long run, and to make sure your roof survive the winter.