Publication Date: Friday, January 06, 2006
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
(January 06, 2006) It's time to winterize your home
by Sue Dremann
Frost on the roof? Consider it a welcome sign.
"Frost means your home has excellent insulation," said Palo Alto Hardware General Manager Maureen Montez, and that is a key step in winterizing your home.
"Winterizing" means more than turning up the thermostat; taking proper care of your home before the big chill hits saves on utility bills, protects against property damage, and can even save lives, local experts say. While you're shivering as the house heats up, consider a few things that can save big money and protect your home from winter damage:
@12subhead:Insulation
"The biggest energy saver is a well-insulated home," Palo Alto Utilities account representative Vic Farisato said. "Insulate ceilings up to R30, walls and under baseboards up to R19." Areas where plumbing and wiring enter a home are notorious for air leaks.
"One of the cheaper things to do is to check for air leaks around doors and window frames," he added.
** Use expandable foam insulation and caulk around cracks.
** Look for areas where light shows through.
** Caulk window frames and door trim.
Clear shrink-wrap film, available at hardware stores, reduces drafts and insulates windows by creating a buffer of warmer air between the home and the outside, Montez said.
Mold, often the culprit in wintertime allergies, also damages walls.
** Use a wall moisture tester, to identify hidden wall moisture problems.
** Reduce moisture to less than 30 percent with "Dessicare" or other humidity-reducing packs, found at hardware stores.
@12subhead:Gutters and downspouts
** "Clean out leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts. Run water down by sticking a hose in downspouts to clean out debris that could be jammed at the L, and uncover leaks and cracks," Montez said.
** Direct water from downspouts away from the foundation of the house.
@12subhead:Plumbing
Water heaters account for 17 percent of the energy used by an average household, according to a city utilities department brochure. You can save energy by lowering the water heater temperature setting to 120 degrees and dishwasher setting to 140 degrees.
** Install a water-heater insulation blanket.
** Insulate exposed water lines with 3/4-inch thick insulation to keep cold water pipes from bursting in freezing weather and improve water temperature.
"You can also save up to 50 percent on hot water costs by putting in water-saving shower heads and faucet aerators," Farisato said.
@12subhead:Heating and furnaces
Just like any car, give the furnace an annual tune-up. Palo Alto Utilities recommends cleaning and adjusting the pilot for proper ignition. This helps save fuel and prevent potential hazards.
** Check the blower, fan controls and thermostat.
** Replace air filters.
** Lubricate all moving parts to maximize efficiency and save on energy costs.
Buying an energy-efficient Energy Star programmable thermostat not only trims heating costs 5 to 15 percent, but the City Utilities department offers up to a $50 rebate. Forms are available through www.cpau.com or call (650) 329-2241. The department also offers $150 Energy Star rebates for clothes washers and $125 for refrigerators and $75 for dishwashers.
Safety hazards involve more than carbon monoxide. To prevent leaks of toxic fumes:
** Check for flue obstructions and gas line leaks from the shut-off valves.
** Have the heat exchanger chemically inspected for cracks that cause dangerous carbon monoxide leaks, according to the City of Palo Alto Utilities Department, which offers a 15-point checklist for furnace care at www.cpau.com/docs/factsheets/energy/furnace.html.
@12subhead:Fire prevention
** Tighten the furnace's electrical connections to prevent wire overheating and fire, and check the thermocouple -- improper ignition can cause an explosion.
** Have chimneys cleaned and inspected for cracks to prevent fires.
Portable heaters of all kinds are a fire hazard:
** Never use a kerosene heater, City Fire Marshall Dan Firth said.
** Always use a screen on the fireplace;
** Have a plan to change smoke-detector batteries twice a year;
** Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and garage, he added.
The holidays often mean adding extension cords to accommodate traditional lighting and electronic equipment. "Only use one extension cord. Don't create the electrical cord octopus," Barbara Cimino, Palo Alto Fire Department Office of Emergency Services coordinator, said. Added Firth: "Be sensitive about the electrical load. Three circuits are the max per receptacle."
** Install surge protectors for all electronic equipment.
@12subhead:Chimney and fireplace
"Chimney health" is crucial to preventing home fires. Creosote, a highly combustible by-product of burning wood and paper logs, accumulates in chimneys and flues, Cimino said.
** Don't burn trash, cardboard or Christmas trees in the fireplace -- they burn fast, and can quickly get out of control.
** Look for chips and cracks in bricks, or corrosion and loose sections in metal flues.
Natural gas fireplaces, stoves and inserts reduce air pollution and save as much as 80 percent in energy loss, according to the City of Palo Alto Utilities. They reduce particulate matter, which increases 40 percent in winter from wood smoke.
** Stick to woods and fuel sources recommended by the manufacturer for your chimney or fireplace insert.
Rebates of $100 to $300 for installing a natural gas fireplace are available through the Santa Clara County Wood Smoke Rebate Program. (Go to www.sparetheair.org/changeout.htm or call (800) HELP-AIR.)
@12subhead:Roofing
Trying to fix leaks in the middle of a rainstorm is dangerous. Serious accidents occur when the roof is slippery.
** Check and patch the roof for leaks, cracks or holes before it rains.
"Clean off the roof," John Font, owner of John A. Font/Palo Alto Roofing said. Cedar and wood shake roofs are particularly susceptible to damage when decomposing leaves mulch, he said.
Low-sloped, flat roofs such as Eichlers are easily flooded.
** Keep downspouts clear.
Font makes different gutter screens less prone to clogging and installs larger drain spouts for flat roofs.
** Trim back overhanging limbs that can damage the roof in winter storms, said Lindsey Casto, owner of Casto Roofing in Mountain View.
** Inspect for areas where squirrels and rats may have entered the attic, but don't close off attic vents -- they keep air flowing, which is critical to preventing mold and moisture build-up, he said.
@12subhead:Siding
** "On unpainted wood shingle, use Cabot clear natural product. Put a coat of finish on anything bare. If it's an area to be painted, put a coat of primer on it. Make sure you have good drying time between storms. ... Moisture trapped under paint or finish caused bubbles and paint failure," Jason Silvas, manager of California Paint said.
** For cracks, use caulking; on stucco, use "Elastomeric," a rubberized paint that flexes with house shifting, he said. On split wood, use a two-part "Bondo" product.
@12subhead:Trees
Fallen limbs can do a lot of damage to homes and autos.
** Trim back overhanging branches, and have dead limbs removed.
** Look at a tree's canopy and compare it to similar trees of comparable size. Canopies get thin when roots have died, arborist Dave Muffly said. Oak trees are especially susceptible to toppling in winter, he said.
** Check for decay around the base of the tree.
@12subhead:Flooding
** "Sandbag early," Cimino said. "Absolutely watch creek monitors." Sandbags are located at two locations: Greer Park and Palo Alto Airport.
** Grade soil around the house to drain away from the foundation. Sloped properties may require the addition of French drains to capture the water and take it to the storm drain system, according to Palo Alto Fire Marshall Dan Firth.
** "Don't rake leaves into the street. It clogs inlets to the storm-drain system. Take advantage of composting," city Public Works Department Senior Engineer Joe Teresi said.
People living in flood hazard areas should review their flood insurance. While it is required by mortgage lenders, older homeowners or those who have paid off their homes may have let flood insurance lapse. It's a good idea to make sure it is current, he said.
Staff Writer Sue Dremann can be reached at sdremann@paweekly.com.
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