Keep Your Home Mold Free This Summer

Hot weather is on the horizon and it won’t be long before we begin complaining about the humidity. I don’t mind the heat, but like most, the sticky moisture that comes along with it can be a real bummer in the summer.

A lot of homeowners combat humidity by using air conditioners in their houses, and while they can reduce the moisture in the air to some degree, this is by no means their primary function. An air conditioner works by sucking the air from your home, cooling it, and blowing it back into the house. That process does reduce the humidity slightly, but pairing your air conditioner with a dehumidifier is the best way to cool down your home so you can sleep more comfortably at night.

A dehumidifier works by pulling the moisture out of the air and storing the excess water in a holding tank. Many people keep dehumidifiers in their basement all year long to control the dampness that can often be felt in these underground areas. This is a great idea because controlling the humidity in the dampest part of your home will very likely help to regulate the rest of the house.  

One way to know if your house is holding a lot of moisture is to purchase a simple five-dollar humidity gauge from the local hardware store. Ideally, you want the humidity to be under 50%. If it’s higher, you might want to consider using a dehumidifier in the main part of your home, especially on hot summer days and in areas where you spend the most time. 

In addition to cooling the air and decreasing moisture, running a dehumidifier during the hottest parts of the hottest days can also prevent mold and mildew growth, eliminate musty odors in the home, and prevent old pipes from sweating. Plus, you can use the water collected in the tank to give your outdoor plants a good drink. 

Dehumidifiers generally run on about half the energy of an air conditioning unit, so as long as you don’t run them all day, using one shouldn’t affect your energy bill. Just be sure to keep windows and doors closed when you run your unit, and only switch the power on during the most humid time of the day, or when the air is above 50 percent humidity.

Be aware that dehumidifiers by nature are drying, so try not to run them while you’re occupying the room over a long period of time, like when you’re sleeping at night. Also, be careful about using dehumidifiers in conjunction with an attic fan. I see people do this all the time and they unintentionally throw the excess moisture from their home or basement up into their attic, where it has no place to escape.

If you’re thinking that a dehumidifier might be a good solution for you, they come in different sizes and can be used for residential or commercial purposes. Generally, a unit will come in 25, 30, and 40-pint models, and on average a 25-pint unit will be sufficient to operate in a 1,000 square foot area.

Finally, if you have a dehumidifier, please be sure to keep the filter clean. Dust, dirt, and debris can get caught in the filter, preventing air from flowing freely and potentially circulating mold spores throughout the home. A simple wipe down with a damp cloth and spray bottle will do the trick to keep you breathing freely and ensure a longer life for your appliance.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Invasion of the Ladybugs

If you have a light-colored house with southwest-facing windows, you might be surprised to see ladybugs beginning to make their home in yours. 

Ladybugs are probably one of the least offensive insects out there, but when they start showing up en masse in your house, you might not be too happy about it. These cute red and black beetles are creatures of habit. They like light-colored houses because heat more easily reflects off them. As for the southwest window, they love warm, bright areas where the afternoon sun keeps them comfortable. Like many insects and animals, ladybugs hibernate during the winter and wake up in the spring. They find tiny cracks and crevices, generally around windows, to creep into a home and rest for the colder months. When they find a comfortable spot, they release a pheromone to attract others, which is why you generally find more than one or two. Then they rest through the winter and start to wake up around now, not unlike our bear population.

While ladybugs might seem problematic, they are actually harmless. Unlike other wood and fabric-eating insects, ladybugs won’t feast on your home. On the contrary, as the weather warms, they actually look to get back outside. So if you are willing to be patient, the bugs will leave on their own. However, if you have a large infestation or just hate the idea of bugs in your house, the best thing to do is to vacuum them up and dispose of them outdoors. Why a vacuum? Killing the bugs in a way that is stressful will cause them to release their own blood, a yellow substance called hemolymph. This is a ladybug’s way of telling a predator that they are a no-good meal, but hemolymph also stains and stinks. Using a vacuum is gentler and will allow you to get the bugs back outside alive which is exactly where they want to be. 

As I mentioned, ladybugs will make their way back outside in the next few weeks but that doesn’t mean they won’t come back in the fall. Your best bet is to seal those southwest-facing windows to keep the bugs out and the heat in. Use caulk for small gaps or buy some weatherstripping to create a tighter seal around windows. Also, be sure to remove air conditioning units once the summer is over. Leaving them in will absolutely give ladybugs an opportunity to settle in for another season of comfort in your home. 

Bob O'Donnell is the owner of O'Donnell Bros, Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro”. All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O'Donnell Bros, Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Spruce Up Your Rental Property with These Tips

Owning a rental property can be a lucrative investment opportunity both for short-term stays and long-term tenants, especially during COVID when people are looking to escape the city. If you own a second property that you’re thinking about renting or have an investment property that’s ready to be occupied, a few upgrades and minor renovations can make a big difference in how much you can get for your space.

The first thing I remind people who are renovating a property that they don’t live in is to try and treat it like a house instead of a home. Spending time and money creating the perfect aesthetic is a waste because the people who will be occupying the property likely won’t have the same taste that you do. Instead, focus on function while maintaining an inviting and warm atmosphere. Keep it simple and comfortable.

Kitchens and bathrooms are key for rentals as they generally come “as-is” with less furniture and styling opportunities as rooms that are used for relaxing. With a kitchen, be sure that there is plenty of storage and that the appliances are clean and new. Remember, people like functional spaces so if you’re spending some money on upgrades, a dishwasher will be a smarter investment than a fancy mantle or built-in wine storage. For the bathroom, make sure it’s absolutely mold-free and has good ventilation. Everyone loves a strong, hot shower but no one wants a bathroom riddled with mildew from the heat and humidity. Again, it’s important to remember that no one is going to treat a rental property with the same love and care as their own house so plan for wear and tear.

Walls and carpet are important, but most of the time they can look new with a thorough clean. Before you go ripping, replacing, and repainting, see what you can do with a Magic Eraser and a carpet cleaner which can be rented from a home improvement store for around $30 per day. If your walls and carpet are damaged and you need to repaint or replace them, stick with simple, neutral colors that are easy to clean and will complement any style.

Another inexpensive upgrade is giving the fixtures a facelift. Turning some attention to cabinet knobs, door handles, blinds, and lighting can give a dated space a whole new look without spending a fortune. I can’t tell you how many homes and apartments I have been in with broken, plastic mini-blinds that make a whole room look dark and dingy. A simple replacement using wide faux wood blinds or a simple and easy to clean panel can really change a room on the cheap.

Finally, don’t even think about listing your property without investing in some good quality photography. Professional images can make all the difference no matter if you’re putting your property up on a vacation rental site or if you’re looking for a longer-term tenant. Great pictures will get more people interested in your space, giving you a wider selection of better prospects to choose from. Attracting good people who will take care of your property is key and will save you a lot of money and headaches in the long run, so it’s important to go the extra mile to find them.

Bob O'Donnell is the owner of O'Donnell Bros, Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro”. All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O'Donnell Bros, Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.