Beware of ice dams this winter

One of the perils of living in New England is the cleanup of the winter weather that so often blows our way. In addition to the ice chipping and the snow shoveling, there is one more serious homeowner hazard that can create a headache both inside and outside, and cause major damage your home. The culprit I am talking about is ice dams.

Let me give you some background. An ice dam forms when heat from inside your home causes snow on your roof to melt and the water to trickle down into the gutters. This sounds like what is supposed to happen, except that when the water slides down, it can often refreeze before it drains because the temperature changes from the top of the roof to the bottom. As the water moves it refreezes, causing a blockage in the gutters and drains. Since the water has nowhere it go, it builds up, and looks for other places to go, such as under your shingles. The snow continues to melt, refreeze and accumulate, growing aggressively until you have what we call an ice dam, or a large mass of frozen water that grows from your gutters and the base of your roof.

So why does the temperature change? Well that’s easy. We all know that heat rises, and when your house isn’t properly insulated or ventilated, the heat from the living areas of your home will rise into the attic, hitting the highest temperatures in the very peak of the roof. So it’s no surprise that snow starts to melt at that very point, where the temperature can easily rise to 32 degrees Fahrenheit, or melting point. As the water makes its way down the roof, the temperature decreases; enabling the water to refreeze by the time it finds its way to your gutters. As that water builds up, it begins to form an ice dam. 

Have you ever looked around the neighborhood and seen a house with big beautiful icicles hanging from the roof? Those icicles aren’t just a pretty bi-product of winter weather; they are a sure fire sign that an ice damn is forming.

Ice dams can be a real problem, especially in older homes that aren’t properly insulated and ventilated. As the water builds up, it can leak into the house and cause damage to the walls, ceilings, insulation and other areas. Additionally, an ice dam that is melting can channel water down into the foundation, which can cause leaks and mold formation in the basement.

Worried about ice dams damaging your house? Next week, we’ll talk about the ways to temporarily fix them, and what you can do to ensure they don’t pop up again next winter.

Insulation tops the list for most lucrative remodeling project

Every year Remodeling magazine puts out a Cost versus Value Report, which analyzes the average cost for 30 of the most popular home remodeling projects and compares it to the value those projects retain at resale. Year after year, the results are similar, but in 2016 a new leader rose to the top, and I’m excited to say it’s one that I have been advocating for years.

For the first time ever, Remodeling added fiberglass insulation to the list, which took the top prize, netting an average nationwide value of $1,482 for an average nationwide cost of $1,268. It’s the only remodeling project on the list where the value actually exceeded the cost! What’s even better is that in Hartford County, our chilly winters made the value of this project even more lucrative. Locally, the cost of an insulation install averaged $1,310, but netted an average of $2,125 in resale value. That’s a 162.2% return on investment.

So why is insulation so good? Simply put, it acts as a barrier against heat flow, helping to keep the warm air inside the house by slowing the flow and stopping the heat from getting outside. So while it may not have the cosmetic appeal of a new entry door or a beautiful stone walkway, what it lacks in looks, it more than makes up for in energy efficiency.

I spend a lot of my time in attics and I can safely say that 75% of homes in our city are not properly insulated. This rings especially true for older homes. The United States Environment Protection Agency says that with proper insulation, the average home in our area can save approximately 16 percent in total heating and cooling costs. For older homes, that number skyrockets to nearly 50 percent.

So how do you know if you need insulation? Insulation is measured by its R-Value, and the higher the R-Value, the better the thermal performance of the insulation. There are eight climate zones in the United States, and according to Energy Star, Connecticut sits in Zone 5, which means the recommended R-Value of insulation for us is between R-49 to R-60 for an uninsulated attic, or between R-38 to R-49 for an attic that already has three to four inches of existing insulation. If you’re wondering how your home stacks up, take advantage of a free inspection from a home improvement professional to find out.

With regards to the installation process, it is actually fairly simple and involves blowing loosefill fiberglass insulation on top of existing insulation until the correct thickness and R-Value are achieved. The good news is it can be done in less than a day.

If you’re thinking about ways to spruce up your home that will offer real value at resale, you can’t go past insulation for its cost-effectiveness, comfort quality and ease of installation. But don’t take my word for it. To read the Cost versus Value Report for 2016 in its entirety, visit remodeling.hw.net or pick up Remodeling Magazine at your local newsagent.  

Don't let a leaky staircase freeze you out

If you’re anything like me, you probably have a love/hate relationship with your attic. On the one hand, it’s a great place to store away Christmas decorations and bulky suitcases that you don’t often use. On the other hand, it’s not the easiest place to get in and out of, and it’s also the single biggest pain point when it comes to heat and air leaks in the home.

Most people around this area access their attic through a pull down staircase or ladder. In terms of heat and A/C seepage, this huge hole in your ceiling is your number one problem. While it gives you access to extra storage, it can also cost you hundred of dollars in energy waste that you’ve probably never given a second thought to.  

I faced this problem myself many years ago, and recognizing the issue, I built myself an insulated box that I fit inside the attic and over the hole where the stairs sit above the ceiling. This simple barrier stopped the heat that was escaping out of the house and through the roof, and immediately my energy bill started to drop. Being in attics every day, I am surprised how many homeowners don’t realize that they have the same problem.

If you access your attic through a pull down staircase, do yourself a favor this winter and get it insulated. A simple box or tent, usually made from polystyrene, will close the space between your home and your attic, sealing the gaps where cold air gets in and heat gets out. The box itself is inexpensive and installation is quick and easy. It’s a simple fix that will pay for itself in spades over the course of this winter and for years to come.