By Barbara Lehrer
Real Talk
Barbara Lehrer
The summer has been over the top with heat, and is expected to maintain high temperatures in years to come. Your home therefore needs protection. It needs to breathe by having lots of attic ventilation and insulation.
The evaluation for any home ventilation issues starts from the top but works its way down through the entire building. Moisture can virtually cook in small, enclosed spaces.
The attic gets direct sun, so having a thermostatic controlled fan is really a must. Your roof vents are not sufficient to move the air around. These small units run for $100 for a regular one to $500 for a solar powered one. They’re a great investment. Upgraded, blown-in insulation will also cool your building down and help with air conditioning and electric bills.
Keeping the attic dry is what’s important. Many times I spot mold: black spots that latch onto wood and sheet rock and multiply over time if not removed. Cleaning these areas with a chlorine-based cleaner and then covering the area with proper paint to protect it in the future is a great investment.
Attic central air units should have a tray under them to protect from leakage; check for it if you have that kind of system. We need to keep the attic dry to protect from mold.
Your basement is notorious for dampness in the corners that can create mold. Scrape and paint any wet areas. Then check all your gutters. If they are empty but old, they may need replacing. Old landscape tilted toward the edges of the basement can also be a culprit of wet corners.
Dehumidifiers should be set up to automatically drain. This past week I visited two potential sales. What a difference between a working dehumidified area and one without. The mold spores were reaching the wood trusses on the ceiling. All those areas need to be cleaned.
Basements are tough. People tend to store damp items such as pool equipment and tools or a leaky old freezer there. Over time the damp smell permeates any fabric or paper items in the whole basement.
Keep your basement sparsely furnished; let it breathe. Get stuff up on shelves, clean stuff and periodically do a dump run. Your basement should smell good when you walk down the stairs.
If a space is closed up and gets damp, these conditions will create mold. Take a peek under the kitchen sink. If you do not have central air conditioning the chances are even greater that dampness is causing a little damage even there. Old wood window ledges and frames will also show little black spots, a sign of water that is mixing with the heat and developing its own little bacteria. Repair and protect them.
Stay cool and stay informed. Even those window air conditioning units tend to leak. As you remove them for the season, check any damage they have left. If so, throw them away. Clean and protect the damage for the upcoming winter.
Owning a home is no joke. It takes time and interest. Stay involved.
If you need more information on these issues, email Barbara.Lehrer@cbmoves.com.