Homes Plus
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HOMES PLUS JANUARY 2016 4 "Quality Conscious, Customer Focused ... Every Job, Every Day" 7945 Harwood Ave. Wauwatosa,WI 53213 office@milestoneplumbinginc.com www.milestoneplumbinginc.com Office: 414.988.4565 MP#998631 247926003 15 BRIGHTER CONCEPTS BrighterConceptsLtd.com 414-332-8865 steve@brighterconceptsltd.com 247926002 247926005 247926001 247926004 247926006 For All of Your Home Needs For All of Your Home Needs "What homeowners don't want to do is rake the snow all the way down to the shingles, or you will dam- age the shingle," Miller said. Keep in mind that 1 cubic foot of dry snow weighs about 7 pounds. If it's wet, it jumps to between 12 and 18 pounds. Most roofs can handle that, but homes with a flat roof are espe- cially susceptible to snow- induced issues and benefit from roof raking. "Obviously less pitch means more snow and ice will accumulate," said Scott Cline, president of J&B Construction Compa- ny Inc. "When you have ice and snow on a roof with lit- tle to no pitch, you have a lot of deterioration to the roof product itself between the thaw and freeze cycle." Because flat roofs don't have attics, ventilation is an issue too. There isn't that transition between the temperature inside and outside the house, Cline explained. "So the inside of these roofs can stay wet for a longer period of time, which leads to more deteri- oration." Below the roofline, check doors and windows for proper seals, moisture issues and overall energy efficiency. "Perform a visual inspec- tion on all entryways, win- dows and doors, making sure windows lock proper- ly, that there aren't any spaces or gaps, and that the weather stripping is secure," Wittmann said. If you do feel air travel- ing between the door or window and its frame, replace the weather strip- ping. "When people feel a draft, they think it's cold air com- ing into the home," Wittmann said. "Actually, it's warm air escaping out." For windows, insulation kits offer a quick fix, but installing newer, more effi- cient windows may save more energy and money in the long run. In the mean- time, make sure the glass is kept clean. "If the window is dirty, it becomes a filter and pre- vents some of that passive solar heat from getting into the house," Wittmann explained. It's also a good idea to check that your home is maintaining the right humidity levels. That starts with a proper vapor barrier and home insulation/venti- lation, but installing a humidistat can also help. "Right around 30 to 40 percent humidity keeps the woodwork tight, keeps doors from binding, cabinet door joints from separat- ing, moisture from collect- ing on the walls or ceilings, mold from growing, and just keeps the air in your house better for your skin and lungs," Ruiz said. Want to know if your home is really buttoned up for winter's worst? Get an energy audit. "With an energy audit you get an overview of what you have and what are the best steps for you to take to make your home more energy-efficient," Cline said. "It's like bring- ing a used car into a mechanic to tell you what kind of shape it's in and learn what can be done to get it running at peak per- formance." Ice dams: An ounce of prevention can be worth a ton of cure Continued from Page 1