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OCTOBER 2016 HOMES PLUS 7 249319003 The thermal mass of the small oven is low so it cools down quick- ly when turned off. When you are cooking several items consecu- tively, such as baking a pie and then roasting some meat, use the large oven. The higher thermal mass of the large oven retains the heat for cooking the meat. A big advantage of a small oven or slow cooker during summer is you can easily carry it outdoors to a porch or sunroom so none of the wasted heat stresses the air conditioner. To be super-efficient, buy a combination solar/electric oven to let the sun help cook the food. Of course, using the microwave oven is more efficient than the range oven because nearly all the energy goes into cooking the food. The newer microwave ovens pro- vide good results, but many foods still taste better when cooked in a regular oven. To calculate the cost to use a small appliance, find the wattage rating on the nameplate. Divide this by 1,000 and multiply the result by your $/kwh electric rate to get the operating cost per hour. Typical wattage of the range oven element is 3,000 watts or double this in convection mode. If the nameplate lists just amperage, multiply it by 120 to get the wattage. For appliances with a thermostat, reducing the operating cost by about 50 percent is a good estimate. Dear Jim: Last winter, a one- eighth-inch gap formed where the walls meet the ceiling and I am afraid that it leaks air. In the sum- mer, the gap disappeared. What causes this and how can I stop it? — Randy G. Dear Randy: The cause of the gap in the winter is temperature differences between the exposed top members of the truss and the bottom members buried in the attic insulation. These thermal stresses cause truss uplift. This gap can leak some indoor air into the attic. It can be quite a job to fix it permanently. The easi- est way to correct it is to nail a molding strip to the ceiling. It looks better and blocks air leakage. (Send inquiries to James Dulley, The Freeman, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.) Continued from Page 6 Dulley: Use quick fix to close gap between walls, ceiling in winter MILWAUKEE — Base- ments have experienced a dramatic shift in reputation over the years. In the begin- ning, they were often a neg- lected space. Serving little purpose, other than extra storage space and collecting cobwebs, basements were deemed unlikely to yield a smart return on investment. As time has gone on, more and more homeowners real- ized the benefits of remodel- ing their lower levels into a potential living space. "Basement conversion is such an inviting prospect because it is significantly less expensive than putting on an addition," said Paulette Sodemann, a designer with Callen Con- struction, Inc. in Muskego. More specifically, many architects and contractors put the cost savings of redo- ing a basement versus put- ting on an addition at one- third to one-half less, depending on project scope and area of the country. "Homeowners already own the space and taxes are paid on it; not to mention basements come equipped with a roof, walls, ceiling, foundation and sewer hookups in place," she added. Consequently, a base- ment remodel adds value to your home, particularly in urban areas where extra square footage brings a pre- mium. There are a few aspects homeowners should keep in mind when tackling a base- ment remodel, Sodemann said. For instance, if your basement shows signs of water or moisture, it's imperative to resolve these problems in order to avoid replacing furnishings. "Be sure to have a dehumidifier and have proper heating and cooling systems installed for a more com- fortable atmosphere," she said. "It's also important that your contractor know the local ordinances regarding the required number and sizes of exits for adding in a bedroom," said Sodemann. In addition, it's vital to never seal off existing mechanical systems, circuit breakers, and future plumb- ing lines. Professionals will need to have access to these for maintenance and repairs. "If needed, home- owners can always sound- proof mechanical systems," she said. Basement conversion provides extra living space, value

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