Conley Publishing - Special Sections
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/303012
INDOOR AIR from page 5 However, electronic cleaners require mainte- nance. "There are large cells in the electronic cleaner that have to be either cleaned in your dishwasher or your stationery tub and it has to be done monthly to maintain the 94 percent effectiveness. If you don't clean monthly, the efficiency goes down drastically," Eaton said. Other IAQ options include germicidal lights, ERVs, HRVs, and humidifiers. "These are items that are tied to a duct system to induce pressure and to remove stale air from the home to accommodate a much healthier environment," Droegkamp said. HRVs and ERVs are similar devices in that both supply air to the home and exhaust stale air while recovering energy from the exhaust air in the process. The primary difference between the two is that an HRV transfers heat while an ERV transfers both heat and moisture. Germicidal lights (or ultraviolet lights) con- trol and kill contaminants like viruses, bacteria, yeast, and mold that build up in your home when you have inadequate air ventilation or high humidity. Installed inside your duct sys- tem, a germicidal light improves the air in your entire home. A home's humidity level also impacts air quality. Air that is too dry causes problems such as skin irritation and respiratory problems. Whole house humidifiers install directly on the furnace. Moisture is circulated through the ductwork and distributed throughout every room in the house. With these concerns and the abundance of contaminants, it would seem that homeowners would be embracing IQA products with a pas- sion but that is not the case. "IAQ is a huge issue and it's not addressed as it should be," Droegkamp said. "It's something that is downplayed. People may be aware that there are options, but when it comes to valuing that, I don't think they fully understand what good IAQ can do for their lives." 6 Milwaukee/NARI Remodel•Renovate•Restore April 2014 BGS GLASS SERVICE 1620 Arcadian Ave. • Waukesha, WI 53186 (262) 513-2806 For All Your Glass Needs Quality Service since 1970 www.bgsglass.com RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL • New, Remodel, Repair Replacement Windows/Doors • Insulated Units • Patio Doors Screens Window/Patio • Mirrors • Shower Doors • Glass Shelving • Tabletops Storm Windows/Doors • Commercial Store Fronts 237736005 As the cold of winter has come to an end and we transition to the warmer temperatures of spring, now is the perfect time to begin your annual spring lawn and garden maintenance according to members of Milwaukee/NARI. Members share advice for inspecting your prop- erty for wind and snow damage and provide tips for making necessary repairs and proper upkeep. "The heavy snow cover and extremely high winds have caused a great deal of breakage of limbs on existing trees and those branches will need to be pruned out along with any other normal pruning that one might want to do in the late winter or early spring," said Tom Auer of The Ground Crafter, LLC in Delafield. "Remember that many flowering shrubs and trees bloom on last year's growth, so pruning will sharply reduce the number of buds. In addition, the flowering crabs, magnolia, and forsythia are a few species that will possibly suf- fer a reduction in bloom from the severe cold and winds of this winter. "There will likely be a great deal of heaving of stone patios and some other garden structures this spring," Auer said. "Homeowners should be patient, as the thaw of ground frost can take quite a long time, especially a northern expo- sure or other areas that might be shaded by trees or buildings. Homeowners should wait until at least May 1 to make any adjustments to base layers, edging, and surface elements." "Once the snow begins to recede, you can begin to make an assessment of your lawn, trees, and shrubs," said Gary Urban of Hawks Landscaping Co. Inc., a Division of the Hawks Nursery Co., Inc. in Wauwatosa. "Check for mole and vole damage by looking for the signs of burrowing into the ground and eating at the roots of trees and shrubs. You would also notice narrow dead tracks in the lawn. "The landscaping cure for damage to your lawn is to rake out dead grass and later in the spring to add soil and seed," said Urban. "The soil needs to warm up, because if the ground is too cold, the seeds can't grow. We usually wait until early May to do seeding. "Rabbits can cause damage to tree trunks and even lower branches due to high snow fall levels," Urban said. "For burning bush, a type of shrub, rabbits eat at the bark search- ing for food during the winter. If more than three quarters of a branch is damaged, you will most likely need to remove the entire branch." "Inspect perennials to make sure the cycle of freezing and thawing has not caused these plants to heave," said Auer. "If you discover a plant that appears to be pushing up out of the ground, gently step down around plant to keep it rooted until growing conditions improve. "Evergreens, such as spruce and boxwood, will undoubtedly show signs of wind damage from the winter," said Auer. "The dehydration resulting from the wind will cause needles and leaves to brown. A very light shearing can remove some of this damage and allow recovery and new growth. "Patience will be key this spring, so give exist- ing plantings time to recover before deciding to take them to the compost pile," said Auer. "Many species will die down to the ground dur- ing such a harsh winter, but often the crown and roots have survived and will flourish if left undisturbed while Mother Nature works her magic." As winter comes to a close, we have a few more minutes of daylight each day and the tem- peratures become more bearable. Consider the following additional tips from Milwaukee NARI that you can add to your spring mainte- nance to do list: • Make sure gutters, downspouts, or inlet basins for sub-surface drainage systems are clear of debris before the normal heavy rains in spring. Not only is this critical to protect your home, but standing water and flash flood-like conditions can also harm plants and cause ruts in your yard, washing away valuable topsoil in the process. • As the snow melts and reveals all the ele- ments of your landscape, don't forget to get outside and inspect the "hardscaping" features on your property too, such as trellises and decks. Make repairs now while waiting for more ideal gardening weather. • If you are reusing certain supplies from pre- vious years (like pots to grow seeds in), make sure to disinfect them. Pruning tools should also be disinfected. The UW-Extension recom- mends using a 10% bleach solution to disinfect your tools and supplies. • Clean, sharpen, and lubricate your garden tools such a digging shovels and pruning tools. Well-maintained equipment will last longer, make your work a lot easier, and is better for your plants and soils. Spring Lawn & Garden Tips after - LandCrafters Landscape