a4 - Pridity, September 4. 1987. North Shore News

n a Winterize your home Ta OARS, GOIN SAS COMPLETE

Lavwn-Bov, Honda. Homelhtce Jacobsen, Toro, Snapper.

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to preve nt ice al ama ge Accu-Sharp Services, 203 E. ist, N.V.

ALTHOUGH TPS — beautiful, snow can cause damage to your home's roof. A properly insulated and ventilated attic, however, can help prevent this.

And, in the summer, adequate insulation and veniilation can help keep your home cooler and more comfortable,

Insulation experts have found that homeewners continue to have questions cbout insulation, ven- tilation anc vapor barriers. In response to this, they have compil- ed the fedowing list of com- monly-as.ed questions and pro- vided Hic answers:

= What ts an ice dam and how does it ogcur?

An ice dam is an ice build-up at the cornice or base of your roof. After a heavy snowfall, escaping heat from within your home can cause the snow on your roof to melt) quickly. The result’ is) that water runs down the roof, freezing at the colder edge and forming an ice dam.

* How do you prevent ice dams from forming?

Proper insulation and ventila- tion can help, by preventing heat from escaping from your home — so the snow will melt off your roof in a slower, normal process.

© What is the purpose of a vapor barrier when insulating, and what type is best to use?

In every household, occupants generate moisture that is carried through the air as water vapor. Cooking, washing and even breathing raise the moisture con- tent in the air. The interior moisture tries to pass through the exterior walls to equalize with the dry, cold outside air.

Vapor barriers prevent moisture from becoming trapped in the wall cavity where it can collect and cause damage. There are several types of vapor barriers to use when insulating: however, most home- owners prefer installing insulation with the vapor barrier attached.

° What does R-value stand for?

R-value is the resistance to heat flow of a material. When evaluating the energy efficiency of insulation it’s important to look at R-value, not just thickness. The higher the R-value the greater the insulation power and the greater your potential energy savings.

© Is it necessary to fix tears ina vapor barrier? Will duct or polyvinyl rape work?

Yes, by all means. Vapor bar- riers must be continuous and uninterrupted to be effective. The barriers are intended to stop moisture-laden air from going into the stud cavity and out through the wall. Obviously, if there is a hole in the vapor barrier, it will not be as efficient. Polyvinyl or duct tape are your best bets for fixing tears in vapor barriers.

eWhat is the most common ventilation method?

The natural or static ventilation systems. It consists of simple vent openings in your attic. These can be a combination of ridge, gable, roof or eave vents.

*¢ How much ventilation should 1 provide when insulating?

Regardless of the types of vents you have, as a basic guide you should provide one square foot in- let and one square foot outlet for each 150 square feet of ceiling area, when there is no vapor bar- tier in the ceiling.

If the ceiling does have a vapor barrier, provide one square foot inlet and one square foot outlet for each 300 square fect of ceiling area.

If you nave further questions

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