Tuesday, August 16, 2011

How To Safely Remove Ice Dams From Your Home


This article was written to explain the causes of ice dams and how to remove them safely. For more information or pictures of the processes see ice dam removals.


Nuisance Wildlife TrappingHere are a few more steps you can take to substantially improve your home�s energy efficiency.General Cooling Tips:You may have noticed long icicles hanging from your gutters and not realize the significance of the damage that may be occurring behind them. Icicles are usually one of the first warning signs of possible ice dams on your roof. This article will explain what ice dams are, how they form and the best methods for removing them safely.Conserve energy and enjoy natural cool night breezes this summer. Turn off your air conditioner, and save hundreds of dollars by cooling your house with a whole house fan.* Insulation in walls, floors, and attic.Properly ventilating and insulating the attic is usually the best way to prevent ice dams. The usual recommendation for proper ventilation is 1 square foot of vent for every 150 feet of attic floor area but each climate region may have it's own recommendations so I would suggest contacting a licensed local insulation company near you. If you have small louvered vents at either end of the attic known as gable vents you can either replace them with larger vents, or install an electric vent fan over the inside of them. These special fans usually work on a thermostat and will pull outside air into the attic to keep the temperature inside consistent.Keep in mind that an energy efficient air conditioner alone will not have as great an impact on your energy bills as using an approach that involves the entire house. If you combine proper equipment maintenance and upgrades with appropriate insulation, weatherisation and thermostat settings, you can reduce your energy bills by up to 50%.We also provide Referrals for other services.The art of ice dam removal. By Henry's HouseworkConsider Purchasing an Annual Maintenance AgreementRegardless of the type of home comfort systems you have in your house, you can save money and increase comfort by properly maintaining and upgrading your equipment.How can I prevent ice dams in the future?Here are some of the heating & cooling factors your audit should take into consideration:* Efficiency of heating and cooling systems � Condition of filters, etc.Cleaning the gutters on your home can help prevent ice dams from occurring as quickly but they can still occur if the conditions are right. The gutters will be just as cold as it is outside and in some cases, full of frozen debris. So even if you don't have a soffit for the water to refreeze in, the melted water will most likely refreeze when flowing into the gutters.* Quality of insulation in doors* Quality of Windows � Single or double paneTo achieve the maximum in total home comfort and energy savings, we recommend that you step back and look at the big picture of energy consumption in your villa. The fact is, your total home comfort and efficiency is the product of many systems: heating, cooling, lighting & electrical, plumbing and possibly others working together. It is the interplay between these systems, combined with the size, age, physical features and location of your home, and even your lifestyle, that combine to produce the total energy efficiency of your home. Changing or upgrading one system, without considering the other factors will usually result in some improvement, but may not deliver the maximum possible benefit.Deck Cleaning and Restoration, Deck Cleaning and Sealing.* Use house fans. House fans help cool your home by circulating cool air throughout the house. They are most effective when the outside air temperature is cooler than the inside and when operated at night. An attic fan can blow away hot air that accumulates in the attic. This can go a long way to help the efficiency of your air conditioning system.* Don't reduce your thermostat setting to a colder temperature than normal when you turn on your air conditioner. This will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and unnecessary expense.

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Author: Henry Bockman


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