Furnace

Filters:  Replace or clean furnace filters once a month during the heating season. Dirty filters restrict airflow and increase energy usage.  Consider a permanent filter.  Electostatic filters are better at controlling the bacteria, mold, viruses and pollen that cause illness and irritation.  Another good choice is a genuine HEPA filter.  Be sure your furnace is in good working order.  Many utility companies or heating/cooling contractors offer free or reduced cost annual checkups by qualified technicians.

Ducts:  Studies show 10% to 30% of heated (or cooled) air in an average system escapes from the duct work.  Hire a professional technician to come out and test your system.  Properly sealed ducts can save the average home up to $140 annually.

Thermostats:  Most households shell out 50 to 70% of their energy budgets on heating and cooling.  For every degree you lower the thermostat during heating season, you’ll save between 1 and 3% of your heating bill. Programmable thermostats are available for as little as $50, and the average family will save $180 a year with one.

Insulation:  It is one of the best ways to save energy. It can make a big difference to add more insulation between walls, and make sure your attic insulation is adequate.

Paddle Fans

Counterclockwise rotation is for cooling breezes while switching to clockwise makes it warmer: air pooled near the ceiling is circulated back into the living space – cutting your heating costs as much as 10%.

A/C and Water Lines

Drain any hoses and air conditioner pipes.  If your a/c has a water shutoff valve, turn that off.  Don’t forget to remove any window A/C units to avoid cold drafts all winter.  Make sure any hoses are drained and stowed away. Turn off exterior water spigots.

Water Heater

Many conventional water heaters are set to 140 degrees F by installers.  By lowering the temperature to 120 degrees F (or lower) would reduce your water heating costs by 6% to 10%.  Pay less for hot water by insulating your pipes and hot water heater.  You can get pre-slit pipe foam at most hardware stores. Cut it to size and fasten in place with duct tape.

Storm Doors and Windows

Installing a storm door can increase energy efficiency by sealing drafts. Storm windows can make a huge difference when the cold wind starts blowing. It is worth it to get your storm windows installed for the season.

Buy Energy Star Appliances

Look for the energy use label.  It will give you the estimated yearly operating cost of the appliance.  If it has the energy star logo on it, you will have lower energy bills and less pollution than standard models.  More than 18,000 products in 35 different categories are covered in the Energy Star program.  A home fully equipped with Energy Star products will use about 30 percent less energy, saving around $600 a year.  Go to energystar.gov to see qualified products and learn more.

Fix Those Water Leaks

One faulty faucet can waste up to 3 gallons of water per day.  Sometimes a leak can be fixed by just tightening the connections.  If you have a leak that is too hard to get to, it is worth calling a plumber.  Another plus:  by fixing the leak, you can decrease the risk of mold.

Install Low-Flow Showerheads and Toilets

Most older model toilets waste large amounts of water. In fact, more than 30 percent of indoor residential water use is flushed.  Newer low-flow models use less than a gallon.  You can save water and money in your shower with a low-flow showerhead.  The devices are simple to install and are relatively inexpensive.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

A programmable thermostat will pay for itself in one season.  By maintaining a constant heating/cooling level, and always ‘remembering’ to turn down the heat at night, the average family will save $150 a year, according to the EPA. Programmable thermostats can be picked up from hardware stores, home improvement stores and major manufacturers for as little as $50.  Installing one is simple   Usually, you will connect up a few wires in the back once you remove your old one (shut off the power to the area first).  But if you have any doubt, it’s a quick fix for an electrician or handyman.

Dodge Drafts and Seal Air Leaks

One of the easiest ways to save money around the house is to stop drafts.  They can increase your energy bills 5 to 30 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.  Check for window drafts by carefully holding a candle or an incense stick up to each window and watch the smoke or flame to see if there is a leak. (Be sure to stay away from flammables:  curtains, shades, etc.)  Then use caulking or weather-stripping to seal the cracks.  Check older caulking and weather-stripping.  Over time, it can shrink.  To stop drafts at your doors, make or buy a ‘draft snake’ to put up against the bottom of your door.  Make sure you close in any holes or cracks in the foundation.

There are many factors to be considered when determine how long your shingles should last. The climate, site conditions and roof design have the most effect on shingle life and appearance. A steeper roof design will drain water and shed debris faster. Roof position relative to the sun helps roofs dry faster. Temperature has some effect on roofing shingles.  Here in Roscommon Michigan we have hot, short summers with cold winters so roofing materials need to be able to handle expansion and contraction throughout the year. Proper roof ventilation can be a factor. Many times during a remodeling project roof design deficiencies can be remedied.

Wind is a problem around open areas like Higgins Lake and Houghton Lake. Lighter weight shingles may lift with the wind, while heavy weight shingles are stiffer and more wind resistant. The weight of a shingle is usually expressed as pounds per 100 square feet (a square of shingles is 10’ x 10’). The weight typically reflects how long the shingle is expected to last and the manufactures warranty. 245# – 260# shingle is associated with a 30 year warranty. 265# – 285# is a 40 year and 300# and up, a lifetime warranty. Most manufacture warranties are limited and dependent on proper installation.

North facing roofs along with tree branches over the roof encourage algae and moss to grow. Trees trap moisture and a shaded roof impedes drying. The streaking/staining you see on some roofs is caused by airborne algae. Moss traps moisture and debris, slowing the drying of shingles. This will cause the underlying material to decay and will shorten the life of shingles if not removed.  Moss is quite easy to remove. Use a scrub brush on a pole and push the brush down the roof only, not up.  This will loosen the moss from the shingles. Non toxic cleaners can be used to remove algae stains.  A good cleaner might be non-toxic oxygen bleach.  Keeping the roof surface wet with the solution for just 20 minutes, then lightly scrub the roof surface, the algae almost always comes off. You may have to apply the oxygen bleach solution several times if your roof is badly stained. Oxygen Bleach is a ‘green’ cleaner as it uses oxygen ions to break apart stains, dirt and odor molecules. There are no harsh chemicals, and it works on just about anything that is water washable.  Use care when cleaning roofs.  Wet moss/algae is slippery. Try to stay on the dry parts of the roof.  Wear shoes with good traction. Manufacturers now make algae resistant shingles.

Barber Construction Inc. looks for the following signs of roof aging during the inspection and evaluation of your roof: curled shingles, missing granules or bald spots, loose or missing shingles and shrinkage between shingles.  All are signs that the roofing is nearing replacement. Some areas of a roof will weather or age faster than others. Spot leaks may develop in areas of roof.  A well maintained roof should get you close to the suggested lifetime of the shingle. When you do replace your shingles, have all the existing roofing removed and new underlayment installed.

Please contact us at Barber Construction Inc. if you have any questions.

The Michigan Association of Home Builders (MAHB) has named Tom Barber, owner of Barber Construction, Inc. in Roscommon as its 2010 MAHB Remodeler of the Year.

Barber is a 37-year veteran of the homebuilding industry with a notable career of service. He has served for 25 years as owner of Barber Construction, a full service remodeling company specializing in second-story additions. He has received the following designations:  Certified Green Professional, Certified Graduate Remodeler, and is a Certified Aging In Place Specialist.  In May of 2010, Barber was selected by REMODELING magazine to join the remodeling Big50. He was featured in the May issue of REMODELING, a national trade publication read by more than 80,000 professional contractors.

Barber is the current board president of the Michigan Association of Home Builders (MAHB) and the past president of the Tri-Lakes Home Builders Association. Barber has been active in his local community serving on the Gerrish Township Planning commission for 20 years, including many years as board chairman.

The Michigan Association of Home Builders is a professional trade association comprised of 32 local homebuilder associations around the state and their builder, subcontractor and supplier members.  MAHB works to positively promote the building industry and impact legislative, regulatory and legal issues affecting housing affordability.

You should clean your detectors one or two times per year to maintain their efficiency and reduce the number of false alarms.  The small diode light attracts small bugs, “no-see-ums”,  spiders and dust.  Set a schedule to clean your detectors when you change to and from day-light-savings time – spring and fall.  Replace your batteries once per year or whenever you hear them chirping.  Read the manufacturer’s instructions on how to clean your smoke detector.  If you do not have the instructions, here are some basics:

Things You’ll Need:

• Vacuum cleaner, with upholstery brush
• Rag
• Pledge

Remove your smoke detector from the ceiling or wall. It is easier to clean if you can set it on your table or hold it in your hands.

Remove the batteries and use a dry rag to dust the battery compartment. Place new batteries in the smoke detector and close the battery compartment.

Vacuum any dust particles and bugs in the smoke detector.

Spray some Pledge on a dry rag and wipe down the outside of the smoke detector. Pledge is mainly for wood, but it attracts dust and is perfect for collecting any dust on the outside of the smoke detector.

Replace the smoke detector on the wall or ceiling.

Test to be sure it is operating properly.