Winter’s bite gets more painful in January, and the combination of bitter cold, snow and ice can be punishing to your home. Just because water spends much of the month in its solid state doesn’t mean you don’t need to protect your home from its effects.
January is also a great time to hunker down and get organized. After all, why spend the months when the weather finally starts to thaw doing spring cleaning?
January To-Dos:
Avoid Ice Damming
Ice dams can be nightmares, potentially causing extensive water damage. An ice dam is caused by the freezing and thawing process of snow and ice. Ice forms, causing the melting water behind it to build up, backing up under roof materials and leaking into the house below. Causes range from the unplanned consequences of complex roof designs to inadequate insulation, from incomplete air sealing to lack of proper ventilation. Sometimes it can be an incorrectly installed recessed light or bathroom fan. So examine your roof and gutters when it snows. Is there excessive ice at the gutter line, large and numerous icicles or build up in the valleys? Is the snow melted from the peak of your roof but not from the lower portions? All these can be signs of a potential ice dam and may deserve a closer look.
Assess Attics to Evaluate Them for Both Mold and Insulation Effectiveness
In our climate, most attics are designed as “cold-air” attics. They require proper insulation, air sealing and ventilation to keep the warm air in the house and out of the attic. An estimated 17-32% of newly remodeled attic spaces and new homes have mold. And a far greater majority have insufficient levels of insulating effectiveness in their attic space, creating the greatest area of energy loss in the typical home.
Mold in attics can be a result of moisture-filled, warm air finding a way into the attic space before it can be effectively ventilated out. Insulation ineffectiveness can be caused by a lack of proper insulation levels and proper air-sealing. Unfortunately, many homeowners add insulation without properly understanding ventilation requirements and end up causing mold issues in their attics.
For that reason, and the fact that all attics can be very dangerous, attic assessments are best left to a professional. Typically a professional assessment in a “cold attic” climate like ours will include both a mold and insulation effectiveness assessment.
This will include a close examination of the northern-most portion of your attic where it is most likely to find evidence of frozen condensation on surface areas where warm moist air exiting the homes interior is coming into contact with the freezing temperatures outside. Cold conducers like roof sheathing, metal materials and bathroom vents are typical areas where mold gets a foothold.
While there, a professional will also assess the attic’s air sealing and insulation levels and venting methods. If you have any questions about your attic, mold or insulation, call Get Dwell for a consultation.
Look for Weatherization Opportunities
Even if you weatherized in fall, January’s chill will point out spots you might have missed. Are there areas of your home that are uncomfortable because of cold or drafts? Can you feel a breeze around doors or windows or other problem areas like outlet/light fixtures? Is your heat source generating heat properly? The cold temperatures of January make it a great time to get a handle on your home’s uncomfortable and energy loss areas. If you need help winterizing problem areas of your house, call Get Dwell. We can make your home more comfortable and save you money.
Get Organized
The weather outside is frightful, so why not spend January making your home delightful? It’s a great month to get organized, whether it’s tidying up a home office or installing a custom shelving system in your basement. Need help? Get Dwell’s home organization experts can help you greet the new year with the neat, tidy home you’ve been wishing for. We offer the services of a professional organizer as well as the know-how to craft custom and off-the-rack solutions that will get you organized and give you peace of mind this new year.