Most people don’t spend a ton of time in their attic space — believe it or not! It’s not a fun place to work. It’s not a fun place to go into. In the south, in the summer your attic could be 160 degrees! Who wants to go up there in that heat? But even so, it’s important to know your attic. Here are the types of things you can check out in your attic:
1. Insulation:
You should know how much insulation, and what type of insulation is in your attic. Is it settling? If so, you’re losing value there. Is it moving away from a certain part of the house, or being blown around?
2. Rodents:
If you go into your attic and look around, you will be able to see if you have any rodent activity. Feces from rodents can lead to unhealthy air quality.
3. Leaks:
Go up into your attic and take a look at the roof. Is it leaking anywhere? Catching a leak early can save thousands of dollars!
4. Fans:
Are your fans working? If any of them are stuck, you might have airflow problems.
As you can see, there are a ton of systems in your attic space! In addition to everything we just listed, you probably have your air conditioner and heating units up there, too. There’s a lot going on in your attic! We recommend going up there 3-4 times a year. If you need to go up into the attic to chance your A/C filter, that’s a great time to walk around and check on things. Be careful not to step through your ceiling, but walk around as far as you can and check: Does my insulation look different than it did a few months ago? Do I have fans that aren’t working right now that should be, or that were working last quarter? When you have us come out, we check your airflow, your insulation levels and your heat reduction opportunities using a radiant barrier. We check to see if your electric fans are working. We’ll check to see what type of insulation you have and whether it’s settling if it’s been moved around or tunneled through by rodents, all those types of things. So as you can see, your attic is important, and it’s filled with important systems and products! If you put a little effort into maintaining that space and making sure that everything is working properly, it can lower your bills and help with the overall performance level and comfort of your home.
So check your attic out today!
If you would rather stay in the home, in the A/C and out of the attic, come to the Collin County Home & Garden Show in Allen, TX, Feb. 10-12 and talk with the folks at Energy Attic! They can give you more info, answer your questions and do the jobs you don’t want to!
Tag: show technology
Solid Hardwood vs. Laminate
| By: Penny Keoppel of Floor Coverings International We often get asked by our customers whether they should install solid hardwood or laminate hardwood in their home. We know it can be a tough decision, so to help you out we’ve put together a few things you should consider in your decision making process. Price Solid hardwood will almost always be a higher price point than laminate hardwood. If budget is a concern for you, laminate might be the better choice. Plan out your budget ahead of time and stick to it to avoid buyer’s remorse down the road. Longevity While laminate hardwood is extremely durable, solid hardwoods will last for years and years if cared for properly. If you’re planning to stay in your home for a long time, it might be worth choosing solid hardwood over laminate hardwood. Look With today’s technology, laminate hardwood looks very similar to solid hardwood. However, most people can still tell the difference. Decide whether or not the look of solid hardwood is worth the extra cost to you. Environment One of the key differences between the functionality of solid hardwood and laminate hardwood is that laminate can withstand certain environments better than solid hardwood. In particular, laminate hardwood is better suited for high-humidity rooms like basements. Exposure to moisture can cause solid hardwoods to warp, so if you live in a humid area, laminate hardwood may be the better choice. While solid hardwoods are very popular in the kitchen, if you have a few messy cooks in the house and spills are an everyday occurrence, you may feel more at ease with laminate floors. Come to the Orlando Fall Home & Garden Show this weekend, Oct. 21-23 2016, and let us at Floor Coverings International of Winter Garden help you decide whether solid hardwood or laminate hardwood is right for you! Contact us today for a free in-home estimate.  |
All New This Fall! Each Fall Show will have a New Product Zone!
Our Top Picks of the Best New Products of 2015
Head over to the New Product Zone, located below section 110 to get a sneak peek at some of the best new products on the market! Some of them haven’t even hit store shelves yet and you are seeing it here first! Find products to help you around the house and make everyday tasks simpler and more fun!
You know those little annoying things that bother you when you are checking off your Honey-Do list?
These products solve a lot of those project problems, have you ever drilled halfway into a 2×4 only to have the plug separate from the extension cord? Project Solved, there’s a new product for that!
Or maybe you have family, neighbors, babysitters or housekeepers who need to get into the house, but you either don’t have a spare key or you don’t want to give one? Project Solved, there’s a new product for that!
Ever wish you just had one more outlet to spare or wish the last available hole in the power strip wasn’t too crowded for your last plug? Project Solved, there’s a new product for that!
Ever got that perfect piece of delicate fish to grill and had it fall apart and down into the fire? Projects Solved, there’s a new product for that!
Have a sagging gate that is too hard to open? Project Solved, there’s a new product for that!
Check out all of these and MANY more products in our New Product Zone to see what our top product picks were this year! Learn about new ways you can control items in your home, right from your phone; AC vents, door locks, outlets! Find energy efficient ways to light your way through the dark house at night! See tools that will help your project to be quicker and easier; such as a digital tape measure, the Robocup, Add-A-Handle and more!
Just when you think you’ve got it all, you will find a “must have” item right here!
These products are Show Technology’s top new product picks, we have chosen and purchased these products ourselves and the New Product Zone is not endorsed by all of the inventors or manufacturers of these products.