January 31, 2011
Dear Ken: I have insulation in the crawl space between the floor joists. It has paper on it, and I heard you say that's not good. What can I do now? Dan
It's better to have plain batts on the "ceiling" of your crawl space. Why? That way, moisture can travel back and forth between the upstairs and the crawl space itself. The dew point and, hence, relative humidity is almost always different. The upstairs tends to be drier than down below, so moisture wants to travel upward though the insulation to equilibrate the two air masses. That can only happen if there is no tar paper or plastic facing to interfere; if there is some sort of layer, moisture can be trapped behind the insulation, and that can lead to mold issues. If the paper faces down, you can simply slash the its facing with a sharp utility knife. Those slits will allow that back and forth moisture trip without interference.
If the paper is up towards the living area, there's not much you can do except check it from time to time for moisture build-up just below the floor boards.
Dear Ken: I'm thinking of buying a home with all electric heat. I know it costs more, but with the rising cost of gas, is that a big deal any more? Kay
Electricity costs rise about one to one with natural gas.. We generate about a quarter of our electricity from gas, and that proportion is getting larger ever day. That's because it's much easier to get a permit for a new power plant with clean-burning gas than it is if you want to use coal.
Electric heat costs about three or four times BTU per BTU than gas in a regular furnace. So, factor these higher costs into your housing budget. How much higher in your specific case? The power company can share with you the last year's average bill to help make your decision.
You can ameliorate these extra operating costs with a propane- or natural gas-fired insert or free standing stove. Finally, ask the appraisal company how much they are discounting the value of the house because of the higher heating costs. Believe me, there is some number, and I hope it's on the low side.
Dear Ken: What are your thoughts about lightning rods? Debbie
If you are high on a prominent piece of landscape with no trees around, and/or if your neighbors have been bothered by lightning, they may be a good investment. Lightning rods don't mean that your home has zero jeopardy. They can help carry a direct strike quickly back into the earth, but there is still a risk of personal injury and fire. But there is also a psychological benefit for you-because you'll not only feel safer, but you'll be safer.
On the other hand, rods won't protect you from a traveling nearby ground strike, which is by far the more common event. In that case, you'll need surge protection for your electronic valuables plus a good water pipe and earth grounding wire set up. Check with an electrician to see if you need some updating.
Dear Ken: I have a 25 year old electric water heater. The problem is that the shower is OK, but the kitchen sink water isn't hot enough. Do you think it would help to drain the sediment out of the tank? Cheryl
Unlike gas water heaters--which have a burner at the bottom--electric models get there heat from two electric elements part way up the tank-one about one third off the bottom, and another maintenance element a third down. So, sediment is really not an issue here. You need to rebuild or replace your kitchen sink faucet. One of the washers is acting up, or there is a blockage on the hot side. Fiddling with a kitchen faucet vs. buying a new one is a no-brainer for me. There are so many good ones at low sale prices, why not get new?
