current lines March 2015
A monthly publication for Tri-County EMC members
In this issue:
Spring Cleaning
Scholarships, Earth Day
page 1
page 2
Statement of Nondiscrimination, Green Power page 3
Raffle, Recipe Box page 4
Spring Cleaning Inspect Your Attic
With longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures, spring is the perfect time to inspect your attic for proper insulation. During summer, attic temperatures can quickly rise to above 100 degrees, making it an uncomfortable and unsafe workplace for any lengthy period of time. Follow these steps to make sure your attic is properly sealed, and your conditioned air is not being wasted.
1) Inspect your attic for disconnected or damaged ducts
If your home is not heating or cooling properly, your ductwork would be the source of the problem. If your ducts are disconnected or damaged so that air can escape, you could be paying to condition the air in the attic. A disconnected duct is easy to spot and repair with duct ties or mastic duct sealant.
2) Look for light
If all doors to the attic are closed, you should still be able to see light. This confirms the proper attic ventilation is present. Light and air should travel through soffit vents, gable vents, continuous ridge vents and mushroom vents, so be sure to remove any objects that may be blocking air flow.
3) Check to see that bathroom exhaust fans are operating correctly
Bathroom exhaust fans play a critical role in maintaining the indoor air quality of the home. The fan’s primary role is to move the humid air from inside the bathroom to outside the home. Bathroom exhaust fans pull moist air up and should exhaust to the outside, often through a soffit vent or eave vent hood.
4) Ensure that insulation batting has not been pulled away from the wall.
Over time, your attic’s insulation batting can work itself away from the wall. During projects, insulation is often thrown aside and not replaced before completing the job. Insulation should be flush with the wall in order for it to be most efficient.
5) Seal around the attic door
hatch cover
Air can easily escape through your attic hatch door if it is not sealed properly. If you can feel air coming through the edges of the door, some self-adhesive weather stripping may be helpful for you. For those feeling very ambitious, an attic hatch door cover, shown to the right, can be constructed to better stop air flow from the attic into the home. For more information on how to better insulate your attic and other energy saving tips, contact our Energy Services Department at 1.866.254.8100.
insulation