Rye Turning Green » winter ready

Caulking Windows

GreenRye — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:45:05 +0000

Caulking windows is a bit more difficult than insulating doors and outlets, but it is well worth it when you think of the number of windows in a home. This is a job that is best done before the winter.

This video will show you how to caulk a window:

Programmable Thermostats

GreenRye — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:41:24 +0000

Maintaining temperature control in your home is a trouble free way to manage heating costs. Reducing the temperature of your home during the night and when you are away reduces the energy costs for heating the house.

Here is a neat little video from the Home Depot on installing a programmable thermostat:

Insulating Outlets

GreenRye — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:30:43 +0000

Wall outlets are an easy path for cold air to enter a home. Put your hand close to an outlet and feel the outside air come in from the outdoors. This insulating tip is relative easy to do and keeps your home draft free.

Here is a video that shows you how to use outlet gaskets:

Insulating the Water Heater

GreenRye — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:47:51 +0000

Electric water heaters are a large portion of the household electric bill. Insulating the water heater reduces the energy used to keep the water warm and is relatively easy to do. There are water heater “blankets” available at home improvement stores but they are costly. If you want so save money and still get the job done, you can wrap the water heater using rolled insulation.

Here is a video about wrapping the water heater:

Humidity control is important

GreenRye — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:32:58 +0000

How to measure humidity in your house

A hygrometer will show the relative humidity (RH) in your house. Although the RH will not be exactly the same throughout your home, one hygrometer per house is usually sufficient. You should place it where the humidity symptoms are most obvious, in the room that you are most concerned about, or where your family spends the most time. Because hygrometers are small, they can be moved around in your house from time to time.

Don’t place your hygrometer near a radiator, a heat register or a chimney, or in any other location where it could be affected by direct heat.

Remember that a hygrometer does not produce instant results. It may take up to two hours to provide a stable reading in a new location or to adjust to sudden changes in relative humidity.

What is relative humidity (RH)

Humidity is normally measured as relative humidity (RH). RH is a percentage that indicates the amount of moisture in the air relative to the maximum amount the air can hold at that temperature. For instance, when air at a given temperature contains all the water vapor it can hold at that temperature, it has a RH of 100 per cent. If the humidity exceeds 100 per cent, moisture will begin to condense from the air. If the air contains only half the water it can hold at that temperature, the RH is 50 per cent.

How does RH relate to how warm the air in your home feels?

Air with some moisture feels warmer. Even if you set your thermostat at a lower temperature with the proper humidity level, the air will feel warmer without increasing the thermostat. The optimal humidity level during winter months is between 30 and 40%. If you keep your thermostate at 69F, with a humidity of 35%, the air will feel just as warm as if the thermostat was set at 72F. TO maintain this humidity level, you will probably need a humidifier.