6 Chilling Facts About Icicles That All Homeowners Should Know!

January 5, 2018

By: Gabriela Barkho

They look nice. But girlfriend, they don’t play nice. Especially with your house.

Those beautiful, shiny icicles hanging from your roof are not cool.

They’re a really, really bad sign that you may have an ice dam — a ridge of ice along the edge of your roof that can damage your house and your wallet.

But don’t freak out. Just be in the know about these six things, and you can save your budget from hypothermia this winter.

#1 They’ll Destroy Your Roof’s Insulation:

So here’s how ice dams work: When heat escapes through your roof, it melts the snow up there.

Then it gets cold again, and that water freezes along the ridge of your roof. If this happens enough, the ice builds up into an ice dam.

Once the ice dam is established, when the warm air melts more snow, that water gets trapped behind the ice dam and just hangs out there in a puddle.

Water is not supposed to puddle up on your roof. It can seep down through the roof (science calls this a “leak,” FYI), and turn your insulation into a wet mess.

But that’s only the beginning…

#2 They’ll Infest Your House With Mold:

Once your insulation is that soggy mess, something worse could be lurking.

MOLD! Ugh, it’s nasty. And it’s expensive to make go away.

Fittingly, the way to prevent it is (ta-da!) good insulation. So your roof doesn’t get too warm in the first place.

“Most ice dams are caused by a warm attic, which can be fixed if people would just call the professionals in,” says Joe Palumbo of ice mitigation company The Ice Dam Guys.

Having sufficient insulation is key, but keep in mind that a well-insulated attic has to be balanced with good ventilation. An attic shouldn’t be more than 15 degrees hotter than rest of the house — if it is, you need better ventilation.

Not sure about your insulation/ventilation balance? You can find a home energy auditor through the Residential Energy Services Network, or — even better — check with your local energy utility, as many of them offer free audits to customers.

#3 They’ll Send Water Pouring Down Your Walls:

Count yourself lucky if you caught the ice dam in time so that moldy insulation was the only problem.

A really bad leak will continue right through the insulation to destroy walls, ceilings, flooring — pretty much everything it touches (and spread that nasty mold around!).

That’s a great way to wave goodbye to the Dream Deck Savings Account you’ve been working on for years.

One way to ensure you never get a catastrophic leak is to make sure there’s never enough ice or snow up there to melt into one.

This can be done with special roof rakes (that’s a thing!) if your roof is low enough, or by calling in pros who know how to climb around on roofs in the snow without breaking themselves.

#4 They’ll Rip Down Gutters and Pull Roof Shingles Loose:

Ice dams weigh a ton (literally!).

Which means all that weight can tear gutters away from your house, pull shingles loose from your roof, and generally cause stress on your home’s exterior.

But if there’s no ice, there’s no ice damage.

So make sure your home’s insulated — and well ventilated (see #1) — and you shouldn’t have a problem.

But if you see one forming, try this DIY trick: Fill pantyhose with an ice-melt product, and place on freezing-prone points of your roof.

Your home won’t win any beauty pageants, but in the short term, this DIY trick can save you some serious grief.

#5 They’ll Damage Something (or Someone!) Special to You:

Did we mention how heavy ice dams are? Weight can inflict damage. A ton of it! And in dangerous ways you don’t even want to think about. Like suddenly breaking loose and falling on:

•That azalea you nursed back to life last spring

•Your just-paid-off car

•Your dog

•You!

If preventative measures haven’t worked to keep them at bay — or you’re just learning about ice dams too late to prevent one — getting rid of an ice dam as quickly as possible is crucial.

This is where companies like The Ice Dam Guys come in.

You may have been an icicle-harvesting pro as a kid, but now that you’re an adult with a home to protect, this is a job for the pros. Not only will they remove the dam safely, they can help you pinpoint the exact cause and identify damage.

#6 They’ll Grow In Lots of Spots Around Your House — Not Just the Roof:

It makes sense that ice dams can damage your roof. Duh. But ice danger just keeps going and going when it clings to any part of your house. Case in point: gas meters.

“That gas meter has a small breather that needs to breathe air,” Palumbo says. “We’ve often seen it get iced up or covered in snow.” A frozen-over meter can cause your gas to shut off unexpectedly — not the best winter surprise. Other places ice (and icicles!) hang out on:

•Tree limbs

•Playground equipment

•Outbuildings

•Anything outside that will let snow puddle on it when it melts

It’s tempting to put your home maintenance blinders on during the frigid winter months, so try to carve out a little time between your cocoa-and-Netflix binges to pull on your boots and take a slow lap around the outside of your home.

Clearing away the beginnings of any ice buildup can save your wallet big time — and make more time for cozy viewing and sipping in the end.

‘Eeeww!’ Stenches to Stop Now Before They Move in for Winter!

January 3, 2018

By: Gabriela Barkho

What to sniff for, and how to kill it — quick.

From pet stench to kitchen stinks, house odors get amplified during the tightly sealed winter months.

Here’s how to deal with those shameful winter smells that prevent you from inviting friends over for a hot toddy.

Cut Off the Chimney Smoke:

When it’s crackling under the mantel, your fireplace is the best part about winter. When the fire’s out though, you’d prefer your house didn’t smell like stale char.

Here’s the deal: When warm air goes out of your house, it’s replaced by cooler air coming in. That cool air often finds its way in through your chimney – which stinks. Then it circulates through your house. Awesome.

Of course, you need to keep your chimney as clean as possible, but that’s often not enough.

To seal out the smell, close your damper when the fireplace isn’t in use, and consider installing one that closes at the top of your chimney, rather than the bottom.

Also, adding a tight-fitting glass fire screen can help keep the odor inside the chimney — not under your nose.

Contain the Pet Hair (Yes, It’s Actually Possible):

Not only is the air stuck inside all winter, so are your (wonderful, loving, fun) stinky pets.

“The hair in pets’ fur accumulates, and as it rots and degrades in the carpet, you get that unpleasant doggie smell,” says Mike Sciullo, an instructor at the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification.

Because you’re not going to get rid of Fluffy (never!), you’ve got to get rid of that hair. But for many pet owners that feels about as easy as getting rid of the water when you’re drowning.

But you can cut down on it by:

•Using removable, washable pet bed covers. And removing ‘em. And washing ‘em.

•Spending 5 to 10 minutes a day vacuuming. Do it during the “Wheel of Fortune” commercials, and you won’t even have to find the time.

•Have wall-to-wall carpeting? Fluffy’s your excuse to chuck it. Wood won’t let those hairs hide.

•Regular washing and brushing will help you collect fur and dander before they end up on your floor.

Slay Cooking Odors Where They Hide:

Mmm! The smell of a roasting holiday turkey is the best. Still smelling it a week later? The worst.

Cooking odors are caused by lingering grease. Sciullo says the molecules that form in the air while cooking end up stuck everywhere (gross!)

If you don’t get rid of the surface grease, it’ll only continue to pick up more stench over time.

Your floors, appliances, and counters might be used to a regular wipe-down. But you’ve also got to tackle the walls, the filter above your stove, and your cupboards. Use a mixture of:

•¼ cup of liquid cleaning detergent

•1 gallon of warm water

•1 cup of vinegar

Stop Stinky Mold Before It Starts:

It’s honestly a little too embarrassing to talk about.

But when you get a whiff of the M-word around your house, it’s time to come clean. The first step to solving a mold problem is admitting you have one.

It happens: Mold forms when your home’s cold windows are hit by the humidity indoors, causing condensation for bacteria to feed on.

To disrupt that cycle, keep your home’s humidity level under 60%. A $12 temperature and humidity gauge can help you find out if you’re feeding the fuzz.

Humidity issues in winter are typically contained to the bathroom and the laundry room.

A dehumidifier in the laundry area can do the trick, if need be. And when it comes to those long, hot showers, running an exhaust fan for 20 minutes after your shower is crucial.

Or you could take shorter, cooler showers. Nah, go with the fan.

Embrace (Or Invent) Your Home’s Natural Smell:

“Sometimes your home just smells like … your home!” Sciullo says.

Whether it’s your weekly curry creations or your holiday candle addiction, part of what makes a home unique is its special smells — which ultimately come from you.

If you’re not wild about the natural smell of your clean home, make it your own. You can use essential oils, candles, cooking, or other pleasant scents to infuse your home with olfactory delight.

If you want guests to feel as if they’ve just walked into a spa, fill your diffuser with eucalyptus or lavender oils. For a fresh, citrusy scent, go for peppermint or wild orange.

3 Brilliant Hacks to Make Snow Shoveling Less Miserable!

December 29, 2017

By: Jamie Wiebe

Don’t break your back. Try a de-icing cocktail instead.

If you’re a homeowner in a snowy climate, chances are good you rue the winter: All that snow has to go somewhere, and it’s not getting there itself.

Cue the snow shovel.

Barring a move to a snow-free state or barricading your family inside all winter, there’s no way to avoid the endless task of shoveling snow. There are, however, ways to make the process much easier. Here are three simple hacks to make the morning after a snowfall much less stressful.

#1 Spray Your Shovel with Cooking Oil:

Snow sticking to your shovel makes an already arduous task even more obnoxious. Avoid it with this hack: Lightly coat your shovel with non-stick cooking oil to make snow slide right off. No more time wasted removing snow from your snow remover. (You can substitute a spray lubricant like WD-40, but the downside is it’s toxic.)

#2 Lay Out a Tarp Before the Snow:

If you like short cuts, this technique, billed as “the laziest way imaginable” to clear snow, according to a tutorial from “Instructables,” has got your name on it. The day before an expected snowfall, lay a tarp on your walkway. When the snow finishes falling, just pull out the tarp, and voilà: an instantly cleared walkway. (Word to the wise: Make sure pedestrians won’t trip on your tarp; include a sign or use this technique in your backyard walkway if you’re concerned.)

The technique requires a tarp, firewood, and twine as well as some prep work. Pre-storm, use firewood to weigh down your tarp — you don’t want it flying away in the wind! — and tie the twine to both the tarp and to a shovel standing upright in your yard. You’ll use the shovel to pull out the snow-laden tarp.

Although this method might be faster than shoveling, it does require manpower. After all, a cubic foot of snow can weigh between 7 and 20 pounds. So don’t get too ambitious with the size of your tarp or you might not be able to pull it once it’s full of snow.

#3 Make a Homemade De-icing Cocktail:

De-icers make snow removal easier by cutting through the tough, icy layers that are a pain to remove with a shovel. But an easy solution should be easy on your property as well. Many commercial de-icers are pretty harsh.

Commercial ice-melting substances — magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, potassium chloride, and sodium chloride (salt) — all cause damage to the environment, according to the University of Maryland’s Home and Garden Information Center. They can also damage concrete sidewalks and driveways, which mean hefty repair costs later.

A better solution: Make your own de-icer using rubbing alcohol or vinegar. You’ll save money, too. Commercial melters typically cost $8 or more. Plus, you’ll avoid the hassle of trekking to the hardware store to stock up.

Use vinegar before a storm to make ice and snow removal easier:

•Combine 3 parts vinegar to 1 part water.

•Spray or pour gently (you still want to avoid runoff into your landscape) before a storm.

To keep the sidewalks and steps from icing after a storm:

•Combine 2 parts rubbing alcohol with 1 part water.

•Apply to minimize runoff.

12 Delightful Ways to Make Your House Brighter in Winter!

December 27, 2017

By: Leanne Potts

Meet you under the skylight, on the white sofa, with a cream cheese brownie.

Fall and winter start cozy — who hasn’t used the colder temperatures as an excuse to binge-watch Netflix while swaddled in a couch blanket?

But come January, staying indoors can feel less like a treat and more like you’re living in a cave.

Here’s how to make your house lighter, brighter, and cheerier.

#1 Take the Screens Off Your Windows:

You’ll get 30% more sunlight shining indoors without screens on your windows.

Here’s the best part: Sunlight warms your room and saves you money on your heating bill. It’s solar power — for you!

Be sure to store your screens in your garage or basement where they won’t get damaged. In the spring you’ll want to put them back on so you can keep that 30% of the sun out and run your cooling system less.

#2 Hang Outdoor String Lights Indoors:

They don’t give off a lot of light, but they’re cheerful as heck.

Drape them around a window or a mantel, or hang a string of LED glimmer lights in a tall potted plant. They’ll add a layer of soft light to your room and remind you of fireflies, flip-flops, and patio parties.

#3 Steal a Little Swedish Chic:

Scandinavians excel at making a home light and airy because they’ve got places where the sun doesn’t rise at all from November to January.

And you thought you had it bad.

To adapt to weeks and weeks of polar night, Swedes keep interiors pale to reflect and amplify light.

Think white walls, light woods for furniture and floors, and light upholstery. To get the look without getting rid of your dark furniture and floors, put white or light gray slipcovers on your sofa and chairs, and put down light-colored rugs.

The fastest way to bring a little Sweden into your room is to paint it. Try creamy white, pale blue, or dove gray.

#4 Change Your Bulbs:

Replace those incandescent bulbs and their yellowy light with LEDs, which produce a brighter, whiter light.

But get your bright right:

•The higher the K rating on the bulb, the cooler and whiter its light.

•For cool, white light, opt for a bulb rated 3,500K to 4,100K.

•For blue-white light that’s closest to natural daylight, use a bulb between 5,000K and 6,500K.

Unless you live in Sweden (see above) you may want to leave the uber-high K bulbs for grow rooms and seasonal affective disorder therapy clinics — because they’re as bright as real sunlight on a hot summer day at noon. You’ll need sunglasses to read.

#5 Hang Mirrors:

Make the most of that weak winter light by bouncing it around the room with mirrors.

If you don’t want the distraction of seeing your reflection all the time, use a large, convex one — also known as a fish-eye mirror. It will amplify light better than a flat one. Another option: Hang a gallery wall of small mirrors.

#6 Replace Heavy Curtains With Blinds or Roman Shades:

Fabric curtains, while quite insulating, block light and make a room feel smaller and more cramped, especially if they’re a dark color or have a large print.

Try Roman shades or a simple valance paired with blinds to let in the maximum amount of natural light.

#7 Trim Branches and Bushes That Block Light:

If you look out your windows and see the tops of your bushes, grab your pruning shears and get whacking.

You don’t want anything blocking that precious natural light. Same for tree limbs that may be arching down and blocking windows. Cut them off.

#8 Clean Your Windows:

Dirty windows block a lot of natural light.

Admit it, yours are kind of cruddy because who remembers to block out an afternoon to clean the windows?

So get it on your list. Clean the glass inside at least once a month and the glass outside once a year. Your serotonin level will thank you.

#9 Swap Your Solid Front Door for One With Glass Inserts:

A solid front door can make your house look and feel as dark as a dungeon.

Get rid of it and install a half-light or full-light door that lets the natural light stream in. For even more natural light, add glass sidelights and a glass transom.

The median cost of a new door is $2,000 for steel and $2,500 for fiberglass, before any extras, but a new door will add curb appeal.

Curb appeal equals higher resale value. And coming home in the evening to the warm glow of light radiating out the glass panels in your front door is an instant mood lifter.

#10 Add a Skylight:

It’s the ultimate way to bring more natural light into your house. A window only catches sun for a couple of hours a day, but a skylight lets in the sun all day.

An indoor view of the sky makes deepest January more tolerable. And feeling the warmth of the sun on your skin, light streaming from above, is liberating. A skylight, installed, can cost as much as $3,000. A cheaper alternative is a tubular skylight, which costs around $1,000.

If you’re really good with tools, you can install a tubular skylight yourself. Don’t even think about installing a full-blown skylight yourself.

#11 Add Plants:

Putting pots of plants around your room will remind you that spring and green will return.

Match plants to the amount of light you have, because dead and dying plants are depressing. Tropicals that thrive in indirect light are usually the best choice. If you have a sunny window you’ve got more plant options.

Bonus points for adding a plant that blooms in the winter, like a kaffir lily or anthurium.

#12 Celebrate National Cream Cheese Brownie Day:

February 10 is National Cream Cheese Brownie Day. Really. Since February is when winter is feeling longer than a seminar on insurance underwriting, this is exactly when you need to make cream cheese brownies.

Chocolate won’t make the sun shine longer or your house brighter, but it will make you feel better because … endorphins. Besides, you spent a ton of money on that marble-topped kitchen island and those double ovens, so get baking.