Q–I am improving the insulation in the home I recently moved into–to save on fuel bills in the heating season, as well as to cut down on air-conditioning costs in the summer.
I put down extra insulation in the attic and installed it around the foundation walls, but I cannot afford to have insulation added to the outside walls.
A friend recommended that I can cut down on cold drafts in the winter and air-conditioning costs in the summer by simply insulating all electric outlets that are on outside walls.
Is this worth doing, and if so, how can I accomplish this?
A–This is a very simple do-it-yourself project that is also very inexpensive. I feel that it is well worth doing–especially in an older house that may not have adequate insulation in the exterior walls.
The existing outlet plate is removed by taking out the screw that holds it in place, then a foam gasket is slid in behind it before screwing the plate back into position.
These foam gaskets are available in most hardware stores and home centers and can be easily trimmed to size when necessary.
Q–Water drips in from our bathroom exhaust fan in the winter months, but this never happens during mild weather.
We had the hooded exhaust vent on the roof replaced with a model that has a flap on it to cover the opening when not in use, but this has not solved the problem.
Can you explain how water is getting into the fan and then dripping down into our bathroom?
A–Without having actually examined the installation I can only guess.
One possibility is that the water comes from melting snow that piles up against the vent, then melts when the vent is warmed by hot air that comes out when the fan is in use. That would explain why there is no such problem in warm weather.
Another possibility is the moisture is actually condensation–steam that condenses on the cold metal on its way up to the outside vent opening.
This condensation then drips down after enough moisture accumulates. If so, this could by corrected by insulating the metal duct where it goes up through the attic.
Q–We used chemicals to kill a climbing vine on the brick walls of our house, but we are still left with lots of tentacles and root-like remnants on the brick, especially in the crevices and joints.
Can you suggest an easy way to get these remnants off the brick?
A–Unfortunately, there is no “easy way.” Wire brushing by hand is one method, but it is a lot of work.
The work will be less tedious and go a lot faster if you use a power-driven wire wheel instead, but make sure you wear safety goggles or a safety mask to protect your eyes and your face.
