The first week of the 2018 KTSA Home Improvement Show was a home run with tons of great calls – and there were many questions concerning insulation & ventilation. We’ve got the top highlights below, so be sure to check them out!
Insulation 101
Ruth started the show by calling in and asking what she should do to fix her temperature drop in her bedroom. She said it gets about six degrees hotter in her bedroom, and she believes the problem has to do with her windows, asbestos insulation in her bedroom or the ducts in her attic.
We told Ruth that the issue may not necessarily be an air conditioning or heating issue because master bedrooms commonly have this problem for another reason. The reason being is that the bedroom may have exposed walls that are not well insulated. We recommended that Ruth have an exterior insulation installed onto the exposed walls of her bedroom. An exterior insulation would be her best option because it would get rid of the need to maintain the asbestos, add extra insulation value to her home as well as quiet her home.
Billy called in next and told us he has vaulted ceilings in his living room about 24 feet high without an attic. He said the problem is his living room gets really hot in the summer and the beams on his ceilings begin to sweat, leaving a white residue behind when they dry. Billy asked what we recommend for solving this issue.
The problem would have to do with the insulation in his ceilings. He likely has great insulation installed, however the insulation may have been compressed to the point that it lost its properties. We recommended that Billy have his insulation reworked in the ceilings of his living room.
Ventilation 101
Alex was concerned about the collection of dust on the grills of the vents in his home. He was planning on taking apart his air ducts in his home to clean them, but wondered what we recommended to solve the issue.
We told Alex his issue is known as the Venturi effect. As the cold air pushes out of the vents, it forms a negative pressure which pulls the attic dust with it. We suggested that Alex unscrew the grills of the vents and clean the grills, then apply some Dap Tub & Tile Caulk to the metal ledge on the sheet rock of the vents to prevent this issue from happening again.
Sonia called concerned about the heat and humidity in her bathroom. She said she bought her home about three years ago and now the paint on the ceiling and walls in one of her bathrooms is peeling away. Sonia said she believes the issue is due to the central air system in her home.
We recommended that Sonia have a ceiling exhaust fan installed in her bathroom. This is because the bathroom is the most commonly humid room in a home and evaporation will occur due to excessive heat. An exhaust fan on the ceiling will solve this issue by pulling all of the evaporated water in the room toward the outside of the house.
