Attics & Basements
Finding room in the kitchen to store the various bins needed for recycling can take up a lot of valuable cabinet space. Here Danny comes up with an innovative solution to the problem by installing chutes made from standard 4” dryer vent pipe that send cans and plastic bottles to bins located on a lower floor of the home.
When dryer lint builds up in the dryer vent pipe, it can drastically slow down the time it takes to dry clothes. Danny demonstrates how a dryer vent booster fan can help solve the problem.
Homeowners ask me all the time how they can control their monthly utility bills. Many have resigned themselves to paying high bills because they think that’s just the price you have to pay to be comfortable and that’s certainly a factor.
Adding fiberglass insulation to your attic is a great idea to improve energy efficiency but the process can be very uncomfortable due to the small glass fibers in the insulation. In addition to a long sleeved shirt, long pants, gloves, dust mask and eye goggles rub your hands and arms with baby powder or corn starch before working with fiberglass insulation.
No matter where you live in the U.S., homeowners are struggling more than ever before to find the balance between being comfortable inside their homes and keeping energy bills smaller than their mortgage payment. This struggle has taken center stage as the cost of energy rose dramatically this fall and December has already produced lower-than-average temperatures to date.
With winter approaching, it is obvious that families across the country need to find ways to save on their energy bills. Danny has some proven ways to help you though saving this winter.
Attics are all about storage, but rarely is the storage organized. Here’s a simple solution to take advantage of the open framing found in most attics. Create shelves for attic storage by building an “L” shaped support from 1x4s. One end of the “L” runs vertically attaching to the side of the roof rafter. The other end, running horizontally, attaches to the same rafter further down.
To cut insulation squarely and accurately use a utility knife with snap off blade. Extend the blade all the way out and lock it. The resulting 3″-4″ blade will make it easier to cut through thick batts of insulation. Use the straight edge of a piece of wood, lay it across the insulation, then kneel on one end of the insulation to compress it and run the blade down the edge of the wood for a nice square cut. Remember, to keep the fibers from irritating your skin wear a long sleeved shirt, pants, gloves, dust mask and safety glasses.
