Any Questions???

Here is an open forum for everybody to post any home questions or concerns. Please feel free to post any type of home question that you may have and I'll do my best to help you solve it or at least point you in the right direction! Hope to hear form you soon!

HHM

HHM Product of the Month

Recently a question regrading attic ventilation came to my attention. This is a great new product that helps properly ventilate your attic and its energy efficient! Most people do not know that your attic is supposed to be as close to the outside temperature as possible. Something that should also be considered with this product is proper attic insulation. Most homes built new, have a R-38 rating. If your home is more than 5 yrs old, you most likely do not have R-38. There are many tax credits now that help in the purchase of home energy saving products. This is just one option that is easy to install and qualifies for a tax credit. Their cheapest unit after the credit is $280, not a small chunk of change but the saving will add up over time! Check out this month's product of the month!

Check out this link for information and a demonstration video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c7bzeUmqcc

1st Home tip of the week

Steps You Can Take To Prevent Frozen Pipes

If you live in an older home that has pipes located in some of the trouble spots we’ve listed then there are a few things you can do. First of all if you can afford it hire a plumber to relocate problem pipes. The cost associated with moving a problem pipe can be MUCH cheaper than cleaning up devastating water damage. The following tips can also help.

• Insulate Exposed Pipes – Pipe insulation can significantly improve energy conservation while protecting your pipes from short periods of freezing temperatures.
• Seal Drafts – Drafts are one of the biggest causes of frozen pipes each year. Whether it’s a door that’s left open, a broken window or a hold in a wall, cold drafty air can quickly freeze a water pipe. Using cans of spray foam is a quick cost effective way of sealing small drafts.
• Open Cabinet Doors - Occasionally pipes freeze when they are located in the back of cabinets. This is very common in houses without insulation in the wall cavities. Simply opening the cabinet doors on really cold days can prevent and unexpected frozen pipe.
• Heat Tape – Although we’re not big fans of heat tape it’s certainly an option. Heat tapes are as simple as always on to ones that are controlled by a thermostat. If you’re going to use heat tape be very careful and follow the manufacturers instructions exactly.
• Slow Drip – One of the oldest tricks in the book for preventing a frozen pipe is to leave the faucet on a very slow drip. By allowing the water to keep moving in the pipe it slows down the freezing process and also help reduce pressure in the pipe. Obviously this is quite wasteful and potentially expensive.

What To Do If Your Pipes Freeze

If your pipes freeze don’t panic. The first thing to do is call your local plumber. The absolute worst and most dangerous thing you can do is applying heat with an open flame such as a blow torch. Plumbers have special heat blankets used specifically for thawing pipes. Chances are VERY good that you’ll discover a leak once the pipes are thawed so having the plumber there to fix the leak is critical.

It’s also a good idea to call your insurance company if you experience frozen pipes. Water damage must be cleaned up properly to prevent mold and mildew damage. Most insurance companies today want to be involved with that clean-up process to protect against expensive mold claims in the future.

Article located at www.homeconstructionimprovement.com

Welcome to The Home Help Man Blog

Welcome to the Home Help Man blog, a website initiated and maintained for you, my fellow home owners. Over the past couple months I have been receiving many calls from friends and family regarding home questions or concerns. This new site is for you. I will be updating this site weekly with home home maintenance tips and best practices. Throughout my educational and professional career I have amassed a plethora of knowledge regarding homes and all the small little maintenance tips that go along with home ownership.
A little about me, I have a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology with a Construction Management focus. I have worked as an estimator for paint and drywall, and worked as a construction manager for local Chicagoland home builders for the last 6 years. Through out my career as a construction manager I have managed 500+ home from start to finish, starting with the village permit process through the rough stage of construction and onto the finish process and final permits. There isn't much that I haven't seen or handled regarding homes. I have recently transitioned from the home construction industry into the insurance industry as a Property Claims Adjuster. I now have this knowledge to pass along as well.

This site is initially dedicated to my close friends and family who have questions or concerns regarding their home. I will be posting weekly home tips and best practice's for you home, and there will be an open forum box where you can post a question and have it answered by me. Just like you were told in school, there are no stupid questions and most likely someone else will either have the same question or benefit from the answer. I'm new to this whole blog thing and I am very open to any advice you may have on making the site even better.

With that said, I look forward to hearing from you soon with your questions or concerns and keep an eye open for the tips of the week.