I have a few suggestions. While my terminology might not be spot on, my father & uncle are custom home builders, and I've been around all this stuff since I was knee high. New insulation always helps, though it is a hassle to knock down walls and get new dry walls/paint. But I hear now they just have a foam that they sprain down into the walls from the ceiling. Much of the heat retained in home during the summer stays up in the attic. There's there deal where you cut a hole along the pinnacle of your roof, then line it back up with some more roofing about half an inch or so higher. This allows the hot air (which naturally rises) to exit from the attic area, but is small enough where it doesn't cause any damage and actually looks kind of nice. Not sure what it's called, but I'm sure these guys will know. Also, another high misconception is leaving your A/C off all day. Say (for argument sake) you like your house at 78 degrees. Well, if you leave it off all day and come home to a 90 degree house, it'll cost more to cool down the house back to 78 than it does to say leave your thermostat at 86 during the day. Even though your AC unit will come on periodically though the day, you will actually save money from the amount of energy wasted cooling the house all the way back down. Finally, make sure your AC unit is in good shape. Always a good idea to get some Freon in it before it get's too hot, and make sure there is no debris or shrubs next to the unit as to maintain it's integrity and longevity. New windows also make a world of difference, but those can get pricy.
Truth be told....I love taking to you! I know putting those lines will get a call out from you, so I'm constantly on the look-out to see which thread your spreading your sunshine and make it a point to post in such threads. You ask the same question Why the three lines and I respond something rhetorical and our little charade continues. Good to hear from you again!! ......... ......... .........
^ Aside from that, why press the 'enter' key all the time when the comments field wraps the text automatically? Why post this: (12 lines), when it could easily be written as: (4 lines) and use up LESS space on threads? There's no "charade" here, man. It's just a question, and I am hoping you see what I mean to bring up. Think about it.
R-30 insulation, radiant barriers, double paned window (class E) installment. Look in to perforated saufets on your roof. Really helps a ton, and maybe look for a more energy efficient air conditioner as well.
Radiant barrier is the real deal. I used to think it was a scam until I got it on my new home 3 years ago. (My builder calls it Tech-Shield, but it's basically the same thing) The attic at my old house was an oven during the summer time. Attic on my new house feels about 30 degrees cooler. And it's a new neighborhood with no trees shading the roof at all. Also, someone else mentioned not turning up/off your AC while you're not there. This is very true. It takes more energy to cool it back down again when you get back home than it does to just keep it cool all day. I usually turn mine up to 77 when we're out, then back to 74 or so when we get back. It takes less than 15 minutes to get the temp back to 74.
Home Depot. Got a bag for like $77. Got some other tools and it probably totaled about 150 for covering a large attic facing wall. The quote I had from a professional for the same thing was about $500. If your attic floor isn't insulated, then it might make sense to get an Attic Cat and blow in insulation. I think you can rent it for free if you buy enough insulation from HomeDepot. Seemed like a good deal.
I appreciate what your trying to do Swoly, I want to think that you are being sincere and you want to help a brother out, BUT why am I being singled out when all the posters above are ALSO wasting valuable space on this thread? I could see If I was a prolific poster who posted all the time but I don't. I get it, I got it awhile back you don't like the lines for one reason or another and you want me to stop using them. Sorry brah it's not happening! If it bothers you that much block me brah..block me. I hope you and I can become like Ben & Jerry's and not like the Hatfield & McCoys! ............ ............ ............
Surely, you're not comparing your LINE-BREAKING hard-return methods to ima_drummer2k's long paragraphs without hard breaks, icrnk's list which seems fine when going to the next lines, or Haymitch's different thoughts on different paragraphs, are you? Your posts with manual line-breaks AND adding three redundant and unnecessary lines aren't a comparison by any means to those poster's entries. It is not that it bothers me so much, man, but... one of the reasons Clutchfans is clean and legit and it has so much activity and a slew of knowledgeable people, is that it's simple, easy to read without the extra photos on signatures, less wasted space, etc. You must see this, sir.
I did not compare myself to any of these good people, and Ima_drummer2k is not even in my post! You obviously like talking to me because you haven't blocked me soooo I'll talk to you later! ......... ......... .........
someone in construction told me last week that when convenient stores close, those glass doors on the refrigerated cases are weatherproof and you can buy them or maybe just get them.
I'll admit it, I added ima_ myself, so I made that mistake. But... why would you assume that anyone who addresses someone else likes talking to them? It's just trying to have the space sense put into your head. You're obviously not seeing what I mean. And, lastly: "I'll talk to you later!"? WTF is this, a chatline? It's not. FYI, you can remove your signature, too, every now and then, to alleviate even more space for people to read fast (less scrolling).
I'm back Swoly, I can't understand why you won't simply BLOCK me? I'm the Grim Reaper and I'm coming for you Swoly, BLOCK me while you still have a chance, BLOCK me Swoly please BLOCK me. I take up too much space BLOCK me....... ........ ........ ........
Yes there are expanding foam products that can be used for insulation. You can also use spray loose insulation where the whole wall doesn't need to be removed but that will settle after awhile. What you are probably thinking of is a ridge vent. http://www.airvent.com/homeowner/products/ridgeVents.shtml
Sorry to be picky but in case the OP is looking into this what you are talking about are "soffit vents" that are under the eaves of the roof. These combined with air chutes and other vents can make a big difference.
Do those solar blocking window films help? Not everyone has the money to get all new double pane windows
I sell homes for KB and even live in a KB home. From a personal stand point I can advise the use of "perforated soffits". They make a huge difference. Along with radiant barriers your house efficiency will go up quite a bit. Windows, make a big difference, along with making sure the ducts on your doors/windows are tightly sealed.
Probably because it's not very easy getting around in the attic once the house is already up. If you look at new constructions that have radiant barriers, the tech-shield stuff already comes attached to the plywood they put up on your roof. We just got a new home that is Energy Star certified and the builder uses spray foam insulation. This stuff is way better than radiant barrier. If you go in our attic, the temperature will be pretty close to what it is in the house
