Archive for the ‘Roofs’ Category
September 29th, 2009 | 
Author: Rapid world population growth and lifestyle change contribute to the increased demand for water by mankind. Additionally, low level rainfall in some parts of the world, slowed the replenishment of water supply.
Therefore, each one of us should make our best efforts in the conservation of one the most precious commodity here on our planet, which is water. One such effort is to watch out for water leaks in our homes, no matter how small those leaks might be.
Although some water leaks are so slow that they are not detectable, some known leaks are being ignored by some homeowners. This is due to ignorance to the fact that small leaks that keeps on leaking would sum up into thousands of gallons in a year. Imagine if all homeowners had that same attitude?
Moreover, water leaks not only contribute to worldwide water shortage, but also cause damage to some parts of the house’s structure. Damages to the house structural elements could cause the house to deteriorate faster, collapse, and cause injuries to its occupants.
Water leak detection can either be done by periodically checking the areas and components of the house’s plumbing system or by installing a commercially available water leak detection device.
There are mainly two types of water leak detection system:
1. Passive Leak Detection Systems – are usually stand-alone battery-operated devices that produce alarm sounds when its moisture sensor becomes wet, these alarms enable the homeowner to locate exactly where the water leaks are and do the necessary repairs. Since these are battery-dependent devices, its battery should be checked regularly.
2. Active Leak Detection Systems – also sounds an alarm when it detect water leaks, and will automatically stop the water flow. It may use a moisture sensor or a flow sensor in monitoring any water leaks. There are two types of active leak detection system:
a. Individual appliance systems – monitors leaks from a single appliance and automatically shuts off water supply to such appliance should leaks be detected.
b. Whole house systems – monitors leaks in the whole house and shuts off the main water supply to the house should leaks be detected. A whole house system is composed of several moisture sensors which sends signal to control the valve via a radio signal or by means of wiring connections.
Every house is unique and has a special situation to determine what type of water leak system is applicable. Some simple systems may be installed by the homeowner, but complex systems should be done by a qualified plumber.
If you don’t have a water leak detection system device installed in your house, you can always check your house periodically for any water leaks, unless of course if you already hear those water dripping sound. Water leaks usually happen in areas where the water-consuming appliance and plumbing fixtures are located. Among the most obvious areas to look for water leaks are:
1. Bathroom & toilet area (check for leaks on showerhead, faucet, and water heating system)
2. Kitchen (check for leaks on faucet, dishwasher, water heating system)
3. Laundry room (check for leaks on faucet, clothes washer)
4. Garage and basement area (check on evaporator cooler, hot water system)
5. Lawn (check on turf, low water use garden, irrigation system)
6. Pool and spa
7. Patio
8. Water meter
Detecting water leaks through the sight and sound may seem an easy task. This may be true in fast and big leaks, but slow and small leaks, it could be impossible to detect without the aid of a water leak detection device. Here are some tips in monitoring the house for possible water leaks.
1. Water is leaking in your toilet when water is moving from the tank to the bowl when nobody is flushing it.
2. When your toilet is flushing itself when nobody is near the toilet.
3. Another method of detecting water leak in the toilet is to place food color in the tank, should you see the color in the bowl after a few minutes then you can conclude that there is a leak.
4. Since most water pipes are embedded in the walls and floors, we can only know if there are leaks when you see discoloration on a wall, ceiling, and carpet.
5. Detecting water leaks in sprinkling system is the same with spotting leaks on concealed piping systems.
6. One such practical way to know whether you have water leaks in your house is to monitor your water bill. Should you have higher water bill with the same usual consumption, you could seek a professional plumber or check it out with your local utility company.
Water leaks only worsen through time; it would be wise for you to deal with it as early as possible. Early detection and repair shall save you money and prevent damage to your house. If you ignore it, you are only postponing something you should do anyway.
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The basic gauge of the effectiveness of any insulation is its R-value. Insulation is designed to stop the flow of heat. The more heat the insulation stops, the higher the R-value of that insulation.
When compared to fibreglass batt insulation, spray foam insulation has a higher R-value at a given thickness. In other words, 2 inches of spray foam will insulate your roof better than 2 inches of fibreglass batts.
Cellulose fill, either blown-in or applied by hand, also has a higher R-value than fibreglass batts at the same thickness. But, again, the R-value of spray foam insulation is almost twice as high as cellulose fill insulation of the same thickness.
As important as R-value is in how well insulation works, it is not the only thing to consider when choosing the best roof insulation. Moisture will cause both fibreglass batts and cellulose fill to lose R-value. Even slight moisture, that you can’t see or feel, can reduce the R-value of fibreglass batts.
Neither fibreglass batts or cellulose fill insulation can seal every gap in your roof. Heat can pass through the open gaps and this reduces the R-value of the insulation, although the R-values listed for fibreglass or cellulose do not take this into consideration. In other words, the actual R-value of installed fibreglass batt or cellulose fill roof insulation is lower than the listed R-value.
Spray foam insulation is not affected by moisture. In fact, it can stop minor leaks because, when it is applied, spray foam insulation spreads to fill every gap and seal your roof. Pollutants and other airborne irritants that might get through the gaps left by batts and fill are kept out by spray foam insulation.
Perhaps best of all, insulating your roof with spray foam insulation costs about the same as other insulations.
The spray foam roof insulation specialists at Foam Comfort have the experience you need to get the most from your insulation.
