Newspaper Page Text
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, FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT SUPPLEMENT
Zinsser for CONNERS FLOORING AMERICA
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Mold & mildew can make the exterior
of your home look dirty, unattractive and
rob it of its curb appeal. If left unchecked,
they can also damage paint, wood, roofs
and siding.
Removing mold & mildew used to
mean countless hours of scrubbing or
power washing - only to have it return the
next year. Thanks to products specifically
formulated to kill mold and mildew - and
prevent it from coming back - there’s now
a scrub free way to a mold mildew free
Give your home a
winterizing "check up"
(MS) - With winter just around the corner, now is the time to give your home a
winterizing “check-up” with the following home weatherizing checklist.
Here are five tips on what to look for and take care of so your home is ready for
those cold north winds. According to the exptirts at Venmar Ventilation, there are five
major steps to consider when winterizing your home (www.venmar.ca).
1. Have your heating system cleaned and tuned by a qualified contractor. A
pre-season tune-up and filter change is a good investment. It reduces the chances of
breakdowns in the middle of winter, improves safety, and pays for itself through more
energy efficient operation.
2. Have your system checked for carbon monoxide. A good contractor will also
offer to test your system for hazardous carbon monoxide, which can be produced by
a dirty or malfunctioning gas or oil furnace or water heater. Install a low level carbon
monoxide alarm. Every home should have at least one carbon monoxide alarm.
3. Have your duct system tested for air leaks. Many think that windows and doors
are the major cause of a home’s air leaks. But according to recent research by the U.S.
Department of Energy, gaps and cracks in the typical home’s duct system are much
more significant. The typical duct system loses 25 percent to 40 percent of the energy
put out by the central furnace, heat or air conditioner. Leaks are usually the biggest
problem.
4. Ask your heating contractor to perform an Infiltrometer “blower door” test.
The blower door is a computerized instrument that pinpoints where your home’s
worst air leaks are, and also measures how leaky the overall house is. While some
homes are still far too leaky, most homes are now becoming too airtight and need
mechanical ventilation to ensure the air inside is fresh. According to Gerry Gagnon,
product and market manager for Venmar Ventilation, a leader in indoor air quality
management, proper ventilation is crucial for optimal indoor air quality. “Ventilation
dilutes the air of pollutants in your home and revitalizes stale air,” explains Gagnon.
“For your home to ‘breathe’ effectively it needs a constant source of fresh, tempered,
filtered outdoor air to flow through, resulting in improved indoor air quality.”
Gagnon says the best results are achieved through mechanical ventilation combined
with HEPA filtration, such as Venmar’s line of air exchanger systems. The air
exchangers use a combination of ventilation and filtration to reduce humidity and
volatile compounds (gases, moulds), and maintain healthy indoor air quality.
5. Consider replacing your old furnace or heat pump. Just like a car, heating
equipment doesn’t last forever. If your system is more than 12 years old and you are
planning to stay in your home more than a few years, many authorities recommend
considering replacing it before it fails permanently. A new system is safer, more
dependable, and can pay for itself through energy savings as it is up to twice as energy
efficient.
home! Here’s how:
Control the moisture around your home.
Keep plants and mulch away from exterior
walls. Trim any branches or tree limbs that
touch the outside of your home. Since mold
& mildew need moisture to grow, redirect
sprinklers and rotate hanging planters to
prevent water from regularly collecting on
exterior surfaces. Repair leaks and extend
downspouts away from the foundation.
Clean & kill the mold & mildew with
JOMAX™ House Cleaner and Mildew
Killer. JOMAX contains an EPA
registered mildewcide that kills mold and
mildew, but won’t damage your home or
surrounding plants, grass and shrubs. Its
specifically formulated detergent system is
also great for loosening tough stains and
dirt without scrubbing or power washing.
Prevent it from coming back. After
killing the mildew, prevent it from
coming back with PERMA-WHITE©
Mold & Mildew-Proof©* Exterior Paint.
Guaranteed to prevent the growth of mold
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The health dangers of excess moisture
(MS) - Did you know that excess levels
of moisture or relative humidity in your
home provide ideal environments for
contaminants like mold and dust mites,
which are known allergens for many
people? Elevated levels of moisture can
also contribute to structural damage
within a home’s walls, attic, foundation
and exterior.
Fortunately, there are steps you can
take to regulate the level of humidity in
your home. Here are some helpful tips
from, Gerry Gagnon, Product & Market
Manager for Venmar Ventilation, a leading
expert in indoor air quality management,
to help you control the potential hazards
created by excess moisture.
• Daily activities in the kitchen and
bathroom can introduce large amounts
of water vapor and other contaminants
into the home. Install and maintain hood
exhaust fans of sufficient capacity over
your kitchen range and in your bathrooms.
Locate intakes where they can capture the
most moisture and make sure that bath
vents exhaust air outdoors and not into
your attic or other interior space.
• Elevated levels of humidity can cause
moisture problems including window
condensation, structural rot and mold
growth. To help control humidity and
remove excess moisture levels from your
home, consider installing a mechanical
air exchanger system. “For exceptional
results, you can look to the most recent
innovation in the industry - Venmar’s
air exchanger,” Gagnon said. “Venmar
is the first manufacturer of ventilation
systems to offer a unit that integrates
heat recovery ventilation technology with
HEPA filtration at an affordable price.”
“The system works to provide fresh
air through ventilation and at the same
time ensures the best indoor air quality
by trapping airborne allergens such as
pollen, dust, pet dander mold and bacteria
and mildew on the paint film for five years,
this premium quality exterior paint is also
guaranteed to resist cracking, fading,
peeling and blistering for 15 years after
application. A great choice where mold
& mildew is a concern, it is tintable to a
variety of decorator colors for beautiful
results that last.
For more information on removing and
preventing mold & mildew, and for other
helpful home improvement tips, visit
www.zinsser.com.
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through its HEPA filter system.”
• The exterior and interior of a home
should be well-caulked, especially around
windows and vents, to prevent water
leaks. Without caulking, mold growth
and structural problems may occur. “If
you are building a home, insist that your
builder install a- proven waterproofing
system, drain tile and vapor retarder to
your home’s foundation,” Gagnon added.
“A water-managed foundation can greatly
improve indoor air quality by preventing
problems associated with moisture.”
• Make sure a home’s roof and
windows are in good shape. Water leaks,
condensation and elevated levels of
humidity may not be visible, but moisture
in interior wall spaces can encourage mold
growth and structural degradation.
• It’s important to route water away
from your home’s foundation. Keep
gutters and drains clean and 'in good
repair. Be sure downspouts have a five
percent slope to carry water away from
your foundation. More information on
the benefits of ventilation is available at
www.venmar.ca.
OCTOBER 2007 |