C. Lee Services Blog

How many of us know what causes icicles?  I didn’t until my roof started to leak last year.  I found out that icicles happen when you have excessive snow on your roof.  Most older homes will experience heat loss through the roof.  This heat loss will cause the bottom of the snow layer to melt and refreeze when it gets to the gutter.  This refrozen snow now builds up in the gutters and back onto the roof causing an ice jam.  This ice will the move over the gutters to cause icicles. 

Once the ice jam gets large enough, the melted snow that started it all will have no place to go but under the shingles of your roof.  You can probably guess what will happen next.  Your roof will start to leak.  Once it starts leaking there is not much you will be able to do.  You will need to call a professional roofing contractor.

The time to correct this problem is before it starts.  You can start with having your insulation checked by a professional.  If you need more insulation, get it installed.  This will eliminate the heat loss that causes the snow melt.  If that is not really an option (you have a vaulted ceiling), having an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  Once the snow & ice have melted, have roof de-icing cables installed.  These work very well.  I know because I installed them on my home and have not had the typical situation which I just described happen this year.

 If you need rood de-icing cables, we can install them for you.  Just give us a call at 330-923-4944 and we will be happy to assist you in any way possible.

Water Heating
Warm water can be costing you more than you think. A typical household spends 14 percent of their energy bill, or about $200 a year on hot water.

• To save on both water heating and water, install a low-flow showerhead. It can cut water use as much as 50 percent.
• Keep showers under 5 minutes. Turn off the water to soap up.
• Attach low-flow aerators to kitchen and bathroom faucets. The faucet will flow stronger while using much less water. For a family of four, this can save thousands of gallons of water a year.
• Wrap the hot water pipes coming out of your water heater with insulation.
• Set the thermostat to 120°F or less for normal use - saving money, energy and even skin (by eliminating scalds).
• If the side of your water heater feels warm near the top, install an insulation blanket. Make sure to use the appropriate type blanket for your water heater, whether it’s electric, gas or oil. Follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions carefully

Please check these tips.  They will help you save money in these difficult times.

Energy Saving Tips

• Limit the loss of expensive heated air to the outside. Use fans sparingly. In just one hour, these fans can blow away a house full of warm air.
• Keep fireplace dampers tightly closed until you prepare to light a fire. An open damper in a 48-inch square fireplace can let as much as 8% of our heat escape out the chimney.
• Lower your thermostat to about 65 degrees F during the day and 60 degrees F at night. For each degree you turn down your thermostat, you’ll save 3% on heating bills.
• When using the fireplace, open dampers in the bottom of the firebox if provided, or open the closet window about 1 inch and close the doors leading into the room. This allows more air for the fire without reducing heat loss.
• Make a draft detector by clipping a piece of tissue paper to a coat hanger. Hold the coat hanger in front of a suspected crack; any movement indicates a leak in need of caulking or weather stripping.
• Avoid heating unused areas by closing off unoccupied rooms and shutting off heat vents. (Does not apply if you have a heat pump)
• Learn about R values before you buy your insulation materials. These numbers indicate resistance of an insulation material to winter heat loss or summer heat gain.
• Consider installing storm windows and doors. Storm windows can be both energy efficient and convenient. Good windows can result in cost savings of as much as 15% a year.
• Consider the advantages of a clock thermostat for your heating system. The clock thermostat will turn the heat down automatically at a regular hour before you retire and turn it up again before you wake.
• Close windows and doors during hot days and open them at night.
• Close drapes and shades during hot days.
• Reduce use of oven, incandescent lights and appliances that generate heat.
• To stay cool, use ceiling fans to cool individual rooms.
• To stay cool, consider installing a whole house fan in the attic.
• Get a timer for air conditioners so they can be off all day and turned on before you get home.
• Time for a new color? Use light colors when painting the house and trim.
• Stay cool by planting shade trees on the sunny side of the house.