Healthy Homes of Rochester

[caption id="attachment_312" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Before"][/caption]Q. What Are Those Streaks on My Roof? And How Do I Get Rid of Them?

A: The “black streaks” or “stains” that appear on your roof are living organisms that are feeding off of your asphalt roof! Eating your roof alive, literally!

by Ryan Morse,
Founder, NYS Metal Roof Co-Op

Roof stains are sweeping the country in alarming proportion. Until recently most of us thought this to be purely cosmetic.

This however is not the case. The stains that appear on your roof are living organisms (Gloeocapsa magma -a type of blue-green algae and fungi – MOLD). These organisms feed on the base of the shingle (primarily the limestone filler) causing the reflective ceramic granules to loosen and end up in your gutter.

As these granules ‘disappear’ you will notice as rise in your homes utility bills. Unable to effectively reflect the suns rays away from your home in summer your air conditioner will find itself working overtime to keep your house cool.

The black streaks also absorb and hold heat to your roofs surface. In winter your heating bill will inch upward as the shingles are less likely to retain the heat in your home as they did when they were new.

If the area of growth is left untreated the stains will spread causing more issues!

An infected roof not only reduces your homes curb-appeal and property value but can also have an adverse effect on the occupant’s respiratory system.

Asphalt roofs in climates with warm, humid summers like ROCHESTER are largely affected. The spores on the northern exposure of the roof stand a better chance of survival because that portion of the roof is the last part to dry after rain or morning dew. This raises the humidity on the surface of the shingle, thus creating a perfect breeding and feeding ground.

The algae spores are carried to our roofs from water sources by the wind and birds, and then from roof to roof where it grows and feeds on the limestone filler in asphalt shingles.

Shingle manufactures changed from all asphalt to fiberglass shingles some time ago. The limestone in the fiberglass shingles which, is added for weight, attracts the bacteria and begins to spread.

The tar used in roofing is fossilized, dead organic matter — and an important food source for fungi. Asphalt, at the granule base, is normally consumed first. Once these granules dislodge, accelerated deterioration will occur. Ceramic granules represent the outer hard shell that protects against hail and other falling debris. Ceramic granules protect against damaging UV radiation and insulate the roof against extreme heat. So you can understand that their dislodgement by the growing fungal colonies can be detrimental to our roofs’ longevity.

As I mentioned, the “dark stains” on a roof act as a sponge to absorb the sun’s heat, which causes a rise in the temperature inside a home or building, creating higher air conditioning bills.

The spores, which are on your roof, can get inside your home because they end up on the driveway and walkways from rain, and are easily tracked inside. They can even be drawn into our air conditioning systems and eventually populate our ducts.

After 9 years of research and testing, ROOF REVIVER(TM) Roof Cleaner has become the finest product in America for treating roofs infected with algae and fungi.

Here’s why Roof Reviver(TM) is your best choice:

Roof Reviver(TM) is EPA Registered for roof cleaning and approved by shingle makers GAF, Elk and Owens Corning. Roof Reviver(TM) is biodegradable and won’t damage your roof, or void its warranty.

Roof Reviver(TM) is safe to use around children and pets. It won’t kill your plants, grass and flowers like chlorine bleach. Runoff won’t poison lakes and waterways.

Roof Reviver(TM) does not cause the shingles to crack or curl like harsh chemicals do. It won’t corrode roofing nails, gutters, flashings or metal.

Roof Reviver(TM) is safe enough to be sprayed on shingles without rinsing. This is ideal for maintenance and prevention of roof stains.

We are the only Roof Reviver cleaning specialists in the area. We don’t just clean your roof, we inspect and correct! Our exclusive roof cleaning package comes complete with inspection and sealing of flashings and penetrations.

Until you are ready for a new Stone Coated Steel roof, which is not susceptible to the problems that asphalt roofs are experiencing, extend the life and protect the future of your current roof. We can view your roof, stains and measurements, using our satellite-imaging program and give you a price right over the phone! Call 585-703-4982

Another great find by The Fixie Chick

Your home most likely has water pipes that carry hot water from the hot water heater to the kitchen sink, and bathrooms of your home. An easy way to save energy and money is to use foam pipe insulation to insulate the hot water lines (or pipes) in your home. To do this, go to your hot water heater and follow the pipe that carries hot water to the house. Take the foam pipe insulation and cut it to fit in the lengths that you need to cover your pipes. This is very simple to do and cost effective. Taking these steps to install foam pipe insulation in your home will help to keep the water hot in the lines by insulating the pipes.

Below is a recommended choice of pipe insulation. Or you can visit our store at:

http://www.healthyhomesofrochester.com/store.php

In the Rochester, NY area there is one company that we recommend who can get the job done.

The company name is Stage It List It Sell it. These people are true professionals in their field. Kristen Heyen Noble is at the helm. She will show how to organize, de-clutter, and stage your home to SELL. They have an inventory of items and furniture to help redo rooms of your home to improve the look and feel to a potential buyer.

She also is able to remodel or stage your home virtually on her computer to give prospective buyers an idea how a room or rooms will look if they are changed in any way.

Healthy Homes of Rochester Recommends this company to provide a great, professional service.

Give Kristen a call to get the job done.

http://stageitlistitsellit.com

Even if you don’t use hot water to wash your clothes, your water heater still gets plenty of use but there are a couple of easy ways you can reduce energy consumption here. First, lower the heaters thermostat down to say a 120 degrees or the “vacation” setting.  Then, wherever you have access, insulate the hot water pipes that are going to your faucets inside the house with foam pipe insulation.  The foam pipe insulation is very reasonably priced. The pipe insulation also adds comfort to you when you need hot water in your shower or faucet, it will be available quickly.

Now these things alone can reduce your energy bill as much as 5% or more.  To make your water heater a little more efficient, two or three times a year, drain a bucket full of water from the drain valve at the bottom of the heater. You will be removing all of the sediment and hard water deposits that build up in the bottom of the tank which reduce the water heater’s efficiency and capacity.

just another simple DIY tip on saving energy and money by The Fixie Chick

If you invest a bit of time now, you can ensure a bountiful harvest and a beautiful landscape to make this your best gardening season yet. Preparing a strong spring foundation means new plantings are better able to survive the heat, drought and pest attacks of summer.

“Start your garden off right by adding several inches of organic matter to the top 6- to 12- inches of soil,” recommends horticulture expert and author Melinda Myers. “Peat moss, compost, aged manure and other organic materials improve drainage in heavy clay soil and increase the water holding capacity of sandy soils.”

Incorporate a slow-release, low-nitrogen fertilizer like Milorganite before planting flowers and vegetables. “I like Milorganite’s low nitrogen formulation” says Myers. “This makes it goof proof so you will not harm young tender plants no matter what your gardening skill. Its slow-release nitrogen encourages overall growth without preventing flowering and fruit production that can occur when too much nitrogen is applied.”

Reduce weed problems and increase the health and vigor of your lawn by properly mowing, watering and fertilizing. “Mow high to encourage deep roots that are more pest- and drought-resistant,” Myers suggests. “Taller grass is better able to fend off weeds.” Mow often and leave the short clippings on the lawn to add nutrients, organic matter and moisture to the soil. Use a sharp blade for quicker recovery and a better-looking lawn.

Water thoroughly but less frequently to encourage deep roots. Water your lawn early in the morning to minimize water loss. If you allow your lawn to go dormant during drought, leave it dormant until temperatures cool, rains return and nature brings it back to life.

Use a low-nitrogen, slow-release fertilizer for your spring feeding. An organic nitrogen type fertilizer will not promote lush growth that is more susceptible to disease and requires more mowing. Plus if you stop watering or your community institutes a watering ban, it won’t damage the lawn. In fact, the fertilizer will stay in the soil until the weather improves and your lawn starts to grow.

Improve the health of trees and shrubs with proper watering and mulch. Water new plantings whenever the top few inches of soil are dry. Don’t forget about established plants. These need a helping hand during extended periods of drought. Always water thoroughly to encourage deep drought-resistant roots.

Maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch around trees and shrubs. Woodchips, shredded bark and other organic materials help conserve moisture, suppress weeds and improve the soil as they decompose. Keep mulch away from the trunk of trees and crowns of other plants to reduce the risk of disease.

Myers suggests you create or expand existing mulch rings without the use of chemicals.  She says it’s simple, “Just edge the mulch bed, cut the existing grass short, spread a layer of newspaper or cardboard over the area and cover with woodchips or shredded bark.  The paper provides an extra weed barrier and eventually breaks down adding organic matter to the soil.”

Use an all-purpose fertilizer to give existing trees, shrubs and perennials a nutrient boost.  A low-nitrogen, slow-release formula encourages moderate growth that needs less pruning and is less susceptible to certain pests.

And don’t forget to take a moment to enjoy the beauty of spring while preparing your landscape for the season ahead.
Thank you for reading, the Fixie Chick

Here is a slick new gadget that I purchased and wanted to recommend to you. It very simply uses infrared sensors to measure surface temperatures and gives you a digital read out of the temperature. This device is designed to help homeowners track down power-draining drafts in the home for obvious energy savings. The leak detector comes with a 5 step guide to fixing basic energy leaks, offering guidance on everything from caulking to weatherproofing windows and doors. I have fun using the tool as it comes in handy around my house to find where the cold air is coming in during the winter. It can also be used in the summer months to see where you are losing cool air-conditioned air. I purchased this thermal leak detector from Amazon.com where I purchase most of the items around my home. In addition, this item is listed as a bestseller on Amazon.com
Here is a link below where you can get yours:

Whatever you pour down your drain eventually become someone else’s drinking water. To help keep your drains clear pour a tea kettle of boiling water down the kitchen laundry and bathroom sinks, and tubs or showers. Do not pour boiling water down the toilet or any other fixture that has an integrated trap, such as a bidet or urinal since the sudden change in temperature could damage the porcelain. This is the best preventive maintenance, homeowners can do. If you do this frequently it will keep the buildup in the drains from getting to the point where they get clogged.
Use chemicals in clogged drains as a last resort, after plunging pouring boiling water down the drains and using an auger or plumbers snake. Using harsh drain clearing chemicals as a last resort ensures the least amount of toxins gets into the water systems. Also, a gas is formed by the chemicals in the drain cleaner which are released into the air in your home. After using chemicals flush them completely with water. Never plunge drains after using chemicals since they could splash up in your face.
In most cities water that flows into storm drains does not go through wastewater treatment. So it is important not to let chemicals and contaminants reached the storm drains. For example, don’t drain your pool into or poor auto fluids down the storm drains. These materials have no place in our water. Just some simple ideas to keep us all a little healthier.

Just another green tip from the Fixie Chick

January is National Radon Action Month. According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), exposure to radon in the home is responsible for an estimated 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year and is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. Although testing for radon is easy and inexpensive, 80 percent of the homes in the U.S. have not been tested. Nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the U.S. is estimated to have elevated radon levels. Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is best detected when doors and windows are all tightly closed.

Radon is a radioactive gas produced from the uranium which is in the geological formation under the soil. The amount or radon gas varies depending on the amount of uranium in the formation. The type of soil under the house, the design of the house and the life style or the family living in the house all affect the amount of radon gas that enters a home.

The only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon is to test your home for radon or have it tested by a certified professional radon tester. For do-it-yourselfers, radon kits can be purchased for $25 at building supply, hardware and general merchandise stores. A basic test takes 10 minutes to set up and when complete is mailed to a lab for analysis.

If test results are above the EPA recommended action level you need to have the radon level reduced by a certified radon ‘mitigator.’ Reducing radon is not technically difficult and costs approximately $800 – $2,500.

Tune into Property Source Radio with the Fixie Chick, Saturday morning at 9 am to learn four easy things you as homeowners, renters, and parents can do to take action in January.

Thanks for reading,

-The Fixie Chick
Here is another link for radon information:

http://www.epa.gov/radon/nram/event_kit.html

How to take 10 Years off the appearance of your palace

As I walked around the yard picking up fallen twigs and debris blown my way, I looked at the old place and decided that there are a few things that I should think about to give my home a facelift. While in the budgetary mode, a few simple changes can still be made.

Assess what needs attention. Is your home suffering from year old dirt on your siding, windows, and roof? The simple fix to clean just about anything, is a power washer. Power washers can be rented, but they are a relatively inexpensive purchase. Start at the top of your home and spray your way down. The roof can be washed and cleared of dirt and debris, work on the gutters too while there. If the paint is not in good shape, stand about 3-4 feet away while spraying.. you don’t want to loosen the paint even more. Wash the siding using a sweeping motion and let the water run down, until all the dirt is removed. While you have the sprayer out, wash the deck to remove stains and mildew.

Clean the yard. Pick up sticks, rake autumn’s leftover leaves, and clean up debris. Walking around the yard with your wheelbarrow , rake and garden clippers, visually decide what needs attention. Is it the garden? Does your house need painting? Is your patio furniture looking shabby?

Paint your shutters. A fresh coat of paint on the shutters will give your home a lift. Try a new shade of dusty aqua on a grey house, or a deep, blackish green on a brick home. While painting the shutters, also give your front door a color change. Try something new. Add a bright color, maybe orange or sunny yellow. Do your window boxes need a boost? Plant your window boxes with herbs this year. It is convenient to have your herbs close and off the ground when cooking. One year, I planted mine with different varieties of parsley. They were lush and full, and so easy to care for.

Edge your lawn. Place a stake at one point and then a stake at another point. Tie a string between them to make your straight line. Follow it with your garden tool to scribe an edge. If you have a sidewalk that has grass growing between the grooves, easily remove the grass with an old steak knife or sprinkle salt between the cracks. Use new mulch around your shrubs. Some towns offer it free. Call your town to find the location, bring some heavy plastic bags and a shovel and you are in mulch heaven.

How does your porch furniture look? Buy new throw pillows for the chairs, Pier One has so many to choose from. Remember they don’t have to match. Mix it up. Be creative. Try fresh, bright colors like grass green or orange. I made new slipcovers for my pillows from remnants in my fabric caboodle, using all mismatched stripes.

The most important fix to add Spring freshness to your home is buy a new door mat. There are so many to choose from this year. At your home stores, you can find florals, stripes, and amusing designs- more than a boring black ”welcome” mat. I found one that mimics a post card- too cute!

Have fun with your home’s appearance. Add color, bright color, this year. You will improve your home’s curb appeal, while taking years off your home’s face.