Whether to install a gable exhaust fan in my attic and which of 3 gable vents to install it on?
[more inside]
posted by resurrexit
on May 9, 2013 -
8 answers
We apparently have bats in our attic. Should we call a pest removal service, or can we put up our own exclusion trap over the attic vent?
[more inside]
posted by Slap*Happy
on Apr 10, 2013 -
13 answers
Calling all home improvement gurus and energy efficiency wizards--help me figure out how to better insulate my attic! I've read through a bunch of information on energystar.gov and other websites about insulating attics, but the more I read the more confused I get about how to do this, because I have the world's weirdest attic. HELP.
[more inside]
posted by iminurmefi
on Jul 3, 2012 -
12 answers
Is there a sensor device or thermostat setup that can inexpensively switch on a fan based on the difference between two temperature points (one inside, one outside)?
[more inside]
posted by BleachBypass
on Jun 21, 2012 -
13 answers
We just got a new mattress to replace our king-sized memory foam mattress. I bought the old mattress a little too cheaply, and its not suited for further use on a bed. What are some creative ways to reuse the foam?
[more inside]
posted by Kronur
on Feb 28, 2012 -
6 answers
Is a dehumidifier the right solution for my problem? What else should we be considering?
[more inside]
posted by linettasky
on Oct 26, 2011 -
5 answers
Our attic space is very very hot. We have ridge vents, and two (small) gable vents, but no soffit vents whatsoever because the house (a 2000 sq foot 1960s ranch) doesn't have soffits. Instead, when you look up at the side of the house, you just see the bottom of the roof; there's just no place to install a soffit vent.
The AC vents run through the attic. The previous owner put 20" of insulation in, which seems to be keeping things manageable, but I'm sure that we're losing a lot of cooling via the attic. As, again, it is unbelievably hot in there. I've actually been leaving the attic stairs in the garage down when I'm home, with the garage door open, in the hopes that some airflow will result.
How can we cool it down? I know that just adding powered fans will do next to nothing as there's nowhere to draw the air from (b/c no soffit vents). Any experience with any new fangled systems? Austin, Texas (so snow is not an issue). The house has stood for 50 years like this, as have all the houses around it, so I know that we don't
have to do anything, but I'd like to if there's a reasonable solution.
posted by seventyfour
on Jul 11, 2011 -
18 answers
[Attic Ventilation Filter] Is it worth the money to add a ridge vent to my roof? I currently have a two-story house with an attic, which is ventilated with soffit and gable vents. Twist: I'm getting a new metal roof.
[more inside]
posted by Shoggoth
on Jun 26, 2011 -
5 answers
Technical question for architects / builders / roofers about attic ventilation in a southern zone. I'm renovating a house in south/central Texas (Brazos County), and I need some advice on how to properly ventilate my roof, as the original soffit/gable ventilation now seems quite messed up.
[more inside]
posted by SpecialK
on Apr 2, 2011 -
2 answers
I like to think I am a reasonable, science driven individual. I’m not religious nor particularly superstitious. But something about the upstairs of my house creeps me out against all reason or logic. I hate this and want it to be different. Help!
[more inside]
posted by lilnublet
on Mar 20, 2011 -
47 answers
Does anyone have comparison info between UltraTouch and T.A.P. (Thermal-acoustical-pest control) insulation?
[more inside]
posted by abednega
on Dec 29, 2010 -
1 answer
I opened the attic in the house I'm renting and some dust containing who-knows-what fell down on me. I didn't have a mask or safety glasses on. Are there any health risks?
[more inside]
posted by chris p
on Dec 19, 2010 -
14 answers
Is it likely that the raccoons in my (parents') attic will fall through the ceiling and into the house? And what to do in self-defense? I'm scared!
[more inside]
posted by cranberrymonger
on Dec 12, 2010 -
18 answers
This summer, I went up in the attic & cleaned out most of the detritus there, which included a
letter from the Civil War and a
sword. However, what's most intriguing to me is the three still-sealed bottles of beer I found.. and what to do with them.
[more inside]
posted by zempf
on Nov 29, 2010 -
9 answers
I can hear something scurry above my head. But no signs when I check for evidence. My study has a ceiling, and above that is the loft/storage/attic area. I can hear things scurrying there at certain times of day and night. Sound big-ish to me (rat sized?) but I also know even little things can sound big.
[more inside]
posted by Megami
on Nov 23, 2010 -
14 answers
What are the potential problems, if any, of venting a portable A/C unit into a closet or attic?
[more inside]
posted by wordsmith
on Aug 13, 2010 -
14 answers
I'm looking into insulating my attic and turning the area into more than just storage, but am now lost in Google Search Fugue. How do I do it?
[more inside]
posted by robocop is bleeding
on Feb 18, 2010 -
7 answers
attic insulation question: I live in a split level home that has two separate attics. Is it counterproductive to have one attic better insulated than the other? (more specifics inside)
[more inside]
posted by cheemee
on Dec 16, 2009 -
4 answers
Is it worth it to remodel our attic into a living space? Will it increase the resale value of the house enough to offset the cost and effort?
[more inside]
posted by desjardins
on Jul 22, 2009 -
27 answers
Is leaving the windows in my attic cracked beneficial for keeping my air conditioning bill low?
[more inside]
posted by JFitzpatrick
on Jun 22, 2009 -
4 answers
We're finishing an attic to use as a living space. Said attic is ~400 sq ft and has sash windows and skylights, and Mr. desjardins is going to put
white beadboard paneling around the walls. The floor is old, dark wood in bad shape, but we do not have time/money to sand/refinish. What colors should we paint the paneling and floor? The walls angle in dramatically so I don't want to feel claustrophobic.
[more inside]
posted by desjardins
on Jun 4, 2009 -
16 answers
New place has a lovely attic, finished but no AC up there. We're planning on having the windows open with fans in them to keep the air moving and bearable. Would it be a bad idea to have a TV (plasma) up there in the humid southeastern Missouri summer?
[more inside]
posted by luftmensch
on Apr 23, 2009 -
14 answers
Victorian house construction/DIY: building a wall in a shared loft (attic). 'What's this thing?' and 'Am I doing it right?'
[more inside]
posted by boosh
on Jan 1, 2009 -
7 answers
How do I test a Hunter attic fan controller? I want to be thorough before I climb in the attic.
[more inside]
posted by notsnot
on May 20, 2008 -
6 answers
We just bought a house, and the bathroom fan currently vents into the attic. I know this isn't good, and I have done a bunch of googling, but I still have questions. Like: who should do the work -- a roofer, a handyman, someone else? Is it better to vent through the roof or through the wall, as our handyman suggests? Any other things I should know?
posted by trillian
on May 14, 2008 -
10 answers
What is the best way to vent a clothes dryer through an attic? Is Thermoflex unsafe?
[more inside]
posted by Yogurt
on Apr 2, 2008 -
13 answers
MoldFilter: We noticed a bit of mold in our attic insulation. Testing revealed the presence of aspergillus/penicillin spores. We're trying to figure out how much of the attic contents we need to throw out. [MI]
[more inside]
posted by sacre_bleu
on Nov 17, 2004 -
3 answers