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Clinton News-Record, 1984-10-24, Page 42ro Condensat n a visible problemin winter The problem of condensationin homes can be complicated and, at times, confus- ing. During winter months condensation is a visible problem only when water or ice form on the inside of windows. Condensation can cause more serious pr lems that cannot be seen. When house air7reaking into exterior walLs or the roof, depositswater or ice inside these areas, the result can be water -sodden insulation or even structural deterioration of the home. By the time such problems become evident the damage is often done. Condensation - the accumulation of mcisture as liquid or ice - occurs when warm air comes in contact with a cold sur- face. The aircools on contact, cannot hold as much moisture and deposits the excess. There are two types of air movement and it is essential to have a clear understanding of what they are. Let's start with the terms infiltration and exfiltration. Infiltration is the movement of cold, dry outdoor air into your home through cracks and gaps in its exterior. Cold air cannot hold as much moisture as warm air, so when in- filtrating air mixes with warm indoor air the tendency is for humidity levels to dropin the home. This is a normal condition in the majority of Canadian homes and explains why most houses need humidificatiorr4 keep air comfortable. Except in humid regions, such as coastal areas, infiltration shouldn't cause condensation problems. • Exfiltration is the flow of warrn, moist room air out through gaps and cracks in a building. As this warm air contacts cool sur- faces it holds less moisture and gives up ex- cessive humidity in the form of water, or, if the surface is cold enough, frost. What makes one house react differently from another? Basically, air movement is caused by differences in pressure. Higher pressure air wants to move towards lower pressure areas. Without getting too com- plicated it is safe to say that most older homes have high indoor air pressure. (This will vary within the house but on balance it will be higher than outdoors.) As a result, air leaves the house through chimneys and vents as well as elevated cracks and gaps. Replacement air enters the house through other cracks and gaps located on the lower portion of the house. As you start caulking and weatherstripping these cracks and gaps, less dry air enters the living space and in- door humidity levels rise. If this reaches: the point where water starts to accumulate on cold window surfaces you have to cut down humidity by venting its sources, providing controlled amounts of dry outdoor air, mechanically dehumidifying or simply stop- ping the tightening up process. Where exfiltration deposits moisture in hidden places in the building structure you have a house that has higher indoor air pressure without an adequate seal on inside surfaces to prevent the movement of air out into hidden cavities•in the wall. The reasons for this can vary, but one documented cause is the closing of unused chimneys. The absence of chimney draft in a house heated with electricity or a high -efficiency gas fur- nace, for example, can cause increased airflow through cracks in the walls and roof. None of these potential situations should be cause for distress. Dampness, peeling paint and rotting wall studs are easily avoid- ed. Expert advice should be sought if you suspect hidden condensation or notice its symptoms. However, observing the follow- ing basic rules will prevent condensation problems and save energy and money over the long term: • Seal the house well from the inside with a polyethylene vapour barrier (new con- struction),, vapour barrier paint, caulking and weatherstripping. This protects against Turn to page 10• • • Sensible approaches to solar .heating. The full benefits of solar heating are, at present, reserved for those willing to invest in complex collector panels and heat storage systems. But harnessing the power of the sun need not involve anything more complicated than taking advantage of heat gained through your windows. Over the winter, the sunlight falling on the south -facing portions of your home contains considerable heating value. While varying from location to location, calculations for eastern Ontario give some idea of how much heat is available from the sun. In Ottawa, each square metre of double - or triple - glazed, south -facing window area captures heat equivalent to that produced by 15 to 25 litres of fuel oil over an annual heating season. This represent a significant amount of energy. This passive solar heat gain requires no • fancy hardware, only the maintenance nor- mally needed to keep your windows tight fit- ting and draft free. Passive solar heating is an important consideration whenever renovations are being made to a home. In- creasing the window area in the . south - fa. -sing portions of a home (and eliminating north -facing windows) can contribute to lower heating bills and add the aesthetic value of extra sunlight. There are, however, practical limits. to • how much extra window area is advisable. To avoid potential overheating problems, south -facing window areas should not ex- ceed six to eight per cent' of the finished floor area of the home. Awnings or leaf -bearing shade trees can help by providing summer. shade without cutting down on winter sunlight levels. For homeowners interested in installing active solar heating, the best bet appears to be seasonal, solar .domestic hot water systems. As with all active systems, these involve the installation of solar collector SAVE MONEY! Buy new or replace your old furnace. with a new energy efficient oil furnace. ONE COMPLETE FORCED WARM AIR UNIT OFFERS: •Air conditioning *Humidifier *Electric Air Cleaner AIR -CONDITIONING -HEATING EQUIPMENT -OIL MEL BOGIE ESSO AGENT 24 HOUR ,OIL and BURNER SERVICE 377 Cambridge St. Goderich 524-7502 Hwy. 4 Winghom 357-1032 panels, usually on the roof, an extra hot water storage tank in the basement, and pipe connections to the home's hot water tank. Seasonal systems operate, during the warmer months of March through November. They are less expensive and have fewer moving parts than year-round systems, but can substantially reduce. overall hot water heating costs. The Government of Canada provides assistance to qualified householders in- stalling solar domestic hot mater systems. The Solar Domestic Water Heating Demonstration Program provides grants equal to 50 per cent of the installed cost of these systems up to a maximum grant of $1700. This incentive is considerable given that in many areas of Canada solar water heating is already a cost-effective alter- native to conventional systems. More infor- mation on the program can be obtained from any regional EMR office. Conserve Energy—Page 9 WOOD STOVES & FIREPLACE INSERTS BY NAPOLEON 444) JMTUL CHIMNEY & WOODBURNING ACCESSORIES STOP BY OUR SHOWROOM TODAY Showroom Hours: Tues. to Fri. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by Appointment. 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