Ever wonder what it takes to run and keep a house? Being a homeowner isn’t exactly rocket science, but it does take a lot of work and a sense of awareness, and there have some things that you have to know about – before home inspections suddenly reveal your house to be full of defects and damages.
Here are bits and pieces of homeowner trivia that can help keep your home running as smoothly and sweetly as it ought to.
A termite’s waist is thicker than a flying ant’s waist. How is this related to home ownership? Well, those termites probably have been eating your house – thus, the fattening diet. So be on the lookout!
An ant has a sweeter tooth than a termite. Sure, carpenter ants gnaw at wood for nesting, but termites actually eat the wood – their cellulose.
Which is colder? 30 degrees Celsius or 30 degrees Centigrade? Confusing, right? They both start with Cs. What’s more, both temperatures actually do indicate the same temperature. The Centigrade scale was formally changed to Celsius in 1948.
The air supply temperature of a warm air furnace is typically hotter than that of a heat pump. That’s because a standard furnace delivers hot air in the 130-140 degrees F range, while a heat pump’s usual temperature range is 90 to 100 degrees F.
Let’s talk a bit of DIY here – particularly nails that sometimes leave us mathematically confused. Do you know that a six-penny nail is two inches long, and a ten-penny nail is three inches long?
Oak wood is fifty percent (approximately) denser than pine wood.
Hot water cools to a lower temperature faster than cold water can, but cold water will reach freezing temperatures faster than hot water can.
A 20-watt compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb produces more light than the standard 75-watt incandescent bulb. It’s also expected to last 10 times longer. That means you have more reasons now to switch to CFLs: not only are they more energy-efficient; they’re brighter and more durable, too.
Propane is heavier than natural gas. Most liquid petroleum (LP) gases are, accumulating at low points, and that’s why they pose a higher risk.
Ever asked yourself if those gutters should be hung as level as possible? A bit tricky, but the answer is that gutters should actually be angled toward the roof’s downspouts and drains. This angle will facilitate water flow better.
Flat roofs are more prone to leakage than other roofs. But if you’ve just had a flat roof done, no need to worry. A simple checkup by home inspectors can help you maintain that before problems occur.
When purchasing an A/C system, it is advisable to avoid an A/C that has a larger capacity than required. That’s because it will reach the thermostat setting before it has removed a reasonable amount of moisture from the air – thus causing the “cave effect†of going cold and damp.
Grout and caulk aren’t exactly interchangeable when used in a bathroom. Grout will dry hard – so it’s best to use it around rigid tiles. Caulk, meanwhile, remains flexible after application, making it useable around the edges of bathtubs, shower stalls, and other areas where movement may occur.
An ever-so-slight gap around three sides of an exterior door can – without a storm door – can cause energy loss equivalent to an opening the size of a brick. That’s why weatherstripping is so important.
Not all basement water penetration problems are caused by underground springs. In fact, very few of them are. Most water penetration problems can actually be blamed on roof and surface water that isn’t being directed away from the foundation.
One ton of A/C capacity is equivalent to 12,000 BTUs. To generally cool an average house, it would typically require 30,000 to 42,000 BTUs of cooling capacity.
It is not true that setting your heat thermostat at 72 degrees F will direct your furnace to deliver air to the room registers at a steady 72 degrees F. That’s because forced air furnaces deliver steady register temperatures in the range of 130 to 140 degrees F. Heat pumps, meanwhile, typically deliver hot air in the 90-100 degrees F range.
The ambient temperature is a room with an activated ceiling fan isn’t necessarily going to be lower than that in a room without a fan. Yes, it may feel cool due to the movement of air, but due to the heat generated by the fan’s motor, the ambient temperature will actually be marginally higher.
These bits and pieces of homeowner trivia are general guidelines to help you run a house and keep it safe. If you suspect problems or potential major defects in your home, it is always better to call in professional home inspectors to determine what exactly the situation is.
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