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2 6 - Real Estate: The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday February 8, 2006 Making it manageable - tips for first tim e insulators (NC)--Many Canadians are taking the right steps toward environmental responsibility by choosing better ways of liv ing. Homeowners might be surprised to hear that most energy loss from their home occurs through the attic and basement. By upgrading insulation in these two areas, homeowners can cut energy costs by up to 28 per cent. For many first-time renovators, the hardware store can be an intimidating retail experience. With aisles of tools, lumber and insulation, it can be difficult to know where to start. With a little help, insulation novices can purchase their home insulation in a snap. The type of insulation required depends on a number of factors - one of which is the recommended R-value for your geographic region and building code requirements. R-value indicates the insula tion's resistance to heat flow. A key phrase to remember is the higher the R-value, the greater the insulating power. In addition to considering R-value, the type of insulation chosen must suit the purpose and design of the room. For example, the attic may require loose-fill insulation, while the family room may require insulation that will help to reduce noise. The type of insulation you choose may also be determined by the amount of space available. Homeowners wishing to maximize space in the basement may, instead of installing bulky wood frames and batt insulation, fasten extruded polystyrene (foam) insulation and its metal chan nels directly to concrete basement walls. Insulation batts are still a popular choice for unfinished basements that have space to permit the installation of wood frames. The quantity of insulation you'll need to buy depends on the size of the area you need to insulate. If you're unsure how much you'll need, measure the dimensions and bring them to your local building supply store for assistance. While the attic and basement are your top priorities, there are some other areas to consider retrofitting which will in turn reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and other gases emitted into the atmosphere by reducing your home's energy consumption. Here are some other areas where you can improve your insulation system: · Insulate around pipes or ducts. A small amount of multi-purpose insulation is perfect for the job where you can fit small amounts into small spaces. · Cut strips of insulation batts and insert into large cracks and around windows, then seal with construction tape using strips of poly vapour retarder (if necessary) or seal cracks with foam sealant, to minimize drafts. OAKRIDGE HEIGHTS Garage door opener tune-up and testing (NC)-- Garage door openers - mil lions of households have them. Being able to open your garage door elec tronically is a popular luxury, but it also be a hazardous and deadly JEach year in Canada, people - par ticularly children -- are killed by a garage door. That is why it is extremely impor tant to test the safety features of your garage door regularly, at least every six months. Canadian climate entails varying tem peratures and humidity levels which cause expansion or contraction of the door, the tracks, and the door frame. These factors affect the ease of operation of the door. The approach of colder winter temperatures is the per fect time to re-check your garage door's safety features. Never make any adjustments to the springs, counterbalance weights, or cables. 1. Perform an equilibrium test to make sure the door is balanced. With the door open, disconnect the drive mechanism from the door by pulling the emergency release cord. Close and open the door manually to ensure that it moves easily. 2. Pull the door halfway down and let go. The door should not go up nor fall down. Push the door back up and recon nect the door to the opener. 3. Place a roll of paper towels on the ground under the door opening, and press the button to close the door. The door should compress the roll of paper towels and then automatically reverse. If it does not, open the door and adjust the sensitivity of the open er. Try again. *If it does not work a second time, call an expert. 4. Make sure the door does not auto reverse in the last inch of travel, as this prevents the door from open ing if a piece of gravel gets caught under the door. 5. Regularly lubricate the moving parts of the door. However, do not lubricate plastic parts such as plastic rollers and plastic idler bearings. 6. Ensure door opening and clos ing push buttons are at least 5 feet high on a wall where children cannot reach them. Please check over these simple steps in order to ensure your garage door's safety features are in proper working order. 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