tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67118508814588551632009-02-20T20:52:16.681-05:00BDN Bloggernoreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711850881458855163.post-61490879310168034282008-09-23T19:04:00.000-04:002008-09-23T19:07:11.159-04:00

BDN Bloggernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711850881458855163.post-40589978563356912962008-09-18T10:26:00.014-04:002008-09-18T11:05:41.253-04:00

Well for once I have an answer for you ! This is Farmer Bob fromBrooksville and I call you a few times a year for advice. But I wish therewas a way to get answers for my problems.On to the knotweed. 15 years ago we had a neighbor with a 1/2 acre of thestuff, and we fenced it in and put 2 pigs in there and after a few monthswe brought them home. Never a piece regrew. Gone forever. No chemicals

BDN Bloggernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711850881458855163.post-46672009899397932532008-09-18T10:26:00.012-04:002008-09-18T11:04:16.737-04:00

Dear TomI was a student at UM0 in the seventies, was impacted by the possibleunavailability and very real price jump of oil and bought a little wood lotto secure my energy needs for the future. For several years my sons and Icould often be found there preparing inventory for the next heating season.At that time I read of Professor Hill's experiments with wood heat andbought a copy of his

BDN Bloggernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711850881458855163.post-75145274600154359312008-09-18T10:26:00.011-04:002008-09-18T11:02:34.841-04:00

Hi Tom,When insulating the outside concrete wall at my home, should I use the Dowsuper tuff-r sheathering or the styrofoam light blue insulation? Also, doyou have a suggestion on which glue I should use?Thanks, HarleyHi,Use Styrofoam, it will stand up better. It does need to be protected with acoating, but this does not need to be done immediately and only the abovegrade area needs to be

BDN Bloggernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711850881458855163.post-20785292213246966052008-09-18T10:26:00.010-04:002008-09-18T11:01:28.974-04:00

Hi Tom,I recently did a driveway sealing job for a friend. I don't have asphaltso it is not a concern for me personally. After I bought and delivered thestuff, another friend told me "I heard you weren't supposed to do that."After the job was doneand looked OK, another friend told me the same thing-so what's the scoop ondriveway sealer? I enjoy doing odd jobs but don't want to waste

BDN Bloggernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711850881458855163.post-37823170516938480252008-09-18T10:26:00.009-04:002008-09-18T10:59:01.828-04:00

Tom,While vacationing in Maine for 7 weeks, I saw your article about "oldwashers". Very glad I read it since the front-loaders are very expensive.Also, it made me think about my "research" in trying to find aclothes-washer manufacturer who still uses the lint filter "basket" thatsits on top of the agitator and water and lint flow into it from the top ofthe washer "tub". GE used to manufacture

BDN Bloggernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711850881458855163.post-14150790346397693182008-09-18T10:26:00.008-04:002008-09-18T10:43:01.972-04:00

Dear Tom,I am unable to get to my chimneys from the attic, as I am unable to get upthere myself. Can I use the spray foam insulation that comes in the cansto insulate my chimneys from the bottom up?I would be able to do it that way, but was unsure if it was safe to usethis product in this fashion. I use both oil and wood to heat with, ifthis makes a difference.My house was built in 1845 and I

BDN Bloggernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711850881458855163.post-64771490433326315512008-09-18T10:26:00.007-04:002008-09-18T10:40:08.439-04:00

Tom:I am pleased to see you were a man ahead of your times, I always knew it.The attached diagram shows where the previous owner ran the pipes to thehot water base boards in a wooden box. The box troth travels the exteriorof the family room in the basement of a raised ranch. This raises aquestion about the pipes that carry the hot water. In a normal house theyare in the wall, I suspect.

BDN Bloggernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711850881458855163.post-85930151159074855122008-09-18T10:26:00.005-04:002008-09-18T10:38:20.676-04:00

Tom,We very much enjoy your Saturday morning show and are hoping you might beable tohelp us out with the following :We have a 50 year old frame camp near Grand Lake Stream, Maine. Recentlywe puta new roof & skylight on it. We did not vent the roof ridge or soffits,but are now thinkingabout finishing the interior of the roof with 1 by 6 inch tongue & grovepine. It is presentlyexposed 2 by 6

BDN Bloggernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711850881458855163.post-78557377878104929662008-09-18T10:26:00.003-04:002008-09-18T10:33:51.298-04:00

Tom,I respect your opinions on heating solutions within the State, and wantedto run by my situation and feedback. I am in the process of adding on asubstantial addition to our existing home (log home, 970 sq. feet on slab)and am reworking our heating system (currently just a wood stove) as theaddition will have a walk-out basement with a total of 2400 sq. feet. I amconsidering a wood boiler for

BDN Bloggernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711850881458855163.post-81389421610828554082008-09-18T10:26:00.002-04:002008-09-18T10:31:35.353-04:00

Tom, One subject you haven't addressed is what those of us who flee to Florida for the winter should do with our homes. We can't use wood pellet stoves,nor many of your other energy saving suggestions. When we leave, we turnthe furnace thermostat down as low as we can. But last year, for example,our furnace used about 300 gallons of oil to heat the house minimally whilewe were gone for over

BDN Bloggernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711850881458855163.post-91583883160144563982008-09-18T10:26:00.001-04:002008-09-18T10:28:53.060-04:00

Hello Tom,My house is 24 x 40. I have been thinking of ways to help with the heatingbill this winter.One thing I aim to do, is to insulate the concrete foundation from theground up to the clapboards. This distance is about 18" with 5 cellarwindows, 14x24. I have seen people gluing insulation on the concrete andthe other day at Home Depot, I located 1 1/2" insulation with aluminum oneach side, 4x8

BDN Bloggernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711850881458855163.post-38093980372292240892008-08-18T11:00:00.001-04:002008-08-18T11:02:19.852-04:00

Tom,I am trying to convince a friend that installing a timed thermostat toreduce temperatures at night will save money. So far I'm unsuccessful ashe insists it takes more energy to warm up the house in the morning than you save during the turn down at night. Can you give me some info that might help my case?Anton LarsonHi Anton, I believe that unless the house has some really odd heat lossc

BDN Bloggernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711850881458855163.post-3486646063009190662008-08-18T10:59:00.001-04:002008-08-18T11:00:32.643-04:00

Tom,Will a side vented Pellet Stove effect vinly siding with smoke stains? We are considering having a Pellet Stove installed in our Salt Box home, tovent past the peak of the roof would be very costly. So we thought of thedirect vent through the wall.Thank you for the advice.Dick in HampdenHi Dick,I have done two sidewall vents and have about 4 years on the older installation, with no indication

BDN Bloggernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711850881458855163.post-87475100385764005962008-08-18T10:56:00.000-04:002008-08-18T10:58:34.646-04:00

Dear Mr. Gocze,I was interested in your article on heat savings in the Bangor Daily News dated July 5/6.Can you recommend any energy auditors in Aroostook County?Thank you,John M. StewartCaribou, MEHi John,You can get a list of them online at:http://www.mainehousing.org/ENERGYAuditServices.aspxOr, you can call Maine Housing at (800) 452-4668. They can give you a listing of folks in your area.Tom

BDN Bloggernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711850881458855163.post-28644266267291434972008-08-18T10:55:00.000-04:002008-08-18T10:56:49.731-04:00

Dear Tom, I heat my home with electricity, even though I have a FHA furnace. Of course, at some point, the energy prices may reverse and I will use oilTwo years ago, I installed two inches of insulating boards on the outside of my foundation walls, down to grade. This helps keep cold out of the cellar andI am wondering if I installed the two inch board on the inside of the wall, would I get

BDN Bloggernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711850881458855163.post-75260164833171973732008-08-14T10:46:00.001-04:002008-08-14T10:48:36.486-04:00

Dear Tom, I recently read your article on electric heat (BDNAug. 9/10) and was wondering if you would comment on eletric thermal heaters such as those put out by Edenpure or Comfort zone.Thank-you KirbyHi Kirby,These are electric heaters, that function in a rather weird way that apparently allows them to use fancy, confusing prose to try to sell you avery expensive electric

BDN Bloggernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711850881458855163.post-16197069468749592052008-08-14T10:44:00.000-04:002008-08-14T10:46:36.529-04:00

Hi Tom, I got a question I'm sure you've been asked a bunch. I currentlyhave an older Weil-Mclain boiler,with a domestic coil for hot water, whichhas been upgraded .I am considering an Amtrol boiler-mate installation @ acost of around $2k.It was recently suggested that I might considerinstalling one of the heat pump units that uses basement air and anelectric hot water tank in series .I haven't

BDN Bloggernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711850881458855163.post-90258840864761550612008-08-14T10:37:00.001-04:002008-08-14T10:44:36.890-04:00

Hello Tom,You were so prompt and helpful with my last questions that I should warnyou I could become a terrible pest.We have a small and very wet basement. Maybe 20x30 tops. My wife isinterested in humidex. I have seen mixed reviews online. I have also heardDick Hill talk about something called a smart vent. There seem to beothers out there The past fewweeks have of course, really brought this

BDN Bloggernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711850881458855163.post-23098505159652751052008-08-13T12:16:00.000-04:002008-08-13T12:17:52.141-04:00

Tom, How about the pros & cons about pebble reactors. I understand they aresafer than the ones currently in use and even new construction of nuclearfacilities will produce electricity at 4 cents a kilowatt about 1/3 thecost of oil/nat gas.Thanks,Richard AbbottHancockHi,This is a great question for Dick Hill, but I think I can deal with it.As far as I am concerned, the genie is out of the bottle

BDN Bloggernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711850881458855163.post-30437112768054362782008-08-13T12:15:00.000-04:002008-08-13T12:16:08.740-04:00

Tom:I am contemplating adding a small addition to my home - - a small rusticcape (approx 24'x32') with a standard poured cement wall foundation. Thesurrounding area is all ledge w/approx 2-3' of topsoil. I plan onbuilding the two-level addition (20 x 24') on a slab to be attached to theexisting foundation via a small entranceway. This would place the additionat ground level to access the

BDN Bloggernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711850881458855163.post-35531993917114853652008-08-13T11:26:00.001-04:002008-08-13T12:13:12.657-04:00

Tom,I live in a home with a dirt basement. Sections of the basement have beendug out to accommodate the old forced air furnace (now waiting to bedismantled), the new boiler and oil tank and two chimneys. There is stillone quarter of the basement that is still dirt up to about two feet fromthe house flooring. The basement is very wet, mostly due to the water thatflows in through the fieldstone

BDN Bloggernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711850881458855163.post-65581131492212461472008-08-13T11:24:00.001-04:002008-08-13T11:26:53.149-04:00

Tom,What is the best material to use for a winter insulating skirtingaround a house that sits on a post foundation? Every year I see avariety of things used: plastic, bales of hay, bags of leaves,tarpaper, pieces of rigid foam insulation, boards. What is the bestmaterial for keeping the cold winter winds from blowing under thehouse, and what is the easiest to install? And what is the most

BDN Bloggernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711850881458855163.post-40740967464933953962008-08-13T11:21:00.001-04:002008-08-13T11:23:37.398-04:00

Dear sir,I am insulating my house. What do you use to seal the junction between the cement basement and the wood house? There is about a 1.5-2 inch over hang .Foam has been suggested.For your info. I have brought the attic up to R50, and added 1,75 in foam to the basement and R 30 to basement ceiling. RBHHi,You can use latex acrylic caulk or canned foam to seal

BDN Bloggernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711850881458855163.post-15956148206904082172008-08-13T11:09:00.001-04:002008-08-13T11:20:27.092-04:00

Mr Gocze,I have a question on insulation.I have 9 inches of loose insulation in my attic with no vapor barrierand would like to add more [ such as the type that can be blown in]Do I need a vapor barrier and where ? Thank you.Larry Lancaster650 Main RoadEddington, MaineHi Larry,I would add another six inches minimum of cellulose insulation on top ofwhat is there.It is good to have a vapor

BDN Bloggernoreply@blogger.com0