Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, February 19, 2005, Saturday

Copyright 2005 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
All Rights Reserved
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

February 19, 2005 Saturday

SECTION: HOME REAL ESTATE; Pg. 9F

LENGTH: 594 words

HEADLINE: Infrared might find source of ice jam

BYLINE: Jerry Ludwig, jerry@ludwig-associates.com

BODY:
JERRY LUDWIG
Dear Jerry: You have written several good articles relating to ice dams on residential homes, but there has always seemed that there was no tool offered for definitively determining the root cause or location of the heat source that melts the snow in the first place.
It would appear that the use of an infrared thermometer, which can measure surface temperature on the underside of the roof structure, could be an important tool in determining the warm areas and then tracing this back to the path or source of the heat to correct the problem.
Obviously, one would have to enter the home attic with the thermometer and direct the beam across the surface of the sheathing, taking note of the temperature as the scan is completed.
Please advise if this procedure is feasible and practical.
- D.J., via e-mail
Answer: I think an infrared thermometer could be helpful. However, in the attic, rather than pointing at and taking the temperature of the roof sheathing, I'd train it along the floor, plumbing pipes and other potential gaps in the heated envelope. After all, if one is having ice damming problems, snow will be melting from the roof and this should be evident on the exterior in the form of ice at the eaves and bare spots on the upper roof.
Infrared thermometers run from less than $100 to more than a thousand dollars and are available from many sources on the Internet.
However, the average homeowner can perform most of the same functions as the thermometer by visually inspecting the attic area for signs of air leakage and voids in insulation.
One area where the thermometer might help the most is in attics with insulation blown in under the floor. This insulation may settle over time, or the original installation may not have reached all areas uniformly. Here, the thermometer should be able to detect voids or substandard areas by reading "hot spots" on the floor.
For an evaluation of the whole house thermal efficiency, I'd suggest an infrared camera audit. This is done from the exterior and can pinpoint voids or gaps in the insulation. Infrared cameras are expensive, and I suggest that you contact a firm specializing in this technology such as Ergonomy in Pittsford (585) 249-4820. This audit usually costs in the $350 range, according to Howard Henderson, Ergonomy's owner. Given the cost of an infrared camera, which is in the thousands of dollars, this is not a practical do-it-yourself option.
With either the thermometer or the camera, the evaluation is best done in cold weather, since one is looking for contrast between interior warmth and the outside cold air. Thus, readings taken on a warm spring day or a day when sunshine is warming the roof or exterior walls will show less definitive contrasts than readings as a cold, cloudy day in January or February.
Dear readers: Several weeks ago, on Jan. 29, I wrote an article about maintaining existing wood windows rather than replacing them.
As with any interior repair work on older homes, lead paint can be an issue. I recommend using extreme caution when working where lead paint may be present. Monroe County, in cooperation with Cornell School of Industrial Labor Relations, is offering a free lead-based training program for renovators, remodelers, carpenters, painters, homeowners, and landlords who may disturb lead-based paint during home renovations.
The course is free, and having just taken it myself, I can highly recommend it. Pre-registration is required.
For further information and to register, call (585) 262-4440.