Ozark Living

Ad Number: 073120z910 studs, raers and floor joists. Loose fill Loose fill is usually made of fiberglass or cellulose (recycled paper fiber). It is blown or sprayed into place with pneumatic equipment, according to e Home Depot. Loose fill can be ideal for hard-to-reach areas in attics or inside wall cavities. It's good for adding insulation to irregularly shaped areas. Since it requires special equipment, this is a job best le to professionals. Sprayed foam Sprayed foam is just as the name implies, a foam made from polyurethane, polyisocyanurate, cementitious, or other materials that are applied by a spray container. DIYers who need only small applications can use canned products . Large quantities are pressure-sprayed by professionals. Foam board/rigid foam panels Ideal for unfinished walls, such as basement or foundation walls, floors and ceilings, these are boards of polyurethane or polystyrene. Foam boards tend to reduce energy consumption more effectively than other types of insulation. Homeowners considering upgrading their insulation or amending existing insulation should do their homework on the type of insulation that will be most effective for their homes. Weather can be unpredictable. Carefully developed plans for days spent in the great outdoors can be derailed by unexpected rainstorms, while sudden bursts of sunshine can turn overcast aernoons into chances to get outside and breathe some fresh air. Lawn and garden enthusiasts know just how mercurial Mother Nature can be, especially during summer. e specter of drought looms every summer, but the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center does not anticipate any broad-scale areas of drought developing in the Lower 48 states in 2020. While that's good news for lawn and garden enthusiasts, it's wise to remain prepared for drought. In recognition of the difficulties drought can pose, the Environmental Protection Agency offers the following tips to homeowners to ensure that water is available to meet critical needs. Learn local regulations During dry periods and droughts, local water utilities put restrictions in place. ese restrictions are not meant to be nuisances, but designed to ensure water is available to fight fires and meet other critical needs. Adhering to these guidelines, no matter how difficult they can be, helps your community stay safe. Periodically visit local water utilities' websites to learn if there are any restrictions in place. Inspect fixtures for leaks Conservation is the goal of water restrictions. Leaky fixtures compromise conservation efforts, so inspect all interior and exterior faucets and pipes for leaks and fix them immediately. Water wisely e EPA notes that experts estimate that as much as 50 percent of the water we use outdoors is lost to evaporation, wind or runoff due to overwatering. e EPA recommends watering primarily in the early morning and evening, aer the sun goes down, so less water is lost to evaporation. If you have an irrigation system that uses a clock timer, consider replacing the timer with a WaterSense labeled irrigation controller, which acts like a thermostat for a sprinkler system, using local weather and landscape conditions to tell the sprinkler system when to turn itself on and off. Look into upgrades Upgrading outdated bathrooms and other water features can be a great way to conserve water without changing daily habits. For example, the EPA estimates that water-conserving toilets can reduce water consumption by as much as 60 percent each year. at saves consumers money while also helping them to conserve during droughts or periods of dryness. Drought and dry conditions in summer highlight the importance of conserving water. Conserving water during drought and dry periods OZARK LIVINg • AuGust 2020 • 23

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