The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
First Aid For The Ailing Houses
The upper floor of an uninsulated house having a black or dark roof will be warmer on a hot day than would be the case with a white or light-colored roof. To correct this condition with a tar or asphalt roof, it can be painted with a type of paint intended for application to those surfaces, or covered with white pebbles or crushed white marble.
Rooms on the sunny sides of houses should be protected against the radiant heat of the sun. For this awnings are not so satisfactory as outside Venetian blinds. An awning is likely to confine a body of air, which, becoming heated, affects the room. Also, it may check the free circulation of air through the window. A Venetian blind permits heated air to escape through the slats, and thus promotes circulation. With the slats finished in bright metal or with aluminum paint, the room is further protected through reflection of radiant heat.
Crawl-Space Ventilation Crawl spaces under a cellarless house also should be well ventilated. Moisture from the earth will otherwise be carried by vapor pressure up through the rooms above, and the passage of the vapor may warp floors and rot rugs and pads. To be sure that crawl spaces are adequately ventilated, louvers should be installed just below floor level (preferably between the floor joists) on all four sides of the building. A good ratio is 1 square inch of opening for every square foot of crawl space within the foundation. This may be measured by multiplying the length of the house by its width. If the house has an irregular outline (not square or rectangular), consider it a series of blocks placed together, and multiply each block's length by its width, then add all the results together. Openings into the crawl space should be louvered or vented to prevent rain from entering, and should be screened with at least 1/4 inch square mesh to prevent entry of small animals. Building paper, plastic sheeting or other vaporproof material may be laid on top of the ground in the crawl space to cut vapor rise from the ground Edges should lap at least 6 inches. If ground is uneven, laps should be sealed; if ground is level, this is unnecessary.
Fans should be inspected at the beginning of each summer season and should be given a drop of oil on the front and back bearings. Some fans have felt-filled oil cups to hold an adequate supply for the entire season. These should be filled with light mineral oil (SAE 20 automobile oil is good) until the felt barely looks moist. Too much oil will be spun out of the bearing into the motor windings and may burn or cause horts.
