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We live in summerfields, and experienced NO FLOODING, or exterior damage. We did lose power from Monday night to today.
There was no damage to our home (or to other homes in neighbourhoods) either in basement or from outside. Hurricane Sandy had wind speed generally from 40-60 miles/hr and gust speed of 85-115 miles/hr. The roof is designed for 125 miles/hr and home sidewalls for 150 miles/hr as required by building codes. The homes are well-designed as per code.
Other day Peter (building maintenance supervisor) informed me in my basement that basement floor and concrete wall have complete sealing at the joints and builder provide 10 yrs warranty for any leaks.
I moved in at Summerfields six weeks ago, but did not receive any postal mail. I contacted Abby at builder's office and she told me that I need to have mail-post in front of my home to receivd mail. The postman will not deliver mail without mail-post at the curb, since this is considered as rural circuit (in other town, postman will climb steps and deliver mail in your letter-box).
She added that builder provides mail-post to each resident, which is part of contract. They have ordered mail-posts (mailboxes) and will have to install by pouring concrete for the foundation at the curbside of each home. She expects the work to be completed by mid-November, and then we can get delivery of letters. She also advised against buying and installing our own mail-box, as it is part of the contract with the builder.
Our postoffice is located at 500 Demott Lane, Somerset, NJ 08873 (in front of Franklin township municipal building). I visited the post office and ollected my mails of past several weeks (luckily this post-office holds the mail for us and do not return to the senders). The postal clerk I met, lives on Boudinot Lane in our comlex.
I got advice that we need to constantly remind Abby and Shelly (of builder's office) to have post installed for our home. Currently mail boxes are installed for most of the Hopkinson lane residents and few of the Boudinot lane residents.
Attic fans are mostly used for older homes to reduce the cooling load during summer time. The fans release hot air trapped in attic area and replace it with outside relatively cooler air, thereby reducing air-conditioning load.
However, attic fans are not required in modern well designed, energy-efficient homes. You must have noticed vents (called gable vents-small circles with horizontal vent openings) on the outside top part of home or garage attics provided by our builder. These gable vents naturally cool the attic by natural circulation and fans are not needed.
Although pushed by fan manufacturers and contractors, attic fans are not desired since they create noise, condensation and power consumption problem. Moreover, if there is any leakage (between joints for attic floor and home ceiling, the fan will suck cool, air-conditioned air from home into attic (thereby increasing cooling load) and throw dusty and moldy air from attic to home.
[SIZE=3]To: Mame 2013:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]More about Attic fan.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Attic fans are mostly used for older homes to reduce the cooling load during summer time. The fans release hot air trapped in attic area and replace it with outside relatively cooler air, thereby reducing air-conditioning load. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]However, attic fans are not required in modern well designed, energy-efficient homes. You must have noticed vents (called gable vents-small circles with horizontal vent openings) on the outside top part of home or garage attics provided by our builder. These gable vents naturally cool the attic by natural circulation and fans are not needed.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Although pushed by fan manufacturers and contractors, attic fans are not desired since they create noise, condensation and power consumption problem. Moreover, if there is any leakage (between joints for attic floor and home ceiling, the fan will suck cool, air-conditioned air from home into attic (thereby increasing cooling load) and throw dusty and moldy air from attic to home.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Hence attic fans should never be installed.[/SIZE]
I disagree. We installed an attic fan in our house in NJ (built in 1988-ish) and it lowered our summertime power bill by 30% and had no affect on our winter bill. The noise was minimal, there was no condensation problem, and it reduced our power consumption. Additionally we added extra insulation on the attic floor and put weatherstripping around the pull-down door to provide better insulation which kept the fan from sucking cold air out in the summer or allowing cold air in in the winter. The fan ran on a thermostat controlled switch and turned itself on and off when the temperature was above a certain level. I don't recall what it was, but if anyone wants to know I'll ask my husband who probably would.
We don't have one in our current home as we had a radiant barrier installed during construction, so our attic stays relatively cool even in the hottest summer month in Florida. We use 30% less energy than a similar sized home without the barrier. We broke even on the cost after less than three years.
Does anybody know if the Atlantic model can handle a side by side or french door refrigerator considering there is a wall on the otherside of the cabinets? (See floor Plan Link Below). I am worried about the left door not opening. Any insight would be very helpful.
I disagree. We installed an attic fan in our house in NJ (built in 1988-ish) and it lowered our summertime power bill by 30% and had no affect on our winter bill. The noise was minimal, there was no condensation problem, and it reduced our power consumption. Additionally we added extra insulation on the attic floor and put weatherstripping around the pull-down door to provide better insulation which kept the fan from sucking cold air out in the summer or allowing cold air in in the winter. The fan ran on a thermostat controlled switch and turned itself on and off when the temperature was above a certain level. I don't recall what it was, but if anyone wants to know I'll ask my husband who probably would.
We don't have one in our current home as we had a radiant barrier installed during construction, so our attic stays relatively cool even in the hottest summer month in Florida. We use 30% less energy than a similar sized home without the barrier. We broke even on the cost after less than three years.
Annerk:
As I mentioned at the beginning, people install attic fans for existing home, which may provide some savings in utility cost. It may also be useful in hot Florida summer (the home you are talking about) by keeping the attic cool. However, the fan is not necessary in modern homes. All homes in Summerfields are designed as per energy-star program, the homes are well insulated and does not need attic fans. The homes already have gable vents for air circulation in the home attic and below the roof of the garage. I checked with the builder also.
I would like to know experience from someone in the Summerfields who have installed the attic fan.
Does anybody know if the Atlantic model can handle a side by side or french door refrigerator considering there is a wall on the otherside of the cabinets? (See floor Plan Link Below). I am worried about the left door not opening. Any insight would be very helpful.
Our home is Bergen model. We asked Abby about installing fridge in the kitchen. She informed me that all models have space available for 36" wide fridge. We purchased GE stainless steel two-door fridge with 35 1/4" wide front and luckily it was a fit. We were worried as the bottom side as there is less than 36" space available due to wooden moulding (projection). (We were getting same capacity fridge with 32" width, but did not purchase it as it was $200 more).
Please measure the top and bottom dimension of the space for fridge in kitchen, and allow for at least one inch all around. The good news is that if the fridge does not fit, the company will accept the return for another model of fridge. Our fridge could come through 36" front door easily (one side of the fridge is shorter).
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