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CNN takes a look at intriguing popes from the past

CNN takes a look at intriguing popes from the past

CNN10-05-2025

After two days of deliberations, cardinals have elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the first American pontiff in history. The length of the process suggests that Prevost - who will be known as Pope Leo XIV - has quickly impressed his peers. But history shows us it's not always an easy choice. CNN's James Frater goes through the archives to look at past instances when they didn't quite get it right.

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Want to Reduce AC Leaks? These 3 Simple Fixes May Help You
Want to Reduce AC Leaks? These 3 Simple Fixes May Help You

CNET

time42 minutes ago

  • CNET

Want to Reduce AC Leaks? These 3 Simple Fixes May Help You

Summer can be difficult, but if you have an air conditioner, blasting it will get you the much-needed relief. The issue is that running an air conditioner can be expensive. Nobody likes a sky-high energy bill. A recent CNET survey found that over 78% of US adults are worried about rising energy costs. But it's not all bad news. If you want to use your AC while keeping your energy costs in check, you can. A bit of insulation and air sealing can help, whether you need to cut your utility bill or just maintain your indoor temperature at a comfortable level. The key is to try to seal your home, so you can get started by packing your home's outer 'envelope,' adding some insulation in the attic and tightening ductwork. This is not only true for fixed ACs, but also for portable air conditioners that can help you cool off better this summer. The idea is to target the most common air leak trouble spots in your home. Finding and sealing them can make a big difference without needing to spend a fortune. Here's how to get started. Air-sealing the 'envelope' First, you'll want to start with air sealing the home. Doing this will get you the most improvement with the least money spent. It's also crucial that you air seal your home before doing any insulation. You're wasting your time, otherwise. Fibrous insulation needs an air barrier to work, which is why it's recommended last. When talking about air sealing the "envelope" of a home, it's important to note the way air behaves naturally in a building. The pattern of air in and out of your home is known as the "stack effect," and it explains why the temperature in your house often feels like it's different on each floor. Heat rises and cold air moves to lower levels -- so warm air leaves your home through the attic and cold air comes in through a crawl space, unfinished basement or other unconditioned lower part of your house. That's why air sealing the higher and lower levels of your home, in combination with insulation, is one of the best ways to fight air leaks. Understanding air leaks and how to find them When a window is drafty, it's obvious. Leaks in attics or crawl spaces are worse for the balance of your home's temperature but they're typically harder to detect. And these areas are going to be the most beneficial in working against the "stack effect." You'll want to air seal window trims, doors, vents, fireplace and furnace flues and other fixtures such as pipes and wires that penetrate the "envelope" of the home. Windows will often have gaps around the trim and under the sill. To seal these, you can use a caulk gun. Follow the steps below. Cut the top of the tube of caulk at a 45-degree angle Use the pin underneath the gun to break the seal and place the tube into the caulk gun Position the caulk gun and press the trigger as you go along the frame The 45-degree angle allows the tip to shape the bead of caulk into a neat line as it's applied but it still might need some touching up. You can do this easily with your finger. Don't worry about getting it on your skin, as caulk rinses off easily with water. dlewis33/E+/Getty Images You can also use the caulk gun for a bathroom exhaust fan, floor supply vents and any other crevices. But as far as sealing a flue, you want to make sure to use a fire rated caulk instead for areas that are more combustible to ensure fire safety. And before you air seal a flue, make sure the furnace is off and there isn't a fire going (or you've let it cool off enough). Sealing windows with caulk To air seal the front or back door frame, you can add a weather strip. 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Sealing the ductwork allows the duct to only suck from air that's already in the house. To seal the ductwork in a lower space without air conditioning, you can use a mastic sealant. Mastic is good for sealing the joints of the ductwork because it's fluid and can get into hard-to-reach areas. It's also flexible in that it will withstand expansion and contraction caused by temperature changes. The next part is easy. With a rubber glove, you can literally dip your hand in the bucket of mastic and spread it along the seams, joints and holes of the metal ductwork. Just be careful not to get cut, as metal ductwork can have sharp edges. Miss Pearl/Moment/Getty Images Adding attic insulation Last but not least, you'll want to insulate your attic space. As previously mentioned, if you insulate your attic before air sealing the attic floor, it's not going to do much for you. When talking about insulating the attic space, it's important to note that the insulation and air barrier should be continuous and contiguous (meaning they touch). The continuous part is that it's more effective to have 6 inches of insulation everywhere rather than 10 inches of insulation in a concentrated spot. The contiguous part is wherever drywall is, insulation should be touching it. If it's not touching (for example, if the insulation is on top of wires and not underneath them), the insulation will do nothing. Another thing to note is that you want to make sure there's no air gap between the layers of "batts," which are the strips of insulation. In other words, you want the insulation to be the same depth as the joists -- if you're using batts and not loose-fill (or blown) insulation -- otherwise, there will be an air gap when you add the second perpendicular layer of insulation. 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Clean out the joist bay so the insulation can sit completely flat Put a batt of insulation in the bay and cut the length so it fits snugly Try to cut the batt as perfectly as you can, but it's okay if you mess up -- as long as you fill the bay's depth evenly with insulation Add the second batt layer perpendicular over the joists, so that the wood is also insulated and not just the bay Energy audits and the Weatherization Assistance Program These tips can help minimize air leaks and cold spots in your home. But if you want a more in-depth professional opinion before attempting some of these methods, you can get an energy audit done of your home to see how it can be more energy efficient. Also, the US Department of Energy has a Weatherization Assistance Program at the state and local level if you qualify as low income, are older than 60 or are part of a family with disabilities. You can check with your local utility company for more details.

Train derailment causes several road closures in Waxahachie
Train derailment causes several road closures in Waxahachie

CBS News

timean hour ago

  • CBS News

Train derailment causes several road closures in Waxahachie

A freight train derailment in Waxahachie is impacting parts of the city's downtown area Tuesday morning. Overnight, a Union Pacific freight train derailed, leaving parts of the downtown area shut down. The derailment is affecting the area that stretches from Peters Street to Gibson Street, according to the City of Waxahachie. "Law enforcement, Fire-Rescue, and other city crews are on-site right now working to secure the area so that Union Pacific can begin clearing the derailed train cars," the city posted on social media. Drivers are urged to steer clear of the area as the cleanup continues. Officials said the cleanup is expected to take several hours. No injuries were reported from the incident. There is no current threat to public safety, but the city urges caution for anyone traveling near the impacted area.

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