Weekly Columns

Both current and archived weekly newspaper columns. The date of the column and a teaser of the column appears below. Click on the date to see the entire column.

Snow Birds

     Dear Ken: Every winter we leave town for a few months. I know you’ve covered this before, but please remind me again of how to prepare the house for the winter. Rick

CO Detectors

     Dear Ken: We are in a one-bedroom condo. Our furnace is in a separate room off the patio. Do we still need a carbon monoxide detector? Laura

     Yes. The hot air from the furnace still blows into your living space, regardless of the furnace’s location. If there’s some sort of breach in the heat exchanger, you could be overcome by this insidious (and odorless) gas.

Noisy Toilet

     Dear Ken: I  have a couple of doors that just won’t stay put. They swing open by themselves, so we have to use a door stop. Do we have to call a carpenter? Sherry

Pet Door

     Dear Ken: I’m worried about my TV. I have a gas fireplace under it, and it gets extremely hot. I’m afraid it’s going to cook it. What can I do? Jane

     Most builders will fashion some drywall “step-outs” above the firebox to deflect hot air away from the front of the fireplace and out into the room. I hope that’s the case with you. As long as there is plenty of air circulation behind the TV, I think you’re fine.

Attics and Crawl Spaces

     Dear Readers: Crawl spaces and attics need a little attention this time of year, as cold weather sets in.      

CO Detectors

    Dear Ken:  You recommended a certain type of carbon monoxide detector on your show a couple of weeks ago. Which one was that? Keith

     I prefer the plug-in style of CO detector for several reasons. It sits at roughly the same level as your head while you’re sleeping—the time when you’re most vulnerable to this insidious gas. Even though carbon monoxide is a little lighter than air, it tends to accumulate near the floor first as the hot air from the furnace scoots across the floor on its way to...

Button Up Sprinkler

     Dear Readers: It’s time to start thinking about mothballing the sprinkler system for another season. So is it really necessary to blow it out with compressed air? I don't recommend it. Why? It's vital during dry winters to water the lawn, bushes and young trees once every three or four weeks. To avoid dragging stiff and frozen hoses all over the yard trying to water with a portable sprinkler, I like to fire up my system on those warm winter days we enjoy here in the Rockies. Modern systems, with the zone...

Window Well Leak

     Dear Ken: I have a whirlpool and this blank gunk keeps coming out of the jet holes. How can I get rid of it? Laura

Laundry Room Smell

     Dear Ken: Our back yard is mostly dirt and cockleburs. Also, we have big dogs, and they are affected by all the mess. We are thinking of concreting most of it. What do you think? Candice

Check Your Furnace

 

       Dear Readers: Here’s my annual reminder to get the furnace checked at your house. This is a vital procedure to keep your family safe during the coming winter. Every heating system—whether forced air or hot water—should be checked out by a licensed heating contractor. This is a good annual habit to establish even for newer homes, because theoretically any furnace can fail at any time. Plus, a well-adjusted furnace will use less fuel and save you money over our relatively long heating...