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.

February 8, 2020

     Dear Ken: The dryer vent in my house runs into the crawl space. I've gotten several opinions from friends about this. Some say it's good for the house and others say it's not. What do you think? Bob

February 1, 2020

     Dear Ken: I have one of those inexpensive bookcases from a discount store. It's made from pressed wood covered with some kind of a plastic skin. Can it be painted?        Brenda

     Once you prime this surface, you can apply virtually any kind of top coat that suits you. Wipe down the piece with some TSP or other strong detergent, lightly scuff sand the surface before you start—220 grit sandpaper will do, then apply a couple of...

January 25, 2020

     Dear Ken: I'm thinking about getting my bathtub refinished. What do you think of this and how long will it last? Is it caustic? Melissa   

January 18, 2020

     Dear Ken:  How can you get cigarette smoke stench out of the walls in a house?                              Carolyn

January 11, 2020

     Dear Ken: I've installed one of those pull down stair systems in my garage.  How do I finish a floor up there, and with what kind of material? Don

January 4, 2020

     Dear Ken: I have a refrigerator in my garage. In the summer it does OK, but usually not in the winter. I can’t keep it cold enough. What can I do to have it run more normally? William

December 28, 2019

     Dear Ken: What would you recommend for cleaning the metal vent screens in a kitchen range hood? So far I've tried liquid detergent and boiling water. Cheryl

     Normally, they can be kept clean by running them through the dishwasher about once a month. Try soaking yours in full-strength ammonia for a few hours. Then rinse well, and they can dry themselves while sitting in their brackets in the hood. Also, don't forget that most hoods have a charcoal odor filter lying somewhere above the grease screens....

Christmas Column

     Dear Readers: This is a reprise of a column I first published in 1996. I hope it will remind you of your favorite Christmas past.

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December 14, 2019

     Dear Readers: Many of you will escape to warmer climates this winter. So here’s my annual snowbird tip list to get the house ready before you leave. Two areas need attention: plumbing and security. 

     I'm not a believer in shutting off the heat entirely. You risk freeze-ups of pipes inside wall cavities, plus the super cold temperatures are brutal on woodwork, furniture, electronic devices and the appliances.

December 7, 2019

       Dear Ken: I’m going away for twelve days. I will shut off the main water valve in the basement, but I don’t want to turn the water heater off because it’s too hard to light. Is that OK? Bill

     Turn the water heater control to the OFF position. It’s OK to leave the pilot on so it’ll be easy to reenergize when you get back. For longer trips though, I think it’s a good idea to turn...