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.

September 26, 2020

     Dear Readers: Now that fall is officially here, it’s time to think about the heating season ahead. So 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 boiler--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...

September 19, 2020

     Dear Ken: The house is always hotter than we like no matter how we ventilate it. Will the whole house fans you always talk about work even with a cathedral ceiling? Lance

     Sort of. You really need a flat ceiling and a “normal” attic—at least in part of the house--for the whole house fan installation itself.

September 12, 2020

     Dear Ken: Is it wise to have an annual service on my A/C system? Or just the furnace only? Larry

     It’s absolutely a good idea for older systems. They can have issues with low refrigerant and dirty evaporator coils (the ones on top of the furnace that do the actual cooling). However, if you’re A/C system is relatively new, say 15 years or less, I think an every-other-year approach is OK (but the furnace should be looked at annually, regardless of its age)....

September 5, 2020

     Dear Ken: We want that new composite decking, but we have heard that it has a problem with mold.  What do you think? Glenn

August 29, 2020

     Dear Ken: I have a stinky dishwasher. We use it rather infrequently and so it smells.  Is there a trap inside that dries out? Should we fill it? Pam

August 22, 2020

 

     Dear Ken: I have a 900 SF apartment. How can I pick a window unit air conditioning unit that is quiet? How about a timer or thermostat? Laura 

     Have the store demonstrate the units you’re interested in. They will all be about equally noisy, and they all come with a built-in thermostat. Trouble is, if the air conditioner is on the sunny side of the house, it may heat up and come on even if the room is cool.

August 15, 2020

     Dear Ken: We installed a new 3 ton A/C in June. We have a 1600 SF ranch home, but the system doesn’t always keep up. Do you think it’s big enough? Liz

     I think so. But there are a few tricks you can try to get ahead of the heat on the warmest days:  

August 8, 2020

     Dear Ken: My twelve-year-old windows have condensation between the glass panes.  Is there any way to fix them besides replacing them? Marty

     There are sites online which discuss procedures to evacuate the moisture by drilling two small holes in opposite corners of the outside window pane. Then, the theory goes, the sun will heat up the window to drive out the excess moisture. Even if it were successful, you’ll still be left with a hazy residue layer on the...

August 1, 2020

     Dear Readers: How’s your lawn making out these days? Here in the Springs we are under the Water Wise rules that allow irrigating only three days a week. For most bluegrass or fescue lawns, that should be enough to get through the season, providing we make some common sense adjustments to our lawn care regimen.

July 25, 2020

     Dear Readers: Have you had your air conditioning serviced yet this season? This can be an every-other-year procedure at your house. Why? Our cooling season is so short here that our A/C systems aren’t especially overworked. (Your furnace, however, is another story. If it goes bad, it can let dangerous fumes into your house, so it needs an annual check, clean and service). Incidentally, some HVAC companies will give you a special price—usually less than $100—if they can service both systems in one trip....