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.

November 14, 2020

     Dear Ken: We have one of those new front loading washers. It’s on the 2nd floor, and when it spins, the whole house shakes. Do you think we should move the laundry downstairs? Rhonda

     Not yet. These front loading models are more sensitive to out-of-level situations than their top loading cousins. If your machine is supposedly “self-leveling”, fine, but check it anyway with a carpenter’s level to...

November 7, 2020

     Dear Ken: I want a new kitchen floor. We have existing vinyl tile and underlayment.  They are in pretty good shape, but do we have to remove them first before we install new laminate flooring? Julie

     Usually not. If the floor you have now is intact—that is flat and not bubbled--it can stay in place. In fact, removing it could release harmful dust into the air that you would want to avoid.

October 31, 2020

     Dear Ken: My disposal is giving me fits. How can I tell if it’s just quit or needs to be reset? David

     Look for a small button on the underside of the disposer. You may have to lie on your back and use a flashlight. Once you find it, firmly push up on it. If it snaps back into place with a noticeable “click”, then you’re back in business. On the other hand, if it hasn’t popped out—and you’re sure the circuit breaker in the...

October 24, 2020

     Dear Ken: Our living room is always cold. It has a crawl space under it, about three feet high. What kind of insulation should I use? Pat 

     I would use 6-inch batts, which will give you about an R-19 under that floor. Use insulation without the paper. Why? Because moisture that wants to travel up through the floor or vice versa won’t have a vapor barrier to contend with. Otherwise, you risk mold creation between the layers.

October 17, 2020

     Dear Ken: We want to install our own ceiling fan. How do we proceed? Jim

     If there is an existing light fixture at the spot you want the fan, you’re in luck.  Otherwise, you’ll need to hire an electrician to fish a wire through the attic first. That can be problematic—especially if you have a cathedral ceiling.

     If you do have an electrical opening there, you’ll need to replace or at least beef...

October 10, 2020

     Dear Readers: It’s time to mothball the sprinkler system for another season. So do you really need to blow it out with compressed air? I don't recommend it. Why? It's vital during dry winters to water the lawn, bushes flower gardens 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.

October 3,2020

     Dear Ken: How do you unclog the downspouts? They are full of leaves and twigs and other gunk. Mark

     The easiest solution is a plain old garden hose. Point it into the downspout opening in the gutter and blast away. Sometimes the clog won’t budge, in which case you may need to insert a plumber’s “snake”—a long springy wire designed for drain cleaning--into the hole. Use a smaller one designed for a bathroom sink. Twist away for a while,...

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)....