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 21, 2019

     Dear Ken: I've got some dark and dreary paneling in the basement that I want to paint. Getting the paint to stick is a problem. I don't want to use a solvent based primer, because of all the fumes—especially with the pilot lights burning inside the furnace and water heater. How can I paint the walls without blowing up my house? Brenda

September 14, 2019

     Dear Ken: I have a leak from inside my tub. How can you find out where it's coming from? Jen

     There are basically three sources: from the shower head, leaks into the wall or from the drain. If the head is loose, remove it, add a little Teflon tape to the threads and retighten.  Otherwise, unscrew the shower head and replace it with a 1/2 inch plug. Turn on the shower and watch for water to appear at you leak source. If it does, you probably have trouble behind...

September 7, 2019

     Dear Readers: The passing of Labor Day reminds me that the heating season is not too far over the hill. 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...

August 31, 2019

     Dear Ken: My dog has to see everything when he's riding in the car, so he leaves "prints" all over the windows. Regular window cleaners won't completely remove them.  Do you have anoth­er idea? Dan

     Dog drool and nose prints require two steps. Mix equal parts white vinegar and warm water, spray it on and let it sit for a few minutes before wiping. Then follow-up with a simple solution of Dawn or Joy in a spray bottle—or your favorite...

August 24, 2019

     Dear Ken: Over the years in the Gazette and on the radio show you've mentioned products for getting rid of pet odors. Can you list them again? Sue

August 17, 2019

     Dear Ken: Just a quick question about ice makers. There is currently poly tubing that is installed to my refrigerator. I don't feel comfortable with this long term. Should I replace it with copper? Are the fittings compatible? Doug

     You're right on to be concerned, because plastic tubing to an ice maker is susceptible to cracking and splitting. The constant flow of hot air from the compressor fan in the essen­tially unventilated space behind the fridge...

August 10, 2019

     Dear Readers: We’re about halfway through the sprinkling season now, so it’s a good time to check the operation of your system. Most of us sprinkle early in the morning, so we never have a chance to it in action. Sprinkler heads get bumped and tweaked all season long as you mow the lawn—so you may be surprised to see that some heads are broken and produce a small geyser or are stuck and don’t pop up at all. And some might be pointing in the wrong direction--spraying against the deck, fence, siding, foundation or into a window well...

August 3, 2019

     Dear Readers: The spate of rainy weather over the past several weeks is a good time to remind you about mosquitoes--and the rare but worrisome potential for West Nile virus. These pesky critters breed in stale water, so here are a few tips to eliminating these areas around your house:

     * Remove any standing water collections--like in buckets, boats, wheel barrows and trash cans.

     * Wet, low spots in the lawn can be...

July 27, 2019

     Dear Ken: We just put up a new cedar fence and would like to preserve the natural color. Any ideas? Carol    

     Once you start, it will probably take annual applications of a linseed-oil-based exterior deck stain. Why? Because when you use a "natural" or "clear" product, the sun bleaches away the finish much more readily than it does to a product containing a colored pigment. Anyway, use a pump-up garden sprayer to apply a good brand...

July 20, 2019

     Dear Ken:  We have a home with older wiring. I have noticed that light bulbs burn out too often. Is there a problem with the wiring? Is there a test we can do?  Bill

     The utility company should come take a look to make sure they are delivering power at the correct voltage (somewhere around 117 volts, give or take) and that their connections to and from the meter are adequate to carry your home's load. Since you indicated that this is an everywhere problem...