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.

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)....

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: