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 31, 2016

     Dear Ken: The stucco on my house is fading and deteriorating. Can I just paint it? Or does it need a new stucco coat? Don

October 24, 2016

      Dear Ken: We need a new water heater. The plumber wants to put in an expansion tank alongside. Is this really necessary? And should we get a bigger model? Stan

October 17, 2016

      Dear Ken:  I have a 40 year old house with the original furnace. The technician who inspected it says it probably won't make it through another winter, and of course he wants to sell me a new one. What should I do? Wes

     Apparently, he didn't say the furnace has failed at this time. Just because it’s old, doesn't necessarily mean that it needs replacement. If he had thought it was unsafe right now, he...

October 10, 2016

    Dear Ken:  You recently wrote that a ceiling fan should be run blowing down in the summer and up in the winter. One of the consumer publications says the winter savings are offset by the fan's cooling effect. Do you still feel the same? Rick

     I do. The energy savings from ceiling fan operation are a little more subtle than just blowing air around. The theory of any heating system is to wash warm air over the colder outside walls and windows. That's why we locate...

October 3, 2016

            Dear Readers: It’s time to start thinking about mothballing the sprinkler system for another season. So is it really necessary to blow it out with compressed air? I don't recommend it. Why? It's vital during dry winters to water the lawn, bushes and young trees once every three weeks or so. 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. Modern...

October 1, 2016

     Dear Readers: The heating season is just around the corner, so this is the ideal time to schedule that furnace checkup. Why? When the first cold snap hits, the heating and air conditioning companies get swamped with requests to light pilots and to clean and service heating systems. You’ll have to get in line then and may not be able to schedule a visit when it’s convenient for you.

September 26, 2016

     Dear Ken: I have a small screw stuck in the disposer. I can't get it to move either way. Any ideas? Dave

     These days, most disposers come with a crank. Typically, it's a six-edged gizmo formed into an "S"-shaped angular tool that fits into a hole in the underside of the unit.  It may have disappeared with a previous owner, and if so pick up another one at the hardware store. Make sure to unplug the unit before you start. Stick the wrench in the...

September 19, 2016

            Dear Ken: How do you know if your garage door is warped or not plumb? We seem to get cold air around it. E.J.

            The best indicator is daylight seeping in at the sides or across the top and bottom edges. These gaps are where dust, dirt, snow and cold air leak into the garage. In that case, you need a “tune-up” by a garage door company. They will adjust the rollers and the tracks for a tighter fit...

September 12, 2016

     Dear Ken:  I bought a house with a deck that was neglected for a long time.  It has developed cracks everywhere.  Should I fill them with wood putty or some other material? Kelsey                                                                        

September 5, 2016

     Dear Ken: We need to replace some rotting floor joists under my redwood deck.  Someone said to use treated lumber. What do you recommend? Ginny

     Treated lumber is a good choice for this repair. Chances are, the original deck joists were ordinary fir or hemlock. As your question illustrates, the redwood decking on top holds up OK, but the constant moisture between them and the old joists creates spots that encourage rotting and deterioration.