Weekly Columns

     Dear Ken:  I have one of those plant hanger swag hooks in my ceiling.  How can I make it disappear? Diane

     Unscrew the hook. If that little threaded rod stays in the ceiling, you may be able to grab it with a pair of pliers and unscrew it from the "wings" which hold it behind the drywall. If it won't release, simply shove the whole arrangement up into the hole. Then squirt some white acrylic caulking into the opening.  With a little...

            Dear Ken: I have a walkout basement, and I also have central air. The basement actually gets too cool. I want to close off some vents down there, but how many? Anita

            If you shut off too much air flow you can freeze up the coils on top of the furnace—and that can damage your entire system. My rule-of-thumb is: never close more that 25 % of your total floor and ceiling vents. So if you have, say, ten...

            Dear Ken: I'm adding a second layer of insulation in my attic. I already have a blanket up there, but I want to add another 6" batt. Which way do I put the paper backing to avoid moisture problems? Mark

            Dear Readers: If you live in the Security/Widefield/Fountain area of the county you are probably concerned over elevated levels of organic compounds called  perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in your drinking water. PFC’s are found in firefighting chemicals and carpet cleaning compounds, and authorities are still trying to pin down the source of this contamination, which has drifted into certain aquifers in the area. That might take some time, but for now, if you have these anxieties, there...