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.

January 5, 2009

Terry is worried about frozen pipes:  My kitchen sink pipes are in an overhang.  How should I insulate this area?

Use some 6-inch fiberglass batts.  Tear off the paper first, and carefully mold them around the cold outside edges of the cantilever.  Don't jam too much into that space, since you'll squeeze all the air out of the material, and it will then have much less insulating efficacy.  If you ever finish the basement, make sure to install a grille under this area to allow warm room air to waft up in there.

December 29, 2008

Joel wants to save energy:  Does it really save energy turning down the thermostat at night?  If so, how much?  Also, how long should cold air blow after the furnace shuts down?

December 22, 2008 A Christmas Memory

 

Allow me to reminisce a little.  This a story of my 7th

Christmas---way back in the fifties.  If you remember those days, you

surely recall how little money most families had.  Many presents were

homemade, and toys weren't nearly as complex, high-tech and expensive

as they are now.  We probably would be considered poor by today's

December 15, 2008: Gifts for the handyman--

It's time to start thinking about a gift for those handy folks in your life.  And don't forget the kids-boys and girls beginning around 1st grade age, a college student in your life, or a young couple just starting out can all benefit from familiarity with tools.

 

December 8, 2008

Stan resurrects an old question:  Do you remember a warning when we were kids not to drink hot water form the tap?  How come?  I like a cup of tea now and then, and it's so convenient.

December 1, 2008

Iris has deep window wells:  I live in a townhome project and need to cover them.  What type do you recommend?

November 24, 2008

Karen's garage door is being difficult:  In the winter, I have to hold the button until it goes down.  Not in warm weather.  What's happening here?

Your faithful friend needs a "tune up".   Apparently, the side tracks are no longer parallel, or the rollers themselves are pinching.   It's more apparent in cold weather because steel things tend to shrink and so put other moving parts in a bind.

November 17, 2008

Dear Readers:  The neighbor of a friend of mine had a crisis last week that I must share with you.  Theirs is a 70's era home recently outfitted with energy efficient vinyl windows.  They used their fireplace one evening while the kids were sleeping upstairs.  They had a new carbon monoxide detector and it soon alarmed;  in the meantime, they had developed headaches and other symptoms they recognized as carbon monoxide poisoning.

November 10, 2008

Bill has a whole house humidifier:  I have an AprilAire brand .  Could I have some tips about going from summer to winter and back again?

November 3, 2008

John has a mess on his hands:  I spilled hot pink candle wax on a painted and plastered wall.  I've tried heat, but it won't come off.  Any other ideas?